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Leagues and Governing Bodies

NFL Considering Int'l Series Games In Mexico, Germany; London Team By '22 "Realistic"

A league meeting early this week is likely to result in a "large extension of the NFL's international series," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He said, "They considered Germany, but I'm told expect a game in Mexico, in Mexico City, not just in the future but in 2016. It was a big success last time the NFL went there. They expect the very same next season" ("NFL GameDay First," NFL Network, 10/4). The MMQB's Peter King said, "The International Committee is going to ask the owners to extend their current deal, whereby they have three games in England every year, to extend that deal through 2025. In addition, they’re going to ask the owners for permission to play a game or two each season in the future in a different country, perhaps Germany, perhaps Mexico, maybe even Brazil" ("Football Night In America," NBC, 10/4). NFL Exec VP/Int'l Mark Waller said that it is a "very good bet there will be (at least) four international games next season." NFL.com's Albert Breer reported the NFL is "considering either adding another game in London, keeping it at three in London and adding another game in another country, or both." The two countries "under consideration" in '16 are Germany and Mexico. If it is Germany -- "and the NFL's new media deal makes that marketplace more attractive for the owners -- it'll be in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt or Hamburg." Waller said that the league eventually will be "removing the automatic bye that teams get after going to London, since having a franchise there would certainly necessitate that dynamic." Another change "could be a team playing two games in a row in London -- perhaps one as the home team and another as the road team -- to see how it affects players, coaches and staff making the trip back west rather than just east" (NFL.com, 10/2). The N.Y. Daily News’ Bob Raissman said he likes the London games “because it starts early” and the NFL is “going to go into more countries because it’s all about the money” (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 10/2).

HOME SWEET HOME? NFL.com's Breer wrote the first game of the NFL's Wembley Stadium series in '07 was "hatched as a 15-year project with the endgame resulting in London getting a franchise of its own." Based on that timeline, the NFL is "more than halfway home." NFL officials still see '22 "as the target" for having a team in London. A meeting of NFL execs with Virgin Airlines on Friday was "more proof of that." Waller said, "It's a realistic time frame. But there are still things we need to test for, so we have to be able to build a lot of things into the next few years. We don't need to prove as much on the fan-demand side. We feel comfortable that, in a few years, we'll be where we need to be there. The real focus is doing things to keep testing. We're really focusing on the logistical and operational side" (NFL.com, 10/2).

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