Official word will not come down until Wednesday’s NFL league meeting, but some details are leaking out this week on which NFL teams have won business rights in foreign countries. A few assignments SBJ is aware of now include:
- Bears: UK and Spain
- Seahawks: Canada
- Patriots: Germany
- 49ers: UK
- Dolphins: Brazil
- Chiefs: Germany
- Panthers: Germany
- Buccaneers: Germany
- Rams: China and Australia
Sources have also said that the Cowboys, 49ers and Rams are among the teams that likely will get Mexico, but Mexico is less certain than the other markets because of the extraordinary demand there. It is possible the league will allow more than the original target of six teams into Mexico, and decisions are still being made. A subcommittee of the NFL’s international committee, comprised of Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie, Buccaneers Owner Joel Glazer and Bears Chair George McCaskey, is leading that work. Nothing is final until it goes through owners, and sources hedged that something could still change. But preparations for announcements are underway in many cases. All told, 19 teams submitted a total of 28 applications across eight countries.
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