Saturday featured NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressing a warm and enthusiastic crowd at an intimate music hall very close to the downtown stadium site. He pointed to the league’s record overall commitment to growing its game on a global scale. At his speech’s outset, he highlighted the ways that teams are continuing to adopt international games. He was previously responsible for bringing about the NFL’s first regular-season fixture to Ireland.
It’s the most highly anticipated American Football – or should that be Gaelic Football? The fans are excited to the point of panic for this blockbuster matchup! Goodell underscored the significance of this event, stating, “I have no doubt this will be incredibly successful.” The Commissioner envisions that each NFL team will participate in one international game per season, with a goal of hosting 16 international games annually.
Goodell anticipates a diverse crowd at Croke Park, expecting at least 30% of attendees to be fans traveling from the United States. That’s huge!! Typically, international NFL games have an audience that is roughly 90% comprised of local spectators. Talking about building that global footprint, Goodell said, “We have to be global, in a world that’s more connected than ever.”
The Commissioner acknowledged the enthusiasm of fans for international games, stating, “Every time we play an international game, fans say they want more. I really, truly believe our game can and will be global. Our job is to share our game with the rest of the world.” His comments mirror a larger overall strategy to spread the NFL’s tentacles further across the globe, and outside of North America.
Goodell’s vision is in step with the NFL’s recent history of trying to entrench its place as a sport played and followed around the world. He emphasized, “We are serious about being a global sport,” indicating that the league intends to pursue new markets and engage with international audiences actively.
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