Roger Goodell discusses global expansion, China, London
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Commissioner Roger Goodell recently discussed the NFL’s plans for future global expansion.
Speaking at a Town Hall-style meeting held by the Jacksonville Jaguars at Everbank Field, Goodell addressed a question about China and also discussed the idea of putting a team in London.
“China’s a huge market. We all know that,” Goodell said. “Anyone who’s in business here, you know you want to reach important markets. That’s an important market for us. If we can make inroads there, we think that’s important for us long-term in our global strategy of making football more popular on a global basis. I wouldn’t say a franchise in China is something that’s on the front burner for us right now...I think if we could do that, we’d do it in London.”
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Goodell said that he thought London could support a franchise, but that the league needed to work to determine how it would work from a competitive standpoint, given the travel time and scheduling issues for teams involved.
“As far as putting a franchise overseas...the demand from the teams to go over far exceeds the number of games we are playing now,” Goodell added. “We don’t have to push teams to go now, they want to go. So I actually believe a franchise in London is realistic.”
