NFL teams were able to submit proposals for co-marketing pacts with clubs in international markets last month, and 19 of the 32 teams have submitted a total of 28 bids, per Sports Business Journal.
Previously, global rights were centrally controlled by the NFL. Teams will find out in December who gets which markets.
Mexico received the largest number of bids, followed by the U.K. and Germany, which is slated to host an NFL regular-season game in the next couple of years. The NFL says there will eventually be at least four international games every season.
Canada, Brazil, Australia, China, and an undisclosed European country are also sought after in teams’ proposals.
- Brazil has the most international NFL fans at 63.7 million.
- Mexico follows with 48.5 million.
- Germany comes in third with 19.2 million.
The league counts 190 million U.S. fans, but the NFL’s chief strategy officer Chris Halpin told The Athletic “our next 50 million fans will come from these international markets.”
The Denver Broncos have expressed interest in Mexico, the site of their second-largest fan base, and the Kansas City Chiefs have eyes on an alliance with an overseas soccer club.
Five-year terms for the marketing licenses will start Jan. 1.
