German games are likely to fill up more of the NFL’s calendar — and following Sunday’s boisterous capacity crowd of 69,811 at Munich’s Allianz Arena, it’s easy to see why.
Ahead of the first NFL game in Germany this weekend, commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will play “at least” four games in the country through 2025, adding that he “wouldn’t be surprised if it expanded beyond that at some point soon.”
The NFL’s current agreement, which included the Bucs’ 21-16 win over the Seahawks on Sunday, includes annual games over the next three seasons.
- The deal includes two games in Munich and two in Frankfurt.
- Germany is the fourth country outside the U.S. to host an NFL game after Mexico, Canada, and the U.K.
Germany surpassed Britain as the NFL’s largest market in Europe, including more Game Pass subscribers and more consumer product sales. Both have 3.3 million “avid fans,” according to Brett Gosper, NFL head of the U.K. and Europe, but Germany has more “casual fans” at 17 million.
International Agenda
The NFL aims to grow its international business to $1 billion annually.
Ahead of the Green Bay Packers-New York Giants matchup in London last month, Goodell also hinted at a new division.
“We’re trying to see, could you have multiple locations in Europe where you could have an NFL franchise, because it would be easier as a division,” he said.
