Spain and France have reached the top of the NFL’s European bucket list.

Following the success of the NFL’s first regular-season game played in Germany this past Sunday, Brett Gosper, NFL head of the U.K. and Europe, told the Associated Press that the league’s analysis of fan growth and commercial potential puts France and Spain on its “radar.”

“We need to do our homework to make sure that there is the possibility of a place to land any games in those markets, gauge interest of the host stadia, gauge interest of the host city, even the government, as to their enthusiasm to help us bring a game,” Gosper said.

Spain may have a better shot at landing games since it already has an NFL presence.

• The Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins have “home marketing” rights in the country.
• The Barcelona Dragons were an NFL Europe and WLAF franchise between 1991-2003.
• France has no teams with marketing rights.

Gosper indicated that the Nordic markets would be next, “Sweden in particular.”

Goodell’s Game Plan

The NFL aims to grow its international business to $1 billion annually.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if its current four-game Germany deal “expanded beyond that at some point soon.” Germany surpassed the U.K. as the NFL’s largest European market despite London hosting regular-season games since 2007.

Goodell has also hinted at a possible European division.

Imagine Turner Sports’ “Inside the NBA” studio show — with no live games to analyze.

That was the possibility dangled by David Zaslav, chief executive officer of Turner parent Warner Bros. Discovery during an investor conference in New York on Tuesday.

The NBA’s current media rights deals with TNT and Disney’s ESPN — worth a combined $24 billion — expire after the 2024-25 season. The league will be seeking a mammoth, long-term rights package worth as much as $75 billion. 

• With the U.S. ad market still weak, Zaslav will bring a “disciplined” approach to NBA negotiations, claiming, “We don’t have to have the NBA.” 
• The company has deals with Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League.
• Any deal would likely have to include streaming.
• Front Office Sports previously reported the NBA will likely split off an exclusive package of streaming-only games — Zaslav suggested HBO Max as a platform.

Balancing Act 

Facing deep-pocketed challengers like Amazon Prime Video and Apple, TNT and ESPN can’t promise to break the bank — or they’ll lose their leverage in negotiations.

TNT recently finalized contract extensions with the cast of “Inside the NBA,” including Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson — a clear signal that Zaslav is prepared to go to the mat for NBA rights.

The now-defunct Alliance of American Football continues to be dogged by legal disputes. 

Former AAF owner Tom Dundon — who also owns the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes — has been sued for at least $184 million by the U.S. trustee overseeing the startup league’s bankruptcy.

The AAF ceased operations in April 2019 after filing for bankruptcy — at one point, it was unable to make $5 million worth of first-week player payments. 

The trustee alleges Dundon shuttered the league despite financial alternatives.  

• In response to the suit, Dundon has sued Charlie Ebersol, the AAF’s founder, for $70 million.
• Dundon alleges that he was misled by Ebersol about the AAF’s finances.
• The Hurricanes owner pledged to invest $250 million in the AAF. 

The complaint filed by the trustee also revealed that the NFL had agreed to a deal with the AAF in exchange for warrants worth 15% of the shuttered league. 

Controversial Investor 

In April, Reginald Fowler — a former investor in the AAF and Minnesota Vikings — pleaded guilty to charges related to a $600 million cryptocurrency scheme in a Manhattan federal court. 

Prosecutors alleged that Fowler — who attempted to buy a stake in the AAF using illegally obtained funds — facilitated unregulated transactions on behalf of crypto exchanges.

Fowler originally committed $170 million to the AAF in 2019 and later invested $28 million before it ceased operations, per Action Network.