I can’t believe that the NFL International Series is actually a thing! I’m such a huge NFL fan and to think that we have actual games taking place overseas? Crazy!
It all started back in 2007 when the New York Giants faced the Miami Dolphins over in London, England. It was dubbed the NFL’s first regular-season game to be played outside of the U.S. This game was so huge that tryouts were even held to cast the London crowd for the on-camera shots of the audience, giving what was essentially a professional event by the NFL some big league feel.
Fast forward to the present day, and we have multiple International Series games taking place each season and in different countries, ranging from Mexico to Germany. Even though the stadiums might be smaller than what we usually see, it more than makes up for it with the atmosphere. Who doesn’t love seeing a stadium full of Brits cheering on the Patriots or the Chiefs? Or, how about a group of excited German fans screaming for the Rams? It’s definitely something to experience!
What’s even more amazing is the fact that these games have slowly become more and more competitive with every passing year. Many of these games have actually ended up decided by small margins, so you could say that these International Series games definitely carry some weight.
It’s also really cool that the NFL has taken the time to create a range of different programs and initiatives to give back to the international communities that have supported them. From providing free football events and camps for youth during the series, to starting charities dedicated to helping out with local issues, the NFL has definitely gone the extra mile when it comes to making each trip worth its while.
All in all, the NFL can be proud of what they have achieved so far with the International Series. It’s just incredible to see how far football has reached across the world and I can’t wait to see what lengths the NFL will push the envelope in coming years.
To further explore this topic, I want to mention the positive impact the NFL International Series has had on the international football landscape. The NFL has begun to help many of these countries to create and refine football programs to help push their leagues to new heights. Additionally, these games often bring together and create rivalries that are found nowhere else- even if sometimes the matchups are one sided.
The NFL has even gone further by becoming a platform for global exchanges, allowing player-mentors from overseas to come to the states and train with NFL teams. Even team activities like the Bucs and the Jaguars visiting troops and providing the fans with real interactions bring the games alive in many unexpected ways.
Furthermore, the NFL provides its International Series with a great platform to increase global awareness of the NFL brand. The NFL has used the international series to bridge social and cultural gaps. To this day, I still remember seeing towns coming together to give each other post-game performances and giving a united front. This brings the entire football fan base together and shows what football can do to bring people closer.
Something that has changed a lot from those first Giants vs Dolphins games back in 2007 is the level of engagement between teams. I remember that, back then, teams played very differently when they travelled overseas. Usually, teams would keep the players under wraps and practice in secret. However, now teams put much more effort into embracing their international fan base. Players take engaging with their fans very seriously.
It’s cool to see teams engaging with the local cultures. For example, some of the teams have taken a liking to certain European dishes like fish and chips or paella, whilst others have dedicated a part of their training sessions to exploring the local area and tasting the food, taking pictures and experiencing traditional customs.
All of this shows the here to stay effect the NFL International Series has had over the years and its great contribution to promote the unity of all football fans around the world. Furthermore, I think its great that the NFL International Series helps support the growth of football in many developing nations. It can be a great tool to combat social issues and to illustrate how football can build and unite communities from even the most distant parts of the world.
Finally, I believe the NFL International Series has made a great contribution to help distribute the sport of football worldwide and that it will go a long way in helping people understand and appreciate the greatness of this sport. As a football fan, I am very grateful for the contribution that the NFL has provided to all football fans out there!