As the NFL continues to expand its international package, the Green Bay Packers will host a game overseas for the first time in their history.
The NFL isn’t content with dominating in America. It wants to dominate globally.
In this vein, the league has been happy to stage games overseas, largely putting them in England throughout its history. There have also been some North American games, with Mexico getting a few tilts.
On Monday, it was announced there would be five games held outside of the United States. There will be the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints hosting in London, while the Jacksonville Jaguars welcome an opponent into Wembley Stadium as well. Then there’s the Arizona Cardinals hosting in Mexico, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting a home game in Germany.
While the Jaguars have made hosting a game away from their typical stadium an annual event, this is new for some. The Packers have never held a home game outside of either Milwaukee or Green Bay, let alone London. Team president Mark Murphy released a statement on the new experience, talking about the upside of such an endeavor, per ESPN:
“The Green Bay Packers are excited to make our international debut during the 2022 season. Our fans in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe have been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to see the Packers play in their backyard, and we know that many of our fans in the United States will travel to London.”
With each NFC team slated to get nine home games this season, it’s a bit easier to deal with for Green Bay. Overall, the Packers will still have eight true home tilts at Lambeau Field, while having a neutral site contest across the pond.
The same is true of the Cardinals, Saints and Buccaneers, who will all now have eight real home dates while giving up one to travel internationally. However, the Jaguars are now only going to have seven home games, being the only AFC team hosting away from its actual stadium.
It’s clear the NFL wants to continue branding globally, using an ever-expanding program to entice new fans. With the 17-game schedule afoot, expect the conference with more home games to be hosting away from America, allowing fans from across the world to see the product.
