What region of the world is best suited for the expansion of American-style football?

[TheFrenzy]

Maybe this thread will take off. Maybe it won't

But I still amuse myself every now and then by checking in on the various international leagues. I especially enjoy seeing the team names/logos from various countries. I think the soccer influence on football logos is pretty awesome.

Maybe some of our BO members who travel internationally will have some great insights.

[Siberian13]

Antarctica, not sure why you left them out.

[TWard]

I don’t think any are honestly.

The only realistic ones are London and Mexico City but it’ll be tough to figure out the schedule process for London. The only thing that makes sense is if they play their first 8 games at home and the last 8 on the road, or vice versa. It would be too chaotic for players, coaches and personnel if it were a regular schedule.

A team in Canada wouldn’t be too bad, especially since the Raptors do it and play 66 more games than the NFL.

[cking]

Compton...

[trixstar]

None of them, they would just wonder why these players take so many breaks and the game is so slow.

[deansayso]

Japan.

[TheFrenzy]

Antarctica, not sure why you left them out.

I'm racist against birds who wear tuxedos.

My personal take is: The NFL should go straight-up Monroe Doctrine.

Colonize the entire Western Hemisphere. Add two or three Canadian teams. Add a team in Mexico City. Then start up a separate league for Central/South America. Teams in Jamaica, Costa Rica, Chile, and multiple teams in Argentina and Brazil. The fact that these regions love to party during games should only play into the favor of a sport with frequent stoppages of play.

[Siberian13]

Move the Bills to Toronto and the Chargers to Mexico.

[deansayso]

Move the Bills to Toronto and the Chargers to Mexico.

Surprised they haven't yet...

[Archangel1775]

Canada has the CFL, so that's probably not happening. I recall Japan having a high school all star team that competed against our Team USA team. The rest of the world had rugby and/or soccer. It's really restricted to us.

[TheFrenzy]

So basically, how much longer until we rename it “Freedomball”?

[BGT Masters]

Move the Bills to Toronto and the Chargers to Mexico.

:mad:

[norskarv]

I don't think too many areas of the world are eager to embrace anything American at this point in time.

Oh yeah... mushy brains anybody?!?!

I'm rooting for the NFL, but I think it's a tough sell.

[PrimeTimeScott]

I voted Canada, because they already have football that is very similar. The rest of the world is more drawn to soccer. Even if the NFL puts a team in London or Mexico City, the fan base would consider it a second tier sport there.

[altaeria]

First off— If we’re talking specifically about the “NFL” brand, then that’ll probably never take hold outside of the U.S. No other country will accept this sport being called “football”. They already have a different (extremely popular) sport with a similar name. It would need to be named “Gridiron” or something— but then that interferes with the “NFL” brand. If the NFL really wants to expand, they should start an “International Gridiron Association” and eventually/slowly schedule interleague matches.

Now if we’re just talking about the sport itself, possibly China or Europe could embrace it. But no reference to “American” or “Football”. And, quite frankly, the canadian-style rules would translate better overseas. That field size is based on rugby pitch dimensions, and the shorter play clock and 3 downs keeps the game moving.

[rittdk01]

Op you know football is losing popularity every year in the US, right?

[Siberian13]

China wouldn’t be a bad market. They make all our “game used” patch cards possible. :)

[hairysasquatch]

Italy, the home of Poopnini?

[codered]

It's already extremely popular here in Canada. Fan base is built in. There has been minor football from ages 10 and up, high school football and Canadian university football in Canada for longer than most of us have been alive. The Canadian game isn't all that different so you can watch NFL easily if you have only been raised on Canadian football. People in Vancouver/Lower mainland already travel to Seattle for games frequently, Winnipeg has multiple bus tours for Vikings games and people in Ontario cross for lions, bills games all the time.

A team in Toronto makes sense but they need a proper stadium. The Rogers centre/skydome doesn't work for football. I also think a new franchise would be better than a transfer like the bills. Better to build a new identity from scratch.

[Siberian13]

A team in Toronto makes sense but they need a proper stadium. The Rogers centre/skydome doesn't work for football. I also think a new franchise would be better than a transfer like the bills. Better to build a new identity from scratch.

But having 33 teams in 8 divisions doesn’t make much sense either. Which conference would they be in, etc.

[Bigbluesooner]

None of them, they would just wonder why these players take so many breaks and the game is so slow.

LOL!!! True

[GoldPanner]

I feel like Mexico and Canada are kind of obvious, but I do seriously see that in 50 years mars football could take off. I’m not even joking, once we get there I feel like this would actually happen.

[Siberian13]

I feel like Mexico and Canada are kind of obvious, but I do seriously see that in 50 years mars football could take off. I’m not even joking, once we get there I feel like this would actually happen.

After playing on the road in mars on Sunday night, the nfl would still make a team play Thursday.

[Lee42]

Scratch Australia/New Zealand off that list......we play Rugby Union/Rugby League which is sort of similar to NFL in some ways, we just dont wear any of the protective equipment NFL players wear.

Yes we are crazy but both are very good games to play......a lot faster than NFL too.

[Stifle]

Scratch Australia/New Zealand off that list......we play Rugby Union/Rugby League which is sort of similar to NFL in some ways, we just dont wear any of the protective equipment NFL players wear.

Yes we are crazy but both are very good games to play......a lot faster than NFL too.

You maybe spot on with your opinion but the NFL has a strong Polynesian base. It's not the same sport as Rugby but the attraction is definitely bringing in talent from that region of the globe. The money to perform in the NFL is also bringing in a flock of punters from Aussie and NZ as ex-rugby players.

[ssbledsoe]

So basically, how much longer until we rename it “Freedomball”?

MericaBall is much better IMO

[sigmachi]

The South.

[RogerGodahell]

Canada is but it's too cold. No one wants to live in these cold places, we only do because we were born here. I have to get out of this freezer some day. Is it ever going to be spring? Nope, 25-30 degrees still. Maybe July.

[Siberian13]

Canada is but it's too cold. No one wants to live in these cold places, we only do because we were born here. I have to get out of this freezer some day. Is it ever going to be spring? Nope, 25-30 degrees still. Maybe July.

Your new custom badge is as real as this "Flawless NFL Shield" :)

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/e4AAAOSwjrlaylrH/s-l1600.jpg

[TheFrenzy]

Have we ever gotten an official BODA roster? Has Wikileaks looked into this?

[TheFrenzy]

I guess London is the winner?

[asujbl]

Op you know football is losing popularity every year in the US, right?

Third highest rated season since 2016…

Which everyone knew was coming with Amazon

But sure

[BostonNut]

Third highest rated season since 2016…

Which everyone knew was coming with Amazon

But sure

Prof Frenz-o bumped his own zombie thread. :doh:

[JeremyNick]

Mexico.

Great vibe without traveling too far.

Canada doesn’t care enough and the rest is too far for travel.

[asujbl]

Mexico.

Great vibe without traveling too far.

Canada doesn’t care enough and the rest is too far for travel.

Are they playing in Cancun where tourists won’t care?

Because a Mexico City flight would suck, comparatively to say London, for like 75% of the major media markets

[Archangel1775]

Mexico.

Great vibe without traveling too far.

Canada doesn’t care enough and the rest is too far for travel.

Canada has the CFL. Why would they care? There is Rugby and Australian Rules football out there too. Countries aren't giving up their game to play our version. American football had expanded to Mexico and Japan at the high school level but the teams just aren't competitive enough. We saw NFL Europe but that lived and died pretty quickly. With the whole concussion thing, I dont see it truly expanding much if at all.

[JeremyNick]

Canada has the CFL. Why would they care? There is Rugby and Australian Rules football out there too. Countries aren't giving up their game to play our version. American football had expanded to Mexico and Japan at the high school level but the teams just aren't competitive enough. We saw NFL Europe but that lived and died pretty quickly. With the whole concussion thing, I dont see it truly expanding much if at all.

The Owners will continue to force it because buttloads of money isn’t enough. However it’s going to backfire bigly for them in they actually move a franchise to Europe.

[JeremyNick]

Are they playing in Cancun where tourists won’t care?

Because a Mexico City flight would suck, comparatively to say London, for like 75% of the major media markets

I’ve done the East Coast to Mexico City flight enough times to know it’s easy.

You don’t have to deal with onerous international regulations either, which is a big deal. Mexican Government don’t care. Just don’t take a bus through Sinaloa.

[TheFrenzy]

Prof Frenz-o bumped his own zombie thread. :doh:

Peanut > BNut

[Chiefnocahoma]

I think a teams in Canada and/or Europe will work. The CFL fans like having their local teams and draw well. I got back literally a month ago from Germany and spending a week with a German football league team. I played d3 and officiate at college level. The German Football league does relegation and teams draw 10k to 15k if they are good. Four Americans are allowed per team and then they can pay for “imports” - good other European players not from Germany. The GFL is fighting for supremacy with the European American football league that is 16 teams throughout Europe. The Euro league is spending more money now.

[jplarson]

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0273/4738/6448/articles/ivotedsticker1.jpg

[IpcSteveYoung]

Antarctica, not sure why you left them out.

This is my vote. The ultimate Frozen Tundra.