NFL Crossing the Pond

Morgan Patterson

Mrs. Straub

Economics A3

30 September 2014

NFL Crossing the Pond

The icon that is American football has been a part of the country’s culture since the early 1900s and has remained a relatively foreign concept to other countries. Since 2007, though, the NFL has scheduled at least one game in London’s Wembley Stadium, but recently, more games have been scheduled, with two in the 2013 season and at least 3 scheduled for the current season. The demand from the Londoners is insane as well, with the want increasing and the ticket prices increasing even further--only once since 207 has a game brought in less than 80,000 fans to Wembley.

The tickets for the three 2014 games were released in January and sold out immediately--a whole 8 months before the games were scheduled to be played. The games have become huge and the teams are celebrated as they come to the city, with thousands anticipating the foreign sport. The dramatic market price increase is surprising, though, with tickets for games averaging $160 per person. The NFL is seeking out for a new market that could add to the revenue of the already billion-dollar industry. This is a prime example of how change in demographic can shift a demand.

As the NFL continues to add more games to the London schedule each year, the demand for tickets has not wavered. Each season, secondary market prices have gotten more expensive than the previous year. While that does not mean a whole franchise will be sustainable in London, the NFL has found a market that can support at least a few games per season (Forbes).

The NFL is now the sixth-most watched league on Sky Sports, and the fastest-growing pro sport in the country. David Prodger, the new British Consul General in Miami, commented on the NFL’s growing strength, saying, “that’s the multimillion dollar question…We are seeing that there’s a real, good solid demand in UK” (Miami Herald). With a growing market in American football overseas, more games and essentially more revenue could be made for the NFL and also a new culture of NFL fans could be created.

Works Cited

Belson, Ken. "Hype Machine in Overdrive, N.F.L. Pops Back to London." The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Sept. 2013. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/sports/football/hype-machine-in-overdrive-nfl-pops-back-to-london.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 >

"Led By Falcons-Lions Game, 2014 Will Be Most Expensive Year For NFL London Games." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2014/08/05/two-of-three-2014-nfl-london-games-will-be-most-expensive-since-start-of-international-series/>.

"Packers to raise ticket prices for 2013 season ." News RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. <http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Packers-to-raise-ticket-prices-for-2013-season/ff0b1b65-ffc6-4d64-8d61-ca5791b00a86 >.

"This time, Miami Dolphins are all business for NFL game in London." miamiherald. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. <http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article2235557.html>.