Dan Patrick: It's All About Global Expansion Here | 8/26/24

Dan Patrick discusses the recent increase in American pro and college sports leagues hosting games in international cities

[The_Mace]

I'm guessing season ticket holders care if their team is playing a game overseas, since I'm also guessing teams aren't discounting season tickets because there's one less home game on the schedule.

[johnperrigo]

The NFL product today is less than it used to be.

[markosekulic]

Unfortunately nfl will never be popular abroad, yes can have all games filled up till last seat but how many kids growing up want to play nfl footbal? Euro football is way easier with rules and everything.

[pandersonnike]

I feel like the NFL abroad has been a mixed bag. You only have 17, and the play has been subpar. At least in Europe. Maybe Brazil will be easier in regard to jet lag. Otherwise, the teams look mixed, and for such an exhausting sport, it might take a toll on some players. A couple or three games overseas felt special in the NFL, but now it feels like what the Stadium Series in Hockey where something special becomes too common and loses the spark.

I wish the "opening day" in baseball for those teams didn't count when they go to Asia, but I think those games make sense. Korea, a great and growing baseball market, deserves to see the top league. Same with Japan. Australia was a stretch, and two games in London doesn't bother me. At least baseball is 162 games a year. That said, I wish they would do a foreign exchange week or so in spring training. A few teams go to Japan for training and exhibition, and vice versa how a couple Japanese teams come here. Same with Korea. Sadly, logistically and costs likely hurts that idea.

Finally, soccer makes sense since it's friendlies here. Even though there is talk of EPL season games in the U.S., but we'll see if that happens. Otherwise, it's friendlies, and it's a good way to grow the game and brands without sacrificing in-season games. And soccer is more global with the world cup generating national interest. Football doesn't have that. Baseball has the WBC, which I think is great, but it's also a niche audience. Overall, I think the NFL should keep a couple games outside the U.S., but this is becoming oversaturated. Why not look at preseason camps with a game or two overseas. Attendance is usually mixed/sucks for preseason. I saw that with Washington last night with a sparse stadium. Why not have that game in London? That's my two cents.

[brianyakata]

You should look at the other players in the 30/30 club. 3 players are linked to roids. Conseco, bonds and arod. When you exclude them, you are down to 3 players who are legit. Which makes the 40/40 club even more exclusive. When you include the roids players I think you disrespect the accomplishments of mays, Arron etc and how great they really were.