NFL looking into adding a 17th game... outside US

[tk13]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

NFL looking closely at expanding to 17 games with international flavor

By BARRY WILNER, AP Football Writer
May 10, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- Americans always seem to want more pro football. Yet it's the folks abroad who might be getting an extra taste of the NFL in the future.

Although talks are extremely preliminary, the NFL is investigating adding a 17th regular-season game and playing it outside the United States. The extra game would take the place of one in the preseason, allowing every team to play once abroad without sacrificing a home match.

This year, the Dolphins gave up a home date in Miami to play the New York Giants at Wembley Stadium in London. Two years ago, the Arizona Cardinals played a home game in Mexico City against the San Francisco 49ers.

"It is preliminary, but we certainly are putting resources into pulling that together," said Mark Waller, NFL senior vice president, international. "For now, we have the one game per season or two per season outside of the U.S. But we know it can be tough on home fans since we're taking a game away.

"So we have asked how do we create more inventory without taking games away from fans? That idea came up in internal conversations and we now have an international committee of owners and we talked it through with them, and they asked us to do some groundwork."

While the 17th game won't get off the ground next season, for sure, it could become a staple of the NFL's schedule by 2009 or 2010. But it would present some significant logistical and scheduling challenges.

For one, if there is another week to the regular season, does that mean openers played on Labor Day weekend, something the NFL has avoided in recent years? Or does it mean pushing the Super Bowl back a week to the second Sunday in February? Or leaving the title game where it is and eliminating the week off between conference championships and the Super Bowl?

"I don't see a huge downside to a week later. The strength of the idea warrants bringing it up for discussion," Waller said.

And what about during a Winter Olympics year such as 2010?

"It might be an issue for the Olympics," he adds with a laugh.

Where would the "foreign games" be played? And how would they be divided?

Waller notes that there won't be 16 different venues for the 17th games. More likely would be a "mini-season ticket" of perhaps four games in one city or country.

"It is very early, but our thought is what we could end up with is every week there would be one international game," he said. "We won't have all of them on the same week. And what you would do is look at taking, for instance, four games to London. Play a game in Wembley each month, having eight different teams coming through. A game in September, one in October, one in November and one in December.

"It's a great opportunity from a fan perspective, because they get half of what a fan in the United States gets, four games to eight."

Aside from England, other prime areas to get games would be Germany, which has a half-dozen quality stadiums thanks to last year's World Cup; Mexico; and Canada. Waller doubts Asia or Australia would be targeted because of the travel concerns, but he doesn't dismiss anything. Or anywhere.

"It is a complex idea and it will take a lot of work on a number of sides," Waller said. "The beauty of it is it's competitively fair."

[Ozarks-Chiefs-Fan]

Is there anybody that thinks this is a good idea other than the NFL suits?

[alpha_omega]

Ehhh, i really don't like this idea at all.

However, the one plus i see is...

The extra game would take the place of one in the preseason

[boogblaster]

Go with the pre-season game .. hell 3 at home is enough..1 abroad 3 here ....

[CoMoChief]

Dumb idea.

[Direckshun]

Can you imagine how much LJ would tear it up in Western Africa?

[Joie]

Push back the Super Bowl another week? Anyone remember when it was played in January?

[cdcox]

more football = good

[007]

This is the equivalent of having to play a Thursday game right after a Sunday night game as far as travel goes.

I don't like the SB being in Feb already. Push it back ANOTHER week? NO. Take away the bye week during the season or before the SB. I would like to do away with both to be honest. Football didn't get bye weeks in the old days why should they have them now?

[kcxiv]

cut out 2 preaseason games then. Dont need 4 as it is.

Also **** this idea. THey make so much money. The more they get, the more they want.

[Hammock Parties]

This is a horrible idea. Some sand jockey will target one of the planes for an act of terrorism.

[cdcox]

This isn't calculus, folks.

More football = good

[007]

Same amount of football, but one more meaningful game. Drop the bye weeks and I am fine with it.

[Bugeater]

I don't care how many times this story gets posted, I'm still going to hate it.

[Sam Hall]

It seems like a gimmick. I doubt Europe is as crazy about the NFL as we are. I can picture their fans just sitting and not making any noise during the game.