Sky Sports’ Cameron Hogwood speaks with European and UK NFL head Brett Gosper about the Jaguars’ possible return to Wembley, league expansion in Germany, football’s Olympic ambitions and the International Home Marketing Areas (IHMA) initiative.
The NFL is looking forward to a return to Wembley Stadium when the 2022 International Series lands in London later this year, says league head for Europe and the UK Brett Gosper.
This marked the resumption of the NFL International Series after a year-long hiatus in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, which ended the Jaguars’ streak at Wembley for seven consecutive seasons since 2013.
The league’s commitment to play at least four international games per season starting in 2022 means London could be expected to return to a three-game plan, with the national stadium back in the pipeline.
“I think it’s highly likely,” Gosper said. Sky Sport. The Jags are in final talks with Wembley, we hope these results are positive and we would like both Jags and Wembley back in the program because I think there is more inventory and, Of course, the Jags built a fan base. both here and at Wembley have their own NFL fan base, so the duality of the two stadiums is very appealing to us.”
The UK’s value as the center of the NFL was further enhanced during the games in October when Commissioner Roger Goodell and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan showed up at the Tottenham Community Sports Center to launch the UK NFL Foundation, which aims to combat inequality and lack of opportunity for 12-20 year olds in the capital in order to expand across the country.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium also opened its doors for the NFL International Tournament, in which 43 players from 13 countries competed in physical exercise for a place in the Player’s Way program.
It was the permanent relationship and constant presence that the league aspired to, and which will contribute to the legacy of the International Series games as much as to the action itself on the field.
“I think it shows how important a part they (games) are, they are not decorative, they are not nice to have, they are very necessary to fully engage the very large fan base that we have. UK and hopefully Germany soon, and whatever you can build around that,” Gosper said.
“Whether it be for a week or for a year, engaging with the north London community for a year connected to our Foundation, then linking up for an international player path in the stadium, there are all kinds of things you can build. the terms of an ongoing relationship with fans in the UK when you have these games.
