The Pittsburgh Steelers can be kicking off the primary ever NFL recreation in Dublin, Eire on September twenty eighth in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings. It’s the primary time the Steelers are enjoying a world recreation since 2013, once they misplaced to none aside from the Vikings. For the Vikings, it’ll be their first cease in a two-week worldwide tour which is able to wrap up in opposition to the Cleveland Browns in London on October fifth.
In response to the NFL’s VP of Broadcast Planning—Mike North—the Vikings’ two-game abroad journey to a number of cities may very well be an indication of issues to come back.
In a dialog with former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker, North described the method of scheduling the Vikings worldwide video games and the precedent that it would set for the long run.
“I principally reached out to all of the groups and mentioned, ‘Vikings you see the schedule, you recognize Pittsburgh’s internet hosting a recreation in Dublin…There’s an opportunity you possibly can be chosen to go to Dublin,” mentioned North. “Subsequent cellphone name: ‘Hey Vikings, you recognize you’re enjoying the Browns this yr. They’re internet hosting a recreation in London. You’re a attainable opponent to play the Browns in London this yr. It was really Commissioner Goodell who mentioned, ‘You assume they’d wish to do each?’
North went on to say, “The Jaguars have executed this a pair years in a row now, performed back-to-back London video games. However this would be the first time any individual’s enjoying twice because the highway staff and in two totally different international locations. It could be with a watch in direction of issues we do sooner or later.”
The NFL has quickly expanded their efforts to develop the sport internationally through their World Markets Program. Each staff is assigned a number of worldwide markets that they can enhance advertising efforts in.
From elevated advertising and partnerships, to increasingly more video games abroad, to enjoying in new cities and international locations annually; Goodell is pouring every part into rising the league globally. We is probably not that distant from a world staff in any case.
What may this imply for the Steelers? It means there’s a practical likelihood that Pittsburgh can be enjoying back-to-back video games overseas within the subsequent 5 years or so. If the Dublin residence recreation is successful, because it nearly positively can be contemplating how Steelers followers journey and the multi-year advertising that’s related Irish followers to the Steelers, then it’s very doubtless the Steelers will play some future residence video games in Dublin. It may very well be a back-to-back with a house recreation in Dublin and a highway recreation someplace else like Germany (the place they got rights just lately).
Clearly, the NFL is keen to experiment in a number of other ways with their worldwide plans. And one factor is for certain, the black-and-gold devoted will pack out any stadium, anyplace within the nation.
