NFL/Tottenham Hotspur Agree to 10 Year Deal

Future home for Tottenham Hotspur. Photo credit: UK

The NFL's push to bring American football to another level in international stature took a very big step today.

By: Michael Hanley (@Magic20099)


NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell has not been shy about his pursuits of making American football a very relevant and popular sport in countries outside of the United States.

The NFL and the English Premiere League club Tottenham Hotspur have struck a ten year deal that will ramp up the amount of regular season NFL games to be played in England.

This deal will have the league play at least two games per season at the new stadium for Tottenham Hotspur which is due to open in 2018.

 This new facility is being built a a multi sport building that will be able to accommodate not only English football but also NFL games. It includes a retractable roof, 61,000 seats, a grass surface for Premiere League games and artificial grass for NFL games.

The NFL press release outlined this plan in more detail:

This innovative field will add greater flexibility in the scheduling of games, with the NFL having its own playing surface for games held at this venue. This field will be multi-use and capable of hosting other sporting, entertainment and community events.
Both sports will have dedicated facilities ensuring that the new stadium, designed with a focus on atmosphere, will deliver the optimum experience for both teams and fans. It will be one of the most environmentally sustainable in the UK and also include a clear focus on accessibility via public transportation.

 It sounds like a sparkling stadium that will serve both leagues very well for the long term future.  This type of deal will also bring allot of money and prestige for both sides as well, with the broadcasts of these games being all around the world and generating big rating numbers no question.
This deal is just another step toward what Goodell wants to have in the end, an NFL franchise in England, presumbly London on a permanent basis. 

The momentum for one only continues to grow in England as the games in the past have sold out and been very big events for the country to host and for its citizens to enjoy either in person or on television.

Their is no concrete date or time period for  anew franchise to be put into the country but deals like today make you think it is on its way sooner rather than later.

Though it will never match the popularity of soccer proper, the NFL has and will continue to make significant inroads if Goodell has anything to do with it.