The NFL is a massive sports league and has always been incredibly popular in the US. But the NFL is also a business, and as any business does, they aim to grow. However, this is easier said than done. The NFL viewership is predominantly based in the US, Canada and Mexico and the markets there are highly saturated.
In other words, those who have an interest in the NFL beforehand will more than likely continue their interest in the NFL while those without an interest will be hard to persuade to watch matches outside of special events such as the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events of the year and over half the country tunes in to watch and make their own Super Bowl predictions. The NFL needs to grow, and the way forward is to tap into previously untouched markets.
International audience is the way forward
The way that the NFL can continue to grow is to reach out to an international audience, something they have made a big push for in recent years. Internet streaming has made it a lot easier for international crowds to follow the league more or less in real time. The rest of the world represents a massive potential for the NFL to grow, and they’re doing everything in their power to attract as much international audience as possible.
International games
One of the ways to grow international following is by hosting games in foreign countries. This was first tried with games in London, that proved to be a massive hit. Germany is the country in Europe that has the biggest national interest in American football and therefore the games hosted in Munich this season drew massive crowds.
By hosting international games the NFL can both attract people who would otherwise not have a chance to watch a game. Hosting international games can also be a way to get a ton of positive publicity in local media.
Social media
The NFL (and its teams) are also skilled at using social media as a way of growing their audiences. American football is perfectly suited to small snippets and highlights that can be packaged into great content. By showing highlights and interviews for free, the NFL can also get people who otherwise would have no interest in the sport.
