Flag football at the Olympics might be the key to the NFL’s overseas business plan
- The NFL says it has a plan to grow its international business to $1 billion annually and attract its next set of fans.
- The league projects it will attract 50 million consumers internationally over the next 10 years.
- The league is pushing for flag football to be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Over the next five years, we want to expand NFL flag football,” said Damani Leech, chief operating officer of NFL International.
In an interview with CNBC at the NFL’s annual meetings this past week, Leech discussed the next phase of NFL expansion overseas. He said that in the next 10 years, the NFL projects it will attract 50 million consumers internationally. That would add to its 180 million consumers domestically and over 150 million international fans who already consume the most popular U.S. sport.
“We’ve got to make the game matter,” Leech said when discussing the importance of expanding the sport overseas.
And to do that, the NFL needs the Olympics.
The league is pushing for flag football to be included in the Summer Games. Flag football resembles gridiron football, except there is no tackling, and pads and helmets aren’t necessary for participation.
“If flag football becomes an Olympic sport, more countries will invest in playing that sport,” Leech said.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
