The NFL is continuing to grow the international presence of the league all over the globe. It has even created an official strategy to expand the league’s presence in foreign markets called the Global Markets Program.
The league revealed the national partnerships with teams and foreign markets in a tweet on Tuesday morning. The goal is, “now have access to grow their fan bases around the world in long-term strategic effort to enable clubs to build their brands globally.”
Alas, the Detroit Lions are not one of the 21 teams allocated to a foreign country for emphasis. The natural partnership with Canada, a country that can be seen from the parking garage next to Ford Field, is being eschewed. The Lions also have a sizeable contingency of players from Nigeria, but that is also not in the works for Detroit.
Announcing the expansion of the NFL’s Global Markets Program!
21 teams across 14 markets now have access to grow their fan bases around the world in long-term strategic effort to enable clubs to build their brands globally. pic.twitter.com/8GNbM0Ph7B
— NFL (@NFL) May 23, 2023
From the NFL’s press release on the Global Markets Program,
The ‘Global Markets Program’, which launched in January 2022, grants NFL clubs access to international markets for marketing, fan engagement and commercialization activations as part of an important, long-term strategic effort to enable clubs to build their brands globally while driving NFL fan growth beyond the US.
NFL clubs can apply for rights to selected international markets by submitting proposals for the International Committee to review each spring. Clubs are awarded rights for at least a five-year term through the program. During this period, a club has the rights to pursue activities in that international market that are consistent with what they can do in their home market.
