The NFL has officially announced what was previously reported, that there will be four regular-season games in London next season. And NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is giving no hint that the league might slow down on its plans to continue growing the game in England.
“We continue to be incredibly excited by the passion and love for the NFL shown by our millions of UK fans,” Goodell said in a statement. “London is an amazing city. We have had tremendous support from our fans, from Mayor Khan and other government leaders and business partners, and we are looking forward to taking the next step in the UK by playing four games in London next season.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a statement distributed by the NFL that he’s hoping the league will eventually put a team in London on a permanent basis.
“London is the international home of the NFL and staging the equivalent of what would be half an American football team’s home games in the city is a huge step towards my ambition of bringing a franchise to the capital,” Khan said.
The 2017 season will be the first to have four games in London. The NFL first played a regular-season game in London in 2007 and had one regular-season game there every year through 2012. In 2013 the NFL expanded to two games in London, and for the last three years the league has played three games in London.
The league has not announced any specific games that will be played in London next season, but it is expected that the Jaguars’ “home” game against the Ravens will be in London. The Rams are also expected to give up a home game to play in London.
