As the NFL moves forward with its international growth ambitions, a regular-season game in China is expected in 2018. But not every team is on board with that idea.
According to ESPN, executives with the Packers and Giants were among those to raise objections with the idea of playing in China. Packers president Mark Murphy indicated that not only would the Packers never give up a home game for China, but they would object if asked to travel to China for a road game.
“We would not be in support of that,” Murphy said. “That’s such a long trip. If they do it, it would make sense for West Coast teams -- shorter trip for them. But that wouldn’t be something we would want to do.”
Giants owner John Mara also wouldn’t want his team making the trip.
“I think there’s a feeling that our game could be very attractive over there and generate a lot of interest,” Mara said. “But I’m sure not volunteering to play over there. That’s a tough trip. I don’t know how you do that. You certainly have to give them a week off afterward. And even a week before -- it’s a pretty tough trip.”
If the NFL is only planning to play a one-off game in China in 2018, it will be able to convince two teams to go, especially considering that the Rams have already said they’re happy to “host” international games during the three years that their new Los Angeles stadium is under construction. But if the NFL wants to make China a regular destination, it’s going to run into resistance from teams who think it’s simply too long a trip to take during the season.
