Whatsup Squad,
Despite a rain delay, the 2024 NFL season is officially underway.
And with a passionate fanbase, state-of-the-art facilities, and international games, the league represents the gold standard for sports tourism.
Passionate Fanbase
As the most successful professional sports league in the world, it’s no surprise that the NFL boasts some of the most loyal sports fans.
In today’s digital era, it’s easier than ever to watch your favorite sports team online, so nothing demonstrates dedication to your team more than traveling to the stadium (especially for away games) and spending money on tickets, transportation, lodging, and food/beverages.
Put simply, a traveling sports fan is prime indicator of deep fan engagement.
Online ticket marketplace Vivid Seats recently released its 2024 NFL Fan Loyalty Report, revealing which fanbases travel the farthest to support their favorite team.
The average Las Vegas Raiders fan travels 549 miles to see the Raiders play.
That led me to the question: what would make a fan travel over 500 miles to support their favorite team?
NFL Stadiums as Tourist Attractions
Of all 30 NFL stadiums, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is the newest.
Anchored by the Las Vegas Strip, Raiders’ games have become a significant draw, with fans flocking from various states to Allegiant Stadium.
And the stadium doesn’t just host NFL games.
The 63,969 fans who attended Sunday's game between LSU and USC set a record for Allegiant Stadium (higher than attendance for last year’s Super Bowl).
The stadium is also set to house the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
The combination of football, entertainment, and the allure of Las Vegas has made the stadium an attractive proposition for sports enthusiasts worldwide.
While other franchises might not have the Las Vegas Strip to anchor their stadiums, that’s not keeping them from trying to turn their stadiums into entertainment destinations.
New stadiums are under construction in Tennessee and Buffalo, funding deals were approved for new venues in Jacksonville and Charlotte, and a three-year renovation plan recently began in Baltimore.
These billion-dollar projects are built to attract the world's largest and most prestigious events.
Going Abroad
As ambitious as plans are stateside, the NFL’s ambitions are global.
And it’s only fitting that the league targets some of the best sports venues in the world.
This season, the league will hold five games abroad, including three in London (two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one at Wembley Stadium) and one at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Next year, it will host its first game in Spain at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, home of the famed Real Madrid soccer club.
Tomorrow, the league will have its first game in South America when the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers open their seasons in Brazil.
With 36 million NFL fans in Brazil, the country ranks only behind Mexico and Canada in terms of the largest international fan bases.
This year’s five international games have sold 35% more tickets than last year’s five international games that were held in Germany and London.
The fundamental strategy is a focus on becoming a true global sports property and growing the game and the fanbase around the world.
It's not about coming in and just playing one game. These international contests allow the NFL to leverage one game to build a market.
Final Thoughts
The NFL is a television-driven league, with the largest chunk of its revenue coming from media rights deals.
Still, the league’s in-person presence is taking on a new level of prominence as more franchises push for new or renovated facilities.
By turning every game into a global event and every stadium into a destination, the NFL is proving that no one does football—or fan experience—quite like they do.
Until next time ✌🏾
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The Raiders are Exhibit A in geography not mattering when it comes to sports fandom. While Vegas can be a fun place, I don’t love what the NFL has done as far as uprooting teams.