WEBVTT - NFL International Schedule 0:00:05.058 --> 0:00:07.818 NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL in 0:00:07.898 --> 0:00:21.618 partnership with I Heart Radio. I'm Rett Lewis and this 0:00:22.178 --> 0:00:26.938 is NFL Inside Report. Huge episode here post draft as 0:00:27.018 --> 0:00:31.298 the NFL today announces the slate of international games for 0:00:31.338 --> 0:00:34.178 the NFL season. You heard it live on Good Morning 0:00:34.178 --> 0:00:41.098 Football Wednesday morning, and the five games are now officially set, teams, locations, times, 0:00:41.098 --> 0:00:44.658 in days TV deals. The whole thing is all set 0:00:44.698 --> 0:00:46.378 and we're gonna get into that in a big way. 0:00:46.378 --> 0:00:48.738 We'll also talk a little bit about the international Pathway 0:00:48.778 --> 0:00:51.298 program in the NFL, which is also a little bit 0:00:51.298 --> 0:00:53.418 in interconnected. And here to help us with all of 0:00:53.458 --> 0:00:57.858 it is the new general manager of the NFL UK, 0:00:58.138 --> 0:01:00.578 Henry Hodson. Of course, has been with us here for 0:01:00.778 --> 0:01:04.338 twelve years in Los Angeles before spending time in London 0:01:04.418 --> 0:01:07.058 with the NFL UK office there. And if you are 0:01:07.098 --> 0:01:09.738 a follower of the NFL podcast network, you are no 0:01:09.818 --> 0:01:13.578 stranger to Hank Handsome. Hank is back here. Whether this 0:01:13.658 --> 0:01:15.738 looks up, Henry, welcome, Thank you for having me right, 0:01:15.778 --> 0:01:18.058 sorry to be here. I'm glad to have you make 0:01:18.098 --> 0:01:22.218 your debut on this podcast, um and excited to chat 0:01:22.258 --> 0:01:25.938 here because this is so exciting, Like the the International 0:01:25.978 --> 0:01:29.378 series keeps growing and you know, despite the you know 0:01:29.418 --> 0:01:31.698 the issues we had that you know, put a pause 0:01:31.698 --> 0:01:33.418 on it with the COVID season, it's great to kind 0:01:33.458 --> 0:01:36.258 of see it really flourishing once again. And in a 0:01:36.298 --> 0:01:39.618 brand new country. We're going to Germany. So let me 0:01:39.698 --> 0:01:43.458 just say, as a like literal German in my heritage, 0:01:43.458 --> 0:01:46.898 both of my mom and dad's side, how do I 0:01:47.058 --> 0:01:51.578 essentially become bureau chieffl Germany? Can we arrange that? I 0:01:51.578 --> 0:01:53.538 think it just happened. I think I think just by 0:01:53.618 --> 0:01:58.058 volunteering this would be great. Um yeah, it's it's it's really. 0:01:58.098 --> 0:02:01.098 Germany is a market that we've been really focused on 0:02:01.098 --> 0:02:04.658 over the last five six years and it's grown so much. 0:02:04.698 --> 0:02:07.338 The fan base there is incredibly passionate. The sport has 0:02:07.418 --> 0:02:09.978 played a lot there as well. Um, so it was 0:02:09.978 --> 0:02:12.618 a natural progression to to have a game in Germany. 0:02:12.658 --> 0:02:14.858 And and the really cool thing is we went through 0:02:14.898 --> 0:02:18.258 this bid process last year to try to find, you know, 0:02:18.298 --> 0:02:21.978 which city should be played in and and three cities 0:02:22.018 --> 0:02:23.898 kind of emerged as as the ones that wanted to 0:02:23.898 --> 0:02:27.738 bid for a Munich Frankfort and dustledorff Um and in 0:02:27.778 --> 0:02:29.818 the end, we really couldn't you know what. The bids 0:02:29.818 --> 0:02:32.738 were so good that we couldn't separate Munich and Frankfurt. 0:02:32.778 --> 0:02:34.618 So we're we're going to be playing games over the 0:02:34.658 --> 0:02:38.218 next four years in both cities, which is it's amazing. 0:02:38.298 --> 0:02:40.458 And of course this year it will be the Seattle 0:02:40.498 --> 0:02:44.618 Seahawks in Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing at the FC Baron 0:02:45.018 --> 0:02:48.778 Munich Stadium and that will be November Eastern time, and 0:02:48.818 --> 0:02:50.458 you see it right here on NFL network. How much 0:02:50.498 --> 0:02:53.978 better to get exactly. Um No, it's really cool. You 0:02:54.018 --> 0:02:55.858 mentioned you've been working for the last five or six 0:02:55.938 --> 0:03:00.338 years on the Germany project. How did the interest I think, 0:03:00.378 --> 0:03:02.418 how did you learn of the interest? Like, where did 0:03:02.418 --> 0:03:03.898 it come from? How did you see it? Because I 0:03:03.938 --> 0:03:06.498 will tell you my wife and I about a year 0:03:06.498 --> 0:03:09.098 after we got married, UM went to Germany as part 0:03:09.098 --> 0:03:11.418 of a larger europe trip. And you know, obviously the 0:03:11.978 --> 0:03:15.298 UM this soccer influence is massive right almost anywhere in Europe, 0:03:15.298 --> 0:03:17.658 but certainly in Germany. And we were there during the 0:03:17.658 --> 0:03:21.258 World Cup, which was insane. So we were in Munich 0:03:21.338 --> 0:03:24.938 and in Berlin and just seeing just the I guess 0:03:24.938 --> 0:03:27.298 the passion for sport in general was pretty apparent. How 0:03:27.298 --> 0:03:29.938 did you see it manifests itself in terms of the NFL. Yeah, 0:03:29.978 --> 0:03:32.618 I mean I so dating myself a little bit here, 0:03:32.658 --> 0:03:34.938 but I grew up in the NFL. I guess my 0:03:34.978 --> 0:03:37.698 first role was when NFL Europe was still around this 0:03:37.978 --> 0:03:40.978 you were called. By the end of that five out 0:03:40.978 --> 0:03:43.818 of the six teams were based in Germany. UM, so 0:03:44.058 --> 0:03:46.658 got to spend a lot of time in Germany. Ryan Fire, 0:03:46.778 --> 0:03:50.298 Ryan Fire, the Hamburg Seed Levels, Frankfurt Galaxy, et cetera. 0:03:50.298 --> 0:03:52.738 We can go through that, UM, but spend a lot 0:03:52.778 --> 0:03:54.978 of time in Germany. And although you know, I think 0:03:55.018 --> 0:03:57.298 people towards the end of that the crowds weren't big, 0:03:57.498 --> 0:03:59.738 there was a there was a lot of support for football. 0:03:59.738 --> 0:04:02.218 Football is you know people even back then and people 0:04:02.218 --> 0:04:05.338 probably don't appreciate it, but it is played very widely 0:04:05.458 --> 0:04:08.858 in Germany UM and I think the influence of the 0:04:08.938 --> 0:04:12.938 US military presence there certainly helped grow the sport. And 0:04:13.458 --> 0:04:15.498 you know, it is played by Germans, but the fact 0:04:15.538 --> 0:04:18.978 that there was a U. S military presence definitely elevated 0:04:19.018 --> 0:04:22.338 the sport and made sure that it was seen in 0:04:22.378 --> 0:04:25.978 more places. So it was interesting because having been there 0:04:26.018 --> 0:04:29.298 and then NFL, you'rebended, and the NFL kind of change 0:04:29.298 --> 0:04:33.498 its strategy I think obviously rightly, from having a developmental 0:04:33.578 --> 0:04:35.818 league in that market to saying, look, if we're going 0:04:35.858 --> 0:04:38.218 to export the NFL, let's export the best for all 0:04:38.258 --> 0:04:41.338 the best product. And so headed to the UK and 0:04:41.338 --> 0:04:44.138 and obviously we've been playing regular season games there since 0:04:44.178 --> 0:04:47.498 two thousand and seven. So then for me, when I 0:04:47.498 --> 0:04:49.338 came into the role that I mean I'm currently in 0:04:49.378 --> 0:04:52.138 before I move into that uk GM role that you mentioned, 0:04:52.138 --> 0:04:56.098 which is international marketing, it was for me it was natural. 0:04:56.138 --> 0:04:58.098 I knew that there were fans back in Germany. So 0:04:58.098 --> 0:04:59.378 there were a lot of people who are like, Okay, 0:04:59.538 --> 0:05:01.578 well look we've got to We've grown a big audience 0:05:01.578 --> 0:05:03.018 in Germany. It was like, well, they were kind of 0:05:03.058 --> 0:05:06.698 already there. I'll take some credit, and he was, um 0:05:06.778 --> 0:05:09.378 so um. You know, we really put a focus on there. 0:05:09.418 --> 0:05:12.178 We found the right media partners, we we did everything 0:05:12.218 --> 0:05:14.538 we could. You know, one of the sort of levels 0:05:14.578 --> 0:05:16.578 that we like to pull to help grow the sport is, 0:05:16.658 --> 0:05:18.778 you know, how do we make it more locally relevant 0:05:18.778 --> 0:05:21.098 and how do we introduce We were very lucky at 0:05:21.098 --> 0:05:25.098 the time with a few German players in the NFL. Sure, 0:05:25.138 --> 0:05:27.898 how do we really help grow their profiles? In Germany? 0:05:28.218 --> 0:05:31.178 One of them, Sebastian Valma, was on the Patriots, which 0:05:31.178 --> 0:05:33.378 certainly helped when they're winning a lot, so that that 0:05:33.498 --> 0:05:36.938 sort of helped them grow their profile. So really it 0:05:36.978 --> 0:05:39.858 was just about you know, growing the sport, growing the game, 0:05:39.938 --> 0:05:42.258 and getting it to a point where it wasn't just 0:05:42.378 --> 0:05:45.058 those kind of laps NFL europe fans who were focused, 0:05:45.058 --> 0:05:47.138 but we'll bring a whole new generation of fans in 0:05:47.178 --> 0:05:49.298 as well. And that that that's sort of what we've 0:05:49.298 --> 0:05:50.978 been able to do over the as I say, the 0:05:51.058 --> 0:05:53.858 last sort of let's say six to ten years. Uh 0:05:53.898 --> 0:05:56.058 and and as I said at the beginning, that then 0:05:56.138 --> 0:05:58.578 led to a natural progression of you know, we can 0:05:58.618 --> 0:06:00.258 we can play a game there, and just as of 0:06:00.338 --> 0:06:03.098 this morning, so we announced you know, munich as the 0:06:03.138 --> 0:06:06.338 host city for the first game during Super Bowl weeks. Subsequently, 0:06:06.378 --> 0:06:08.018 a couple of weeks after that, we announced that the 0:06:08.018 --> 0:06:10.538 Buccaneers We're going to be the whole team. Then today 0:06:10.578 --> 0:06:13.098 that the Seahawks are going to be their opponent. And 0:06:13.138 --> 0:06:15.938 what happened out of that was we we put a 0:06:15.978 --> 0:06:18.258 registry of interest people could sign up to you know, 0:06:18.298 --> 0:06:21.098 I'm interested in buying tickets because we can't obviously go 0:06:21.138 --> 0:06:23.738 on sale. Interesting, you're you're on the thing. I'm interested, 0:06:23.978 --> 0:06:27.498 So you're not alone. Five more than five hundred thousand 0:06:27.538 --> 0:06:32.218 people put their email down and said I'm interested in 0:06:32.258 --> 0:06:34.418 buying a ticket to this game. And that's just individually, 0:06:34.458 --> 0:06:36.338 and you know, normally most people are going to want 0:06:36.338 --> 0:06:39.138 to go with one to Pere. We you know, as 0:06:39.178 --> 0:06:43.498 they say, we need for this one. So um, you know, 0:06:43.538 --> 0:06:45.658 the great news is that that game is going to 0:06:45.938 --> 0:06:48.978 be incredibly popular and people are thrown and it's not 0:06:49.098 --> 0:06:51.418 just although it helps that Tom Brady and the Buccaneers 0:06:51.418 --> 0:06:53.858 are coming, of course. This is the excitement around around 0:06:53.858 --> 0:06:56.378 the game in Germany. Oh my gosh, that is that's amazing. 0:06:56.418 --> 0:06:58.418 And then just to kind of relate this back to 0:06:59.138 --> 0:07:01.098 the origin story that you were talking about and this 0:07:01.178 --> 0:07:05.058 year's draft mobile, Ringer was of German descent and was 0:07:05.098 --> 0:07:08.938 one of the great one of the great draft stories. Absolutely. Yeah, 0:07:09.338 --> 0:07:11.738 it's a part of our International Player Pathway program. The 0:07:11.858 --> 0:07:15.578 very first year we had it, um, you know, it 0:07:15.698 --> 0:07:18.898 sort of shocked us. Came from a team called the 0:07:18.938 --> 0:07:23.938 Swabish Hall Unicorns in Germany. And he was a unicorn 0:07:24.018 --> 0:07:26.138 in that he was six ft four and ran I 0:07:26.138 --> 0:07:28.538 think four three or four years something, four or four 0:07:28.858 --> 0:07:32.018 or something like that. Um got that opportunity, I mean, 0:07:32.138 --> 0:07:34.618 really kind of showed that the buzz that can be 0:07:34.618 --> 0:07:37.418 built around a player during the draft, and the Vikings 0:07:37.458 --> 0:07:39.938 took a took a took a shot at him in 0:07:39.938 --> 0:07:42.658 the sixth round that year. Sadly he didn't work out, 0:07:42.738 --> 0:07:45.298 but you know, he got a bunch of different shots 0:07:45.338 --> 0:07:46.858 didn't work out with him in the Vikings and then 0:07:46.898 --> 0:07:50.418 subsequently with the Bengals. But since then we've we've developed 0:07:50.538 --> 0:07:52.098 a lot of German players. And in fact, one of 0:07:52.138 --> 0:07:55.258 those guys yesterday was part of our player Pathway program 0:07:55.298 --> 0:07:57.658 that's ration for this year with the Colts, Marcel Dabo, 0:07:57.978 --> 0:08:00.898 and he was he had the incredible athleticism that he 0:08:00.938 --> 0:08:03.978 showed it the pro day at Arizona exactly. Yeah, that 0:08:04.098 --> 0:08:07.178 was incredible, incredible athlete. I can't wait to see what 0:08:07.258 --> 0:08:09.978 he does in his opportunity here. But another you know, 0:08:10.098 --> 0:08:11.698 kind of going back to which is what you were 0:08:11.698 --> 0:08:17.298 talking about, in American football is played in Germany. Still. Um, 0:08:17.338 --> 0:08:20.098 another guy who was drafted in this class from Central 0:08:20.138 --> 0:08:25.698 Michigan Bernard Ryman from Austria learned about the game essentially 0:08:26.618 --> 0:08:31.338 by happenstance. His family had moved to a suburb of Vienna, 0:08:31.378 --> 0:08:34.258 I believe, and then he essentially just saw these guys 0:08:34.298 --> 0:08:36.338 playing this game in a field at a park right 0:08:37.098 --> 0:08:39.298 club team and then he joined one. Yeah. Absolutely, And 0:08:39.458 --> 0:08:40.538 you know, there are a lot of stories like the 0:08:40.578 --> 0:08:43.618 Sebastian Valma, who who obviously mentioned and played in the 0:08:43.738 --> 0:08:46.218 NFL with the Patriots again found his way to the 0:08:46.258 --> 0:08:49.618 sport playing in dustled Off for a youth team. There 0:08:49.698 --> 0:08:52.738 so a lot what we're trying to do and it's 0:08:52.738 --> 0:08:56.218 funny literally speaking to Sebastian about this in the last 0:08:56.218 --> 0:08:59.018 month or two, is how do you kind of remove 0:08:59.178 --> 0:09:03.058 the element of luck, um, both from discovering the sport, 0:09:03.378 --> 0:09:05.618 whether that's you know, as a fan and or on 0:09:05.658 --> 0:09:09.018 TV or whatever, then through playing the sport, how do 0:09:09.058 --> 0:09:11.498 you create some pathways for kids to be able to 0:09:11.498 --> 0:09:14.378 play flag football in these in these countries and then 0:09:14.418 --> 0:09:17.338 a pathway that could take them, you know, to college 0:09:17.978 --> 0:09:21.458 to the player pathway program to to to the pros. 0:09:21.578 --> 0:09:24.138 And we've done that with an NFL academy that we've 0:09:24.218 --> 0:09:26.938 launched in London, which is bringing kids at a high 0:09:26.938 --> 0:09:29.618 school level, because really the player Pathway program is very 0:09:29.618 --> 0:09:32.618 exciting can give these guys like myrself that I just mentioned, 0:09:32.618 --> 0:09:36.218 the opportunity at the age of two. But you and 0:09:36.258 --> 0:09:38.778 I know that really the best time to get these 0:09:38.858 --> 0:09:41.138 kids is going to be as early as possible, whether 0:09:41.178 --> 0:09:43.578 it's from a kind of you know, developing their body 0:09:43.618 --> 0:09:47.658 standpoint or understanding the sports, etcetera. So certainly, the early 0:09:47.738 --> 0:09:49.618 we can get them, the better training and coaching we 0:09:49.658 --> 0:09:52.178 can get them, the more likely they are to have 0:09:52.218 --> 0:09:54.858 an opportunity in college, whether that's just to play football 0:09:54.858 --> 0:09:56.738 in college and get a great education in the US, 0:09:57.218 --> 0:09:59.458 or you know, hopefully to to have that pathway that 0:09:59.498 --> 0:10:01.418 takes them all away to the NFL. No, it's a 0:10:01.418 --> 0:10:03.698 great it's a great point, and that it's really exciting 0:10:03.738 --> 0:10:05.338 all of the things that the the league and the 0:10:05.378 --> 0:10:07.698 initiatives that we're doing to to continue to grow the 0:10:07.738 --> 0:10:11.378 game and to grow you know, those natives of those 0:10:11.378 --> 0:10:14.138 countries interest in the game and ability to play the 0:10:14.138 --> 0:10:16.578 game in the NFL level here. Um, it's really cool 0:10:16.618 --> 0:10:19.058 to see. Obviously, you know when we talk about the 0:10:19.098 --> 0:10:22.498 International series, London is still kind of the marquee right, 0:10:22.618 --> 0:10:24.818 and and with three games this year to at Tottenham 0:10:24.858 --> 0:10:28.418 Hotspur Stadium and then one back at Wembley with the Jaguars. 0:10:28.418 --> 0:10:31.138 Who have you know, have been a popular team in 0:10:31.778 --> 0:10:34.938 London since we started the international series. How have you 0:10:35.018 --> 0:10:39.738 seen the series grow? You know, from one game in 0:10:39.778 --> 0:10:43.658 London to multiple games in London now to three in London? Like, 0:10:43.698 --> 0:10:46.218 where have you seen the popularity or maybe the biggest 0:10:46.218 --> 0:10:48.938 areas of growth as we sit now? Yeah, I mean, look, 0:10:48.978 --> 0:10:51.498 I think it's I think it's across everything. Yeah, it's 0:10:51.618 --> 0:10:53.898 you know, the first game, I was lucky enough to 0:10:53.898 --> 0:10:55.778 be in the UK office when we played that first 0:10:55.778 --> 0:10:57.898 game in London. It was fin actually on the our 0:10:57.898 --> 0:11:00.418 friends of Good Morning Football this morning. Um Shawn O'Hara 0:11:00.578 --> 0:11:02.658 was on the show this morning and he was part 0:11:02.698 --> 0:11:04.258 of the part of this game there, and we had 0:11:04.258 --> 0:11:08.418 O Human or who our ambassadors in the UK and 0:11:08.578 --> 0:11:10.738 works for the BBC and does a terrific job there 0:11:11.498 --> 0:11:13.178 was on the show as well. And just looking back 0:11:13.258 --> 0:11:17.058 at those videos and shots of of of that game, 0:11:17.578 --> 0:11:19.578 it was hard to imagine at that time that this 0:11:19.618 --> 0:11:22.458 will become something as regular and kind of as as like, 0:11:22.538 --> 0:11:24.778 of course there are games in London because it took 0:11:24.818 --> 0:11:26.858 so much to get to that point. But I think 0:11:26.898 --> 0:11:28.578 across the board when you see the growth of the 0:11:28.578 --> 0:11:31.018 fan base in the market, you see how well the 0:11:31.098 --> 0:11:35.258 NFL is covered by the media in the UK as well. Um, 0:11:35.458 --> 0:11:37.978 it's just you know, it's it's been exponential growth and 0:11:37.978 --> 0:11:40.618 and it will will will look to continue that in 0:11:40.738 --> 0:11:44.258 the coming years with more games, more to do around 0:11:44.298 --> 0:11:47.338 the sport and um and you know, hopefully delivering more 0:11:47.738 --> 0:11:50.258 UK athletes to the to the NFL as well. No 0:11:50.338 --> 0:11:53.098 doubt Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans. Saints will kick things 0:11:53.178 --> 0:11:56.418 off in London, so we get all three games in 0:11:56.538 --> 0:11:58.858 London this year will come in the month of October, 0:11:58.898 --> 0:12:01.858 so that Viking Saints game from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will 0:12:01.858 --> 0:12:04.098 be October two. Again. That's all of these are nine 0:12:04.378 --> 0:12:06.658 am you stern time kicks and you can see that 0:12:06.698 --> 0:12:09.658 one exclusively on NFL Network. That will be followed up 0:12:09.698 --> 0:12:13.018 the very next week by the Giants and Packers getting 0:12:13.058 --> 0:12:16.778 together at Tottenham Hotspur that again October nine, m E 0:12:16.858 --> 0:12:19.338 s Durn here on NFL Network and then the Denver 0:12:19.378 --> 0:12:23.858 Broncos will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wembley October 0:12:24.018 --> 0:12:26.578 thirty I am eas during that game can be seen 0:12:26.658 --> 0:12:30.058 on ESPN plus. I mentioned the Germany game Seahawks and 0:12:30.138 --> 0:12:33.898 Tampa Bay Bucks at f C Bayern Munich Stadium November 0:12:34.898 --> 0:12:37.058 am Eastern right here on NFL Network. And then finally, 0:12:37.058 --> 0:12:38.418 and we'll get to this here in just a second, 0:12:38.458 --> 0:12:41.578 but from the studio Esteco once again in Mexico City 0:12:41.978 --> 0:12:44.778 the San Francisco forty Niners in Arizona Cardinals in a 0:12:44.858 --> 0:12:49.138 divisional matchup November twenty one, eight p m. Eastern time, 0:12:49.338 --> 0:12:53.458 that game on ESPN. Um let's just talk about a 0:12:53.458 --> 0:12:57.258 couple of the some of the cool instances here with 0:12:57.378 --> 0:12:59.738 the UK. I mean, there have been teams that, over 0:12:59.778 --> 0:13:02.378 the course of the international series have somehow or have 0:13:02.698 --> 0:13:04.698 you know, I have not been a part of the slave. 0:13:05.418 --> 0:13:09.138 Now we get the Packers, the last one that the 0:13:09.218 --> 0:13:13.218 full set as all the thirty two helmets are now 0:13:13.218 --> 0:13:14.818 in London, I mean, is it like a little bit 0:13:14.818 --> 0:13:17.138 of a sense of satisfaction to get maybe arguably one 0:13:17.138 --> 0:13:18.738 of the greatest players to ever played the game now 0:13:18.778 --> 0:13:21.058 in London. It is, And it would have been frustrating 0:13:21.098 --> 0:13:23.578 if we'd got the Packers finally and we hadn't hadn't 0:13:23.578 --> 0:13:26.378 got Aaron Rodgers with them, So so that's that whole thing, 0:13:26.458 --> 0:13:28.778 That whole thing kame together nicely. But also for them 0:13:28.818 --> 0:13:30.498 to be playing the Giants, who, as you mentioned, the 0:13:30.618 --> 0:13:32.658 first team one of the first two teams to play 0:13:32.698 --> 0:13:35.058 in London, but also you know first and last really 0:13:35.378 --> 0:13:41.058 well not last, but yeah, you know, really popular team 0:13:41.098 --> 0:13:42.698 in the UK as well. So I think that's going 0:13:42.738 --> 0:13:45.578 to be a terrific game. Um and yeah, as you say, 0:13:45.738 --> 0:13:48.098 great to have the Packers there finally and for fans 0:13:48.138 --> 0:13:49.698 to get a chance to see Aaron it's gonna be 0:13:49.738 --> 0:13:53.618 really cool. Yeah. What goes into figuring out which teams 0:13:53.618 --> 0:13:54.978 are going to go and be a part of the 0:13:54.978 --> 0:13:57.898 international series, Yeah, it's so it's it's evolved a lot 0:13:57.978 --> 0:14:01.458 actually in the last year or so so with the 0:14:01.498 --> 0:14:04.578 extra game with the seventeen game of the season. Part 0:14:04.618 --> 0:14:08.338 of that was a commitment that every team would have 0:14:08.378 --> 0:14:11.218 to go every eight years and play in an international game, 0:14:11.698 --> 0:14:15.498 um and so. Um that then flip flops depending on 0:14:15.538 --> 0:14:18.258 which team has the extra home game, which conference has 0:14:18.298 --> 0:14:22.098 the game exactly so um this year obviously that meant 0:14:22.138 --> 0:14:24.618 that NFC clubs were the ones that we're going to 0:14:24.698 --> 0:14:27.818 be able to to go and play internationally, and it 0:14:27.858 --> 0:14:30.178 was then a combination of some teams that really wanted 0:14:30.218 --> 0:14:32.618 to go. Part of what we've done to grow the 0:14:32.618 --> 0:14:36.338 game internationally is have teams um be able to market 0:14:36.378 --> 0:14:38.938 themselves in some of these territories. So they've been able 0:14:38.978 --> 0:14:40.898 to go and sort of put together a bid to 0:14:40.938 --> 0:14:44.698 say we are focused on Germany or the UK or Mexico, etcetera, 0:14:45.058 --> 0:14:47.778 to to grow our brands. And so some teams that 0:14:47.858 --> 0:14:50.298 are natural affinity to to want to play in these 0:14:50.338 --> 0:14:52.578 markets and they put their hands up and said we 0:14:52.658 --> 0:14:54.618 want to go. We you know this is important to us. 0:14:55.258 --> 0:14:57.658 For the Packers, it was a case of um, they're 0:14:57.698 --> 0:14:59.538 not one of the teams that at this point have 0:14:59.538 --> 0:15:00.978 have signed up for the UK. But it was a 0:15:00.978 --> 0:15:02.458 case of like, you know, here we go. You're going 0:15:02.498 --> 0:15:04.858 to have to do at some point the next day years. 0:15:05.098 --> 0:15:07.938 Whereas before they were able to say no, we're not interested. 0:15:08.218 --> 0:15:09.818 This was really a chance for us to say, look, 0:15:09.858 --> 0:15:12.378 let's let's get this done. Let's get you, let's let's 0:15:12.378 --> 0:15:15.258 collect the set, let's get you to London. Um. And 0:15:15.298 --> 0:15:18.778 then for the other side of the matchup, it's about 0:15:19.138 --> 0:15:21.618 you know, looking at who's on on their slate for 0:15:21.658 --> 0:15:24.938 that season as a as a visiting team, UM, and 0:15:24.978 --> 0:15:27.378 then trying to decide, you know, what's the best matchup. 0:15:27.418 --> 0:15:29.018 And clearly, you know there are clubs that want to 0:15:29.018 --> 0:15:31.978 protect games, they want to have games that do get 0:15:31.978 --> 0:15:34.898 played in their own stadiums, Um, but we were able 0:15:34.938 --> 0:15:38.138 to to to get I think, um, you know, probably 0:15:38.138 --> 0:15:40.418 biased here, but I think it's the best across all 0:15:40.458 --> 0:15:43.178 across all five games, the best slate of international matchups 0:15:43.178 --> 0:15:46.218 that we've ever had, I would agree. I mean the 0:15:46.458 --> 0:15:48.458 fact that we're gonna get Tom Brady. You know, we're 0:15:48.458 --> 0:15:51.258 gonna get Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos. Now we're 0:15:51.458 --> 0:15:54.778 Aaron Rodgers, you get the Saints and Vikings to you know, 0:15:54.858 --> 0:15:57.858 really explosive offensive teams too, because I think that sells 0:15:57.978 --> 0:16:01.218 you know a lot Um and Um Lawrence are redubing 0:16:01.258 --> 0:16:03.538 to Jags team exactly. Yeah. I think, I mean, it's 0:16:03.618 --> 0:16:06.178 it's a it's a fantastic slay the matchups. And then 0:16:06.218 --> 0:16:09.138 as you mentioned, for Mexico to have a rivalry game 0:16:09.338 --> 0:16:12.618 in the NFC is super exciting and well, now you 0:16:12.658 --> 0:16:14.778 know one thing I have not unfortunately been able to 0:16:14.778 --> 0:16:16.938 get to London for one of the games yet. But 0:16:17.098 --> 0:16:18.818 you know, a lot of the stuff I hear the 0:16:18.978 --> 0:16:21.618 you know, the the great swath of jerseys that you 0:16:21.698 --> 0:16:23.458 end up seeing at a London game and in and 0:16:23.498 --> 0:16:25.898 around the city during the week, And I think that's 0:16:25.938 --> 0:16:27.738 awesome that you have that many people that are that 0:16:27.738 --> 0:16:30.818 that can identify with that many teams in one country, 0:16:30.818 --> 0:16:33.418 Whereas in Mexico City at least, the matchups have felt 0:16:33.418 --> 0:16:36.658 more regionally um located. You find that the interest there 0:16:36.738 --> 0:16:38.658 is still a little bit more regional when it comes 0:16:38.698 --> 0:16:41.018 to the NFL in terms of Western teams, NFC a 0:16:41.058 --> 0:16:42.818 f C West teams, that sort of thing. Yeah, I mean, 0:16:42.858 --> 0:16:45.738 I think the NFL is obviously more established in Mexico. Yeah, 0:16:45.818 --> 0:16:47.978 it's been. It's been a big sport in there since 0:16:48.018 --> 0:16:50.778 the seventies. So you know, the teams that actually resonate 0:16:50.818 --> 0:16:53.818 the most is funny in other markets, as we've grown recently, 0:16:53.858 --> 0:16:56.178 the Patriots the team that kind of over index a 0:16:56.218 --> 0:16:58.738 month fans because you know, a lot of the way 0:16:58.738 --> 0:17:01.098 that people discover the sport is by watching the Super 0:17:01.098 --> 0:17:04.378 Bowl their first touch for it. So inevitably they're like, okay, well, 0:17:04.418 --> 0:17:07.138 let's look like a good team for Mexico. Those teams 0:17:07.138 --> 0:17:09.298 are the Steelers and Cowboys. So that tells you kind 0:17:09.298 --> 0:17:12.338 of the vintage of of fandom in Mexico of sort 0:17:12.378 --> 0:17:16.058 of seventies eighties, um, when when those teams were obviously, 0:17:17.018 --> 0:17:19.738 so there's part of that, and then partly definitely regional. 0:17:19.778 --> 0:17:22.538 You know, it's obviously easy for fans to reach the Cowboys, 0:17:22.538 --> 0:17:25.458 which he into the Cardinals, the teams in California. So 0:17:25.498 --> 0:17:26.658 you see a lot of that as well, and we 0:17:26.738 --> 0:17:29.138 tried to lean into that with the matchups and look 0:17:29.178 --> 0:17:30.938 that we had a division game. I mean, it just 0:17:31.018 --> 0:17:33.818 kind of builds the intensity up. And also a repeat 0:17:33.898 --> 0:17:36.738 of the very first game played internationally. So in two 0:17:36.778 --> 0:17:40.138 thousand and five we had the opportunity to take one 0:17:40.178 --> 0:17:42.618 game internationally. That game was played at a Stadios Techa 0:17:42.698 --> 0:17:44.418 and it was the Cardinals against the forty nine. Is 0:17:44.458 --> 0:17:47.738 the cool thing was that? Um? In that game, it 0:17:47.778 --> 0:17:51.218 was Larry Fitzgerald's rookie season, so you know he was 0:17:51.378 --> 0:17:54.538 him and Kurt Warner were there, um in Mexico City. 0:17:54.698 --> 0:17:57.778 Now they are back again, um doing doing their things? 0:17:57.778 --> 0:18:01.978 How cool? How cool? Is that? All right? And then um, 0:18:02.058 --> 0:18:05.058 as you look for further expansion, as I mentioned where 0:18:05.058 --> 0:18:06.778 we were getting started. You know, my my dad worked 0:18:06.778 --> 0:18:08.498 in the NFL for forty years and was a part 0:18:08.498 --> 0:18:10.698 of a couple of the American Bowl Games, you know, 0:18:10.698 --> 0:18:13.498 which were preseason games played abroad, and it was you know, 0:18:13.538 --> 0:18:14.858 it was one in London that he went to with 0:18:14.898 --> 0:18:17.378 the Saints, Saints and Raiders, and then it was one 0:18:17.538 --> 0:18:20.538 later in the early part of the two thousands with 0:18:20.618 --> 0:18:23.818 the now Washington Commanders, get who they played, but it 0:18:23.818 --> 0:18:29.258 was in Osaka, Japan. Do you see a potential expansion 0:18:29.258 --> 0:18:31.458 to the Far East um as as an option for 0:18:31.458 --> 0:18:33.578 the NFL. I think it's definitely an option. I think 0:18:33.578 --> 0:18:36.298 it's harder to do with the you know, if we 0:18:36.298 --> 0:18:38.818 we want to be playing regular season games as opposed 0:18:38.898 --> 0:18:42.138 to preseason games, I think, you know, what's apparent is 0:18:42.178 --> 0:18:44.578 that whether it's that or like we mentioned with NFL Europe, 0:18:44.698 --> 0:18:47.858 you want to be exporting the real deal. And there 0:18:47.938 --> 0:18:49.538 was you know, I used to as a kid go 0:18:49.658 --> 0:18:52.378 to those American ball games in the UK and it 0:18:52.458 --> 0:18:54.498 was great, be like, hey, the Dolphins are coming, We're 0:18:54.538 --> 0:18:56.378 gonna see the marina and it's like, wait, where do 0:18:56.418 --> 0:18:59.738 you go? You know? That lasted like three minutes and 0:19:00.178 --> 0:19:04.178 then and then you have someone else playing instead. So 0:19:04.698 --> 0:19:08.938 I think the difficulty with going that far east to Japan, 0:19:08.978 --> 0:19:11.178 to China, et cetera, is how do you schedule that 0:19:11.218 --> 0:19:13.818 in the season, because that it's it's it's a long 0:19:13.898 --> 0:19:17.738 way for people to go. It's longer from California to 0:19:17.818 --> 0:19:19.618 the far East that it is from the Eastern Board 0:19:19.658 --> 0:19:22.698