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When the Washington Commanders take on the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, it will mark a departure from the typical home game at Northwest Stadium in Maryland. The shift to London brings a completely different financial structure for the Commanders, who are technically the home team.
In standard regular-season home games, NFL teams retain the majority of ticket revenue. However, the league's international series operates under a centralized model. Instead of the usual seven-figure gate, the NFL provides a fixed payment to the designated home team and covers many travel and accommodation expenses for players and equipment.
So how does this arrangement affect the home team's bottom line? "It's not good," Commanders owner Josh Harris said with a laugh at a London pub where the team hosted fans on Saturday. "It's bad in a lot of ways. But I'm not so much focused on economics, honestly. I'm focused on being part of the NFL community and growing the game internationally."
Team president Mark Clouse echoed that sentiment. "I would describe it as an investment in the future of the league and the team," Clouse said in an interview from the same bar, where about 2,000 fans had gathered. "That's the way we have to look at it."
The NFL's international ambitions have expanded dramatically over the past decade. In 2015, there were three overseas games, all in London. This year, a record nine games are being played in seven countries across four continents.
These games serve multiple purposes. They introduce the NFL to new markets, exposing new fans to the world's richest sports league. They also create a new time slot for domestic broadcasts—the Commanders-Colts game kicks off at 9:30 AM ET—allowing the league to capture more of the weekly calendar and command higher fees from media partners.
For the teams, overseas games present both opportunities and challenges. While the economics may not fully balance out, they allow U.S. fans to experience a different kind of road trip and open the door to gaining followers in distant locations. However, they also incur additional costs: both London teams this past week set up fan headquarters, with current and former players participating in events leading up to the game. On the flip side, additional income can be generated—by Saturday, the Commanders had sold out much of the merchandise brought to London.
According to Sportico, the Commanders are valued at $9.64 billion, ranking 11th in the NFL, with revenue of about $719 million last season. For standard regular-season games, teams typically keep about 66% of ticket sales, with the remaining 34% going to the league for pooled sharing. Revenue from other streams like concessions, on-site merchandise, parking, and premium seating is overwhelmingly retained by the home team—and that's largely what is missed with the London games.
Clouse declined to discuss specifics of the stipend the league shares with teams hosting overseas games. "Let's just say we're all in agreement: we share together. We invest together to make it a great experience," he said. "We're happy to do it and we're thrilled to be here. And with each [overseas] game we play, we see more and more of our fans excited about travelling."
Currently, most NFL teams play international games less than once a year. The lone exception is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have a special arrangement with the league that includes two home games in London per season.
Harris noted on Saturday that while teams have little say in their international assignments, it is an indication that something is going right. "You really don't have a choice," he said. "The NFL literally just says to you, 'You're a good team, everyone wants to watch you, you're an exciting team, you're going to London.' It's not your choice, so what you try to do is make it a great experience for your fans, your community and your players."
Key Analysis
The NFL's international series represents a strategic trade-off for team owners: sacrificing immediate local revenue for the potential of long-term global growth. While the centralized model ensures cost coverage and a shared stipend, the loss of high-margin revenue streams like concessions and premium seating is substantial. Yet, as Harris and Clouse emphasize, the broader goal of expanding the league's footprint and fanbase outweighs the short-term financial hit. With the NFL's international schedule expanding to record levels, this approach reflects a collective investment in the league's future, even if it means individual teams take a financial step back.
Originally reported by yahoo.