The NFL is making a huge effort to grow its international audience.
But league bosses are risking alienating some of the most loyal overseas fans after removing the option to buy a season ticket for games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Since 2019, supporters could buy tickets to both NFL London games held at the arena at inflated prices and were guaranteed the chance to renew them for the following season.
But the option is being removed from the 2025 season onwards.
Season ticket holders will have the chance to enter an exclusive presale for the games, which feature the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets this year.
The NFL claims the move is being made in order to give ‘the opportunity to attend games in London’.
But supporters are sceptical and think the move will only increase issues with seats being sold at inflated prices.
Fans in the UK were not pleased, with many having spent thousands of dollars on tickets since 2019.
“I’m raging at this. Been going for several years on a season ticket and will now most likely lose our excellent seats due to greed,” wrote one.
“Disgraceful behaviour from the @NFL No reward for loyalty. I’ve put up with the annual price rises and now just had my tickets removed,” a second added.
“Gutting, been a season ticket holder for years, Twickenham, Wembley and Tottenham. Let people pay £££ each year, then the game gets popular they ditch the loyal fans,” a third added.
“It’s official – season tickets are no more for @NFLUKIRE at Tottenham Stadium. Such a shame there’s no loyalty for those of us there year after year,” a fourth bemoaned.
The NFL went to Brazil for the first time this year and international games are in huge demand.
“Global is something that we’re intent on becoming — a global sport,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said during Super Bowl week.
Ireland, Australia, Spain, and Germany are all on the menu, in addition to the three-game run in London.
NFL bosses are now looking at an 18th game added to the regular-season schedule, with all 32 teams potentially playing outside of the United States at least once.
Public bargaining is already underway between the NFL and the Players Association.
Players could trade extra rest time, another bye week, and one fewer preseason game in exchange for giving the green light to the International Football League.
“Our focus is on getting these games right that we have now,” Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president international for the NFL, exclusively told talkSPORT.
“The membership has approved going up to eight (international) games, and making sure that we strategically and smartly use those games as a catalyst.
“The games are not the only thing we’re doing in these markets.
“It’s really at the core around the league growing as a true global sport property.
“We know we’re not fully there yet but we have an opportunity and we’re seeing that. We’re seeing that momentum.”
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