NFL teams can take a financial hit when they host regular-season games in London, but some owners increasingly view the cost as an investment in the league’s international expansion.
The Washington Commanders are the latest example. The team will officially host the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, replacing what would normally have been a home game at Northwest Stadium in Maryland.
The economics of an international game are significantly different from a standard NFL home fixture. Teams typically retain about 66% of regular-season ticket revenue, while the remaining 34% goes into the league’s shared pool. Home teams also keep most revenue from concessions, parking, premium seating and on-site merchandise.
Those revenue streams are largely absent from international games. Instead, the NFL operates the International Series through a centralized model, providing the designated home team with a payment while covering many of the travel and accommodation costs associated with taking the game overseas.
Commanders owner Josh Harris acknowledged that the economics are unfavorable for teams, but said financial returns are not the primary motivation.
“It’s not good,” Harris said, adding that his focus is on being part of the NFL community and helping grow the game internationally.
Commanders president Mark Clouse described the London fixture in similar terms, calling it “an investment in the future of the league and the team.”
The financial trade-off comes as the NFL significantly expands its international footprint. The league had three overseas games in 2015, all in London. In 2026, the schedule includes a record nine international games across seven countries and four continents.
For the NFL, the value extends beyond direct game revenue. International games introduce the sport to new audiences while creating additional domestic broadcast windows. The Commanders-Colts matchup, for example, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET, giving the league another premium programming slot that can strengthen the value of its media rights.
Teams can also generate indirect commercial benefits. Franchises use international games to build relationships with overseas supporters, organize fan events and sell merchandise in new markets.
The Commanders established a London headquarters for fans during the week leading up to the game, with current and former players participating in events. The team had already sold much of the merchandise it brought to London by Saturday.
The commercial opportunity is particularly relevant for a franchise such as Washington. Sportico values the Commanders at $9.64 billion, making them the NFL’s 11th-most valuable team, while the franchise generated approximately $719 million in revenue last season.
Most NFL teams currently play an international game less than once per season. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the exception, with a special arrangement that includes two designated home games in London each year.
The league’s centralized approach also means teams have limited control over where and when they play overseas. Harris said that being selected for an international game is ultimately a sign that the NFL sees value in exposing a franchise to new audiences.
For the league, the strategy reflects a broader shift in how international expansion is viewed: not simply as a source of immediate team-level revenue, but as a long-term investment in audience growth, media value, sponsorship opportunities and the global commercial potential of the NFL.
Meta description: NFL teams can lose home-game revenue when playing in London, but owners increasingly view international games as a long-term investment in global growth.
Focus keywords:
NFL London Games
NFL international games
Washington Commanders
NFL global expansion
Tags: NFL, NFL London Games, Washington Commanders, sports business