The possibility of an NFL regular-season game being held in Japan has become more realistic, with Commissioner Roger Goodell (ロジャー・グッデル) saying that a Tokyo game could take place “next year or the year after.” Attention is focused on the expansion of international games and the timing of a potential official game in Japan.
The possibility of Japan hosting its first NFL regular-season game is becoming more realistic. The NFL's official website reported on the 23rd that Commissioner Roger Goodell (ロジャー・グッデル) said a Tokyo game could take place “next year or the year after.”
Goodell indicated that a Tokyo game could give concrete form to plans to expand into Asia. At a press conference in Dublin last year, he said, “Ideally, we would play 16 games overseas and have every team experience an international game once a year,” adding that “the next step will probably be holding a game in Asia.” Tokyo is now being cited as an important candidate venue.
The NFL is holding a record nine games overseas this season, including three in London and one each in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City. Goodell explained that these results provided grounds for considering a game in Japan positively as well.
Long-distance travel is cited as a challenge for holding a game in Japan, but Goodell indicated that the league's experience holding games across the Pacific had increased the feasibility of doing so. A total of 14 exhibition games were held in Japan between 1976 and 2005. If an official game is held in Japan again, it could be a full regular-season game rather than a preseason game.