NFL committed to long game as it hunts 'next 50 million fans' outside US

The NFL says its international push is built for the long haul, targeting “the next 50 million fans” in markets outside the United States rather than relying on domestic demand alone. Gerrit Meier, head of NFL International, told Reuters the league is moving toward measurable global engagement through a record nine-game schedule spanning four continents and seven countries. The effort begins next week in Melbourne when the Los Angeles Rams open their season against the San Francisco 49ers—Australia’s first taste of the NFL’s top level. The league has already cited an 8.8 million Australia fan base from an independent survey.