The NFL’s Path to Global Expansion: Flag Football and International Games
The National Football League (NFL), often regarded as America’s favorite sports league, is seeking innovative ways to expand its reach. Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, who holds a significant ownership stake in the New York Giants, believes that flag football and international games are pivotal in maintaining and growing the league’s vast audience.
Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, part of the family owning a 45% share in the Giants, emphasized the necessity of looking beyond the United States for growth opportunities. At Business Insider’s The Long Play event, she stated, “There just isn’t enough room to continue to grow in the US only. You have to be thinking about international growth too.”
As a leader in sports-focused investments through her venture capital firm Next 3 and as a co-owner of Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, Tisch Blodgett asserts that international games are essential for the NFL’s future prosperity. These overseas contests are instrumental in cultivating a younger and more diverse fan base.
“A sports fan today in 2026 looks different than a sports fan did maybe 100 years ago,” Tisch Blodgett noted, highlighting the changing demographics and interests of sports enthusiasts.
Under NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s leadership, international games have been a significant focus. Since 2007, with the exception of 2020, the league has hosted games outside the US, expanding from a single annual game in London to nine games across various global locations this season, including Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Madrid, Munich, and Mexico City.
Flag football is another strategic avenue for the NFL’s expansion. Set to debut as an Olympic sport in 2028, it offers a welcoming platform for both international audiences and those in the US, particularly girls who may lack opportunities to engage in tackle football.
Tisch Blodgett is optimistic about the correlation between playing sports and developing fandom. “If we know we need people to be playing to be a fan, we’re going to invest in flag so that we continue to grow that fandom,” she said, advocating for the NFL’s investment in flag football to foster lifelong connections with the sport.
Flag football’s popularity among high school girls saw a substantial increase of 49% last year, with participation exceeding 100,000, according to a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). This growth positions flag football as one of the top 10 sports for high school girls, with numbers soaring from fewer than 16,000 participants four years ago.
In addition to girls, tackle-free football leagues present an option for boys whose parents may have safety concerns regarding concussions, an issue the NFL has focused on over the past decade. The NFL’s commitment to flag football is evident in the launch of Premier Flag, a professional flag football league set to kick off next summer.
“As tackle football has declined, they didn’t just sit back,” Tisch Blodgett remarked, acknowledging the NFL’s proactive efforts to adapt and expand through innovative avenues like flag football.
