NFL negotiates first regular season game in new host country as Roger Goodell travels to Paris Olympics

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has talked about holding games in Paris, US Sun understands.

The commissioner discussed the possibility of staging regular season games at the iconic 80,000-seat Stade de France while heading across the pond for the 2024 Olympic Games.

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The NFL already has a vast presence in Europe, with games in London a regular part of the calendar since 2007.

Two years ago, the league returned to Germany for the first time since the collapse of NFL Europe.

Goodell confirmed that league executives wanted to dive into another market last November, with Brazil and Spain being suggested as the two likely destinations.

In the end, the NFL decided to go to South America with the Philadelphia Eagles set to face the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo as part of Week 1 of the 2024 season.

But the league is not yet done transforming football into a truly global sport, sources said.

A source from the city of Paris’ sports department confirmed to The US Sun that there is “common interest” in bringing NFL action to the French capital.

The goal is to play regular season games in Paris in the coming years, at the Stade de France – the country’s national stadium that will host the closing ceremony of the 2024 Olympics.

“We see that there are games in London – and soon in Madrid – and we know that other cities, such as Rome or Barcelona, ​​are also pushing to host games,” said the source.

“So we’re trying to get some headway in our negotiations.”

French authorities hope to have at least two games played in France per season, the source said.

Goodell has witnessed the enthusiasm of local sports fans with his own eyes, having attended some Olympic events this week – and “loved” what he saw, understands The US Sun.

“We have had very interesting meetings and conversations and are looking forward to taking the next steps,” said the source.

“The NFL is really excited about this possibility and we are going to make it happen, that is almost certain as both parties want the same goal.”

Another source close to the Stade de France management entity confirmed that “the talks and meetings” with Goodell “were very positive, to say the least”.

The commissioner seemed “thrilled” about the idea of ​​bringing NFL football to Paris, the source added.

As conversations continued, the source continued, the commissioner mentioned that the NBA would host regular season games in Paris again in recent years — noting that he wants his league to follow suit.

“He knows that Paris is the perfect city for this type of event,” said the source.

“And he is very, very excited about the prospect of having Paris and the Stade de France hosting regular season NFL games in the very near future.

“We both want the same [things]and we will make it work, as it is a huge project and guaranteed to be successful.”

The source said the venture would be a “win-win situation for both the NFL and Paris and France,” considering the league’s global ambitions and the city’s passion for sports.

Last year, Goodell confirmed plans for further international expansion before defining Brazil as the next market to enter.

“We want to grow to become a truly global sport, so we need to play in more markets, clearly,” he said in Frankfurt last November.