A Just Cause? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

The $4.9 Billion Eagles Going International Seems Right. But Is It Right for Brazil?

The Eagles are coming to a City near you (well, at least they are if you live in Sao Paulo, Brazil.) Relax, if you live in Philadelphia then you won’t have to travel far for the rest of the 2024–2025 home games.

Jeffrey Lurie’s nearly $4.9 Billion franchise is joining other NFL franchises to go global.

As the NFL contemplates expansion into one of these foreign markets and with more teams playing on foreign soil, several other teams have secured international rights overseas themselves. The Dolphins and Bears have rights secured in Spain. The Dolphins also have rights secured in Brazil in addition to the Eagles. The Steelers have recently secured the same type of rights in Ireland.

Like any great company going international from the confines of only doing business in America since 1920, it’s an exciting time. But does excitement and opportunity make this right for Brazil and its people?

Undoubtedly, Brazil will reap the benefits of a tourism boost from the presence of the Eagles, Packers, and hordes of their fans traveling to see the game. But the NFL will profit from the broadcast, sale of official merchandise, and revenue from the game.

According to Ticketmaster, the average ticket left for the game is $339.30. It’s an expensive item for a county whose average monthly income is a $750.00. Many of Brazil’s residents cannot afford to attend the game at Corinthians Arena.

And how about an effect on the fans back home?

The Eagles and Packers have a storied history. In fact, the 1960 NFL Championship Game the Day after Christmas was blacked out on TV around the Delaware Valley. Many of my relatives listened to it on radio. Which is appropriate considering in an attempt not to compete with broadcasted high school games on Friday night, the 2024 Eagles/Packers matchup will only be available to be seen with a subscription streaming on NBC’s Peacock.

Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

Sure — one could argue that if the world stage craves NFL football — well then expansion isn’t just the right move for the NFL but rather a necessary one. Or that both Eagles and Packers should be afforded every opportunity to take advantage of a worldly presence that other NFL teams are benefitting from.

But although Sao Paulo is one of largest cities in South America, for a powerhouse country like the US whose revenue and budget is 3x the size of Brazil — is bringing NFL Football there the right move?

Either way, that is exactly what is happening in September 2024.