NFL Announces 4 Games Will Be Played in London in 2017 Season

The NFL announced on Dec. 9 its London series will be expanded from three regular-season games to four in 2017.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the following, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra on Dec. 9:

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We continue to be incredibly excited by the passion and love for the NFL shown by our millions of UK fans. London is an amazing city. We have had tremendous support from our fans, from Mayor (Sadiq) Khan and other government leaders and business partners, and we are looking forward to taking the next step in the UK by playing four games in London next season.

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The NFL has played three games in London in each of the past three seasons, and it began regular-season play there in 2007.

According to Patra, the NFL said viewership for games in the United Kingdom has more than doubled since the start of the series. Despite the success, there is expected to be at least one significant change in 2017.

According to Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal, the NFL intends to change the start times of London games due to lower ratings in the morning. ESPN.com's Adam Schefter noted the London games are likely to start at 1 p.m. ET along with the rest of the Sunday slate instead of 9:30.

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