UK Enthusiastic for Super Bowl, NFL Fans Wary

The glitz, the glamour, and the gridiron glory of the Super Bowl, an quintessentially American spectacle, could be headed for a historic transatlantic move if Britain’s top diplomat in the US gets his wish—a prospect that has ignited a firestorm of opposition from the NFL’s most passionate fans.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the sports world, Great Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, has publicly pitched for the NFL championship game to be hosted overseas for the very first time. The revelation, reported by The Times from his address to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on August 15, 2025, represents the most audacious bid yet to globalize America’s biggest sporting event. “I’ve made a big pitch for the first Super Bowl outside the US to take place in Britain,” Mandelson declared, adding with fervor, “I want that Super Bowl in Britain… We love it, we love it.”

Why is the NFL Considering International Games?

The ambassador’s push is not made in a vacuum. It aligns perfectly with the NFL’s strategic, long-term vision to expand its international footprint beyond regular-season games. Since first playing in London in 2007, the league has aggressively added international fixtures in Germany, Mexico, and most recently, Brazil. The 2025 season alone features games in São Paulo, Madrid, Dublin, and Berlin, alongside multiple fixtures in London. This expansion is a clear commercial mission to tap into new markets, grow the fanbase, and increase global broadcasting revenue. Hosting a Super Bowl, an event that draws over 100 million television viewers and generates between $150 million to $1 billion for host cities according to various economic studies, would be the ultimate culmination of this strategy.

How Would a London Super Bowl Impact American Fans?

The prospect, however, has been met with immediate and intense backlash from the NFL’s core American fanbase. The primary concerns revolve around profound logistical and cultural complications. Prominent sports commentator Big Cat of Barstool Sports captured the sentiment, stating, “…Like this whole global expansion of football, do not care. I watch football, with my friends, in America.”

Fans quickly took to social media to voice their strenuous objections, highlighting critical issues:

• Time Zone Troubles: A game played in the UK would start in the middle of the night for viewers in Asia and pose severe scheduling problems for primetime viewing in the US, disrupting a decades-old tradition.
• Financial Burden: Many American fans save for years to afford the trip to the Super Bowl. A transatlantic flight and London’s high cost of living would place an insurmountable financial barrier on all but the wealthiest attendees.
• Cultural Identity: For countless fans, the Super Bowl is more than a game; it’s a national holiday. Moving it abroad is viewed as a betrayal of its American roots. One fan succinctly noted, “The biggest American sporting event belongs right here in the U.S.—not overseas.”

The backlash underscores a significant rift between the league’s global business ambitions and the desires of its domestic supporters who feel the essence of the sport is being compromised for profit.

The NFL has not officially commented on Ambassador Mandelson’s proposal. The league’s current schedule is firmly set stateside, with Super Bowl LX slated for Levi’s Stadium in California in 2026, followed by games at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2027 and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 2028. While the ambassador’s bold vision has sparked a global conversation, the unified voice of displeasure from American fans presents a formidable hurdle, proving that some traditions are not for sale.

While the league’s international strategy continues to evolve, the passionate response confirms that the idea of a Super Bowl in Britain remains a deeply divisive and unpopular concept among its most important stakeholders: the fans who built the game.

Must Know

What did the UK ambassador say about the Super Bowl?
British Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson stated he made a “big pitch” for the first Super Bowl held outside the United States to take place in Britain. He expressed a strong personal desire for the announcement to happen during his tenure, emphatically adding, “We love it, we love it.”

Why does the NFL play games in London?
The NFL plays international games, including in London, as a core part of its long-term strategy to grow the league’s global brand, attract new international fans, and increase revenue from broadcasting rights and merchandise sales outside its traditional North American market.

What are the main arguments against a UK Super Bowl?
Fans argue against it due to severe time zone differences that would disrupt viewing for American audiences, the exorbitant cost and travel logistics for US-based fans to attend, and a fundamental belief that the championship game of an American sport should remain on American soil as a matter of tradition.

Where are the next three Super Bowls being held?
The next three Super Bowls are scheduled for Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (2026), SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (2027), and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia (2028).

How much money does a host city make from the Super Bowl?
Economic impact studies vary widely, but estimates suggest a Super Bowl can generate net profits for the host city and region ranging from $150 million to as high as $1 billion from tourism, hospitality, and related spending.