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Detroit Lions likely won't be losing a home game to play internationally in 2024

dave birkett, detroit free press
·2 min read

The Detroit Lions' nine-game home schedule next season might include just that – nine home games.

The NFL announced the host teams for four of its five international games in 2024 on Thursday and the Lions are not among the first group of teams designated to travel abroad.

Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson (81), running back Reggie Bush (21), tight end Brandon Pettigrew (87) and others at the NFL Fan Rally at Trafalgar Square in advance of the International Series game Oct. 25, 2014 in London.
Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson (81), running back Reggie Bush (21), tight end Brandon Pettigrew (87) and others at the NFL Fan Rally at Trafalgar Square in advance of the International Series game Oct. 25, 2014 in London.

Under the NFL's current scheduling formula, NFC teams serve as host teams for international games in even years, when they have nine home games on their 17-game schedule, and AFC teams serve as host teams in odd years, except when teams volunteer to give up home dates.

The NFL will host five international games next season, three in London, one in Munich, Germany, and one in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars will host games in London in 2024 and the Carolina Panthers will host the game in Germany. The NFL will announce the host team for its first-ever Brazil game later this spring.

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All four teams are part of the NFL's Global Markets Program, which awards international marketing rights for various countries to NFL teams. The Lions do not currently have a designated international marketing territory, other than parts of Canada.

In December, the NFL announced it will play a game in Brazil – the Miami Dolphins are the only NFL team with territorial rights to Brazil, and the Lions and Dolphins do not play in 2024 – and changes to its international schedule that require teams to play internationally once every four years.

The Lions have not played overseas since visiting London for back-to-back games in the 2014-15 seasons.

The Lions still could travel internationally as a visiting team next season, though the NFL has not played a division game abroad since 2019. They play both the Bears and Vikings on the road as part of their 2024 schedule.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions likely won't host home game internationally in 2024