The National Football League began with a split league of eleven games to seventeen games in the regular season. Further discussion and debate suggested the possibility of an eighteen-season regular season with variation in the playoff format. In the past, increasing the amount of playing weeks has called for implementing rules that accommodate player safety, team strategy, and more. For example, by transforming the game from being predominantly rush-heavy to pass-focused, the extension of the NFL season opens new doors for the league in terms of revenue, higher viewership, opportunities abroad, etc. However, the expansion of the NFL season brings about the potential for greater and more severe injuries, which would have to be an issue that is addressed. The impact of expansion on the team salary cap, increasing player wages, and depreciating value of certain positions, such as running backs, further fuel the possibility of expanding the season.

Following the unsuccessful attempt at opening a league abroad in Europe, the National Football League has seen great potential and results for global expansion, with positive reactions to games held in England, Mexico, Germany, etc. To continue this success, the NFL Global Markets Program was created and gave specific teams marketing rights in different countries. More specifically, in international economies, this has allowed for greater spread and exposure of the game as well as millions of dollars in revenue towards international economies. Overseas franchises become another possibility for global expansion, however, they would create issues in TV coverage and time coordination. Furthermore, the 2019 CBA prevents the creation of overseas teams and limits the amount of international games in a season. Given the issues of fees and adjustment, overcoming it would require a significant restructuring to the NFL ownership structure and NFL Global Markets Program for effective global expansion of the sport.

Alex Percey is a senior at Maggie Walker and is excited to chair his first committee for GSMUN! He fell in love with Model UN last year at GSMUN when he was a mock delegate in the Star Wars committee. Outside of Model UN, Alex is a captain and the #1 singles on the Maggie Walker tennis team. He is the president of Maggie Walker’s intramural sports league, Dragons on the Field, and loves to watch and analyze the NFL. Alex cannot wait to meet all the delegates at GSMUN XXVI!

Kushal Gowda, a junior, absolutely loves football, and can not wait to co-chair this committee. This is his second year doing Model UN at Maggie Walker, and is excited to continue contributing to GSMUN after serving as a crisis director the previous year. In addition to Model UN, he serves as the State President for Virginia’s Technology Student Association. Outside of school Kushal plays concerts in restaurants around Richmond, runs track and plays baseball, and coaches football at Deep Run High School. Kushal loves getting to work with people and is very excited for this committee!