NFL’s Seattle Seahawks spreading its wings to Canada

The Seattle Seahawks say they will “explore future opportunities to play a regular-season game in Canada” in a move from the NFL to drive fan growth outside of the U.S.

Canada is just one of eight countries granted access to 18 NFL teams, as part of an international effort for marketing, fan engagement, and commercialization.

But only two teams got cleared to bring their international interests above the 49th parallel: The Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings.

However, fans will still have to wait to see where the teams will play and when.

“Clubs can begin to activate in their awarded market(s) on January 1, 2022,” the league said, and they “will play at least one international game in the next eight seasons.”

We’re excited to have been awarded Canada???????? and the United Kingdom???????? as part of the @NFL’s International Home Marketing Area initiative.

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— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2021

The Seahawks say they will invest in further engaging “12 North” — the team’s Canadian fan base. The team says its efforts will be largely focused in Western Canada, where the team already has a strong base in B.C. Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

The Seahawks stadium at Lumen Field is about a three-hour drive south of Vancouver, and many fans cross the border to watch games in person. More than 3,000 season ticket holders are Canadian, and about 13,000 single game tickets are sold to Canadians in an average pre-pandemic year.

Courtesy: NFL)

“We have a strong and long-standing relationship with Canadian football fans as our direct neighbors to the north,” said Chuck Arnold, President, Seattle Seahawks and First & Goal Inc. “For years they have been an incredible, passionate and supportive group and we’re thrilled with the opportunity to increase our engagement with them directly in Canada moving forward. We are grateful to the NFL for the opportunity.”

The last time the Seahawks played in Canada was a pre-season game in Vancouver in 1998.

Big news!! #TheNorthRemembers https://t.co/bNnTnLWRBx pic.twitter.com/dkeJZeus6a

— Luke Willson (@LWillson_82) December 15, 2021

The Vikings are also excited it won a bid to market the team in Canada and the UK.

“Specifically, the Vikings can begin investing in growing its fan base through fan events and activations, localized social media channels, and merchandise sales locations,” the team wrote in a release.

“With the geographic proximity and our already-established Canadian fans, including hundreds of passionate Season Ticket Members, Canada is a tremendous fit for us,” Vikings owner/president Mark Wilf said.

Canadian fans will be excited the team is launching a new Twitter and Instagram just for them.

However, many in eastern Canada are likely left annoyed the teams closest to the border are not part of the initiative: the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions.

The NFL did not outline why some teams won the bid, and it’s not clear which teams chose not to participate in the venture.

The last NFL game in Canada was a pre-season game between the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg in 2019.