LONDON — Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam says it’s a bit of a burden to play a game in London.<\/p>\n
The NFL is staging a record-high seven games abroad this season, including the Browns against the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> on Sunday in the English capital, in its aggressive push for international growth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be honest, if the commissioner was sitting here, I\u2019d tell him, I would much rather play at home in Cleveland than travel all the way over to London,\u201d Haslam said at a sports conference. \u201cBut hey, we\u2019re team players. We want to do everything we can to boost the league and so we\u2019re going to do our share.”<\/p>\n NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell actually had sat at the same stage earlier in the day and reiterated the league’s plans<\/a> to eventually hold 16 games internationally each season \u2014 creating a potential scenario in which each team would play a game abroad every season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a key part of our growth strategy,\u201d Haslam acknowledged.<\/p>\n But he also described the team’s schedule of moving gear and flying overnight to land in London early Thursday.<\/p>\n “To move that much equipment, for that many people, that quickly, and then get it all back Sunday night because we have to start again on Monday \u2014 it\u2019s a challenge,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it\u2019s also something you relish and something different.\u201d<\/p>\n Team co-owner Dee Haslam added that \u201cfor our organization, it\u2019s a lot of work,\u201d but that it’s a \u201cgreat opportunity\u201d for the team and Browns fans<\/a> traveling for the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.<\/p>\n The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n The Browns play at Pittsburgh in Week 6.<\/p>\n The team has played only one other regular-season international game \u2014 a 33-16 loss to the Vikings in 2017 at Twickenham Stadium.<\/p>\n The team provided some updates Thursday on its proposed $2.4 billion domed stadium<\/a>.<\/p>\n AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company will be the construction managers and the groundbreaking is set for early next year, the Haslam Sports Group and the Browns announced. The goal is to start playing in their new 67,500-seat home in 2029.<\/p>\n \u201cThe average ticket will be over $200 plus food and beverage, so we want (fans) when (they come) to a game to have a great time and say, \u2018You know, that was a lot but it was worth it, and I want to do it again,'” Jimmy Haslam said in London.<\/p>\n He added that they will bid to host games for the 2031 Women’s World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n