London NFL Games: The Revenue Hit Some Owners Are Happy to Take

That creates a totally different set of economics. While NFL teams keep the bulk of the ticket revenue from their standard regular season home games, the NFL operates its international series via a much more centralized system. In lieu of that standard seven-figure gate, the league delivers a set payment to the "home" team and covers a lot of the cost of travel and accommodations for players and equipment.

"It's not good," laughed Commanders owner Josh Harris when asked at the London pub where the team was hosting fans on Saturday. "It's bad in a lot of ways. But I'm not so much focused on economics, honestly. I'm focused on being part of the NFL community and growing the game internationally."

"I would describe it as an investment in the future of the league and the team," Clouse said in an interview from the same bar, where about 2,000 fans had gathered. "That's the way we have to look at it."