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NFL To Play Four Games In London In 2017

BALTIMORE (WJZ) - The Ravens odds of taking a long road trip overseas next season has just gone up.

The NFL announced today that it has raised it's the amount of games played overseas to four.

Last week, the league informed the Ravens  and owner Steve Bisciotti that the team is under consideration to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in London next season.

"I would absolutely love going to London," Bisciotti told season-ticket holders in a conference call last year. "I'm all for it. I think it would be a blast."

Since 2014, the NFL has played three games a season in front of sold out crowds in London.  Since 2007, the NFL's popularity continues to grow in the UK. Sunday viewership of NFL games has more than doubled and the Super Bowl audience has increased more than 75 percent. This season, the NFL is on pace to reach a record number of unique TV viewers in the UK.

The popularity is also reaching the youth. Participation in amateur football in the UK has risen by about 15 percent since 2007, and American football is now an officially recognized sport in UK schools and universities.

The league says teams and venues will be officially announced Tuesday via the NFL's Facebook live page.
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