The Southeastern Conference (SEC) will not be expanding its reach overseas anytime soon, as emphasized by Commissioner Greg Sankey during the SEC’s recent spring meetings. Despite discussions about the possibility of organizing football games at international venues, Sankey stated the logistics and economic feasibility present significant hurdles.

Sankey noted that while there have been conversations about playing international games, the concept poses too many challenges, particularly regarding the economic impacts on local communities surrounding SEC stadiums.

“The economics of our stadiums are just very different from our colleague conferences that have been a part of that,” Sankey explained. He highlighted the potential loss of a home game, which could affect the attendance of up to 100,000 fans, as a critical aspect of this decision.

He mentioned, “We’ve had some conversations around maybe non-conference games, that might be an away game, but it’s never worked. The strength of this conference is in our communities, and we magnify that on a national and even international level.”

This sentiment reinforces the notion that an authentic SEC game-day experience is best preserved on home soil, where the energy and culture of college football thrive.

Some conferences, such as the ACC and Big Ten, have successfully hosted games abroad, including a notable matchup in Ireland. However, Sankey indicated that attempts to play in Dublin have yet to come to fruition, saying it “just hasn’t quite worked for us.” He concluded that while international play could present opportunities, the SEC will continue prioritizing its strong presence in its home regions.