NFL 'on track' to deliver UK-based franchise within six years as sport's fan base grows

The Daily Mail ^ | 20 January 2016 | MATT MALTBY

[MinorityRepublican]

The NFL are 'on track' to deliver a permanent UK-based American football franchise within the next six years, spokesman Mark Waller has insisted.

Since 2007, London's Wembley Stadium has been home to the National Football League's International Series by hosting regular-season matches.

Jacksonville Jaguars ‒ who are owned by Shahid Khan, the Fulham owner ‒ have played a game a season there since 2013 and now a permanent move for an NFL team appears to be likely.

[ken5050]

I know Kentucky sucks in SEC football, but really, giving the school an NFL franchise to compensate?

[Jonty30]

I assume football players are not going to like being traded there.

[nickcarraway]

16 trips across the Atlantic every year? This is almost as bad as putting a team in Los Angeles.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Brilliant, strip St. Louis of an NFL team, strip either San Diego or Oakland of their franchises, and give an indifferent England an NFL team, forcing West Coast teams to participate in a once-every-four-years road trip from hell.

There's still a lot to love about pro football, but Roger Goodell and the current NFL ownership are working hard to eliminate them, one by one.

[LibWhacker]

What will they be called?

[dfwgator]

Fair’s Fair, we should get a Premier League team in return.

[Capt. Tom]

Look at the 80,000+ attendance figures on the right.
That pretty much tells the story. - Tom

[chajin]

I know Kentucky sucks in SEC football, but really, giving the school an NFL franchise to compensate?

I saw what you did there...

It only worked once, but one time I convinced Mrs. C that the Gators were playing a British all-star basketball team for about five minutes, at least until she heard the announcer mention Kentucky.

OTOH, the real question on FR is whether having an NFL franchise in London would work better if Trump were the nominee, or Cruz...

[jmaroneps37]

Will someone, anyone in the sports world PLEASE recognize that there is more to the world than sports? In six Fricking years there won’t BE an ENGLAND PERIOD. It will be Londonstan!! Noboby in their right mind will be worried about who will win the Super Bowl in Londonstan.

[catfish1957]

My thoughts too. I wonder how one team who plays with 16 weeks of perpetual jet lag will do.

[citizen]

I’m holding out for the Kathmandu Sherpas.

[dfwgator]

Maybe they can be the “Old England Redcoats”.

[Know et al]

What will they be called?

The Liverpool Jetlaggers.

[nickcarraway]

Will they be allowed to use a cricket bat during the game?

[Canedawg]

the “Old England Redcoats”.

GMTA

[Alberta's Child]

This is not a good sign for the NFL. It tells me that have saturated the U.S. market completely and are now running out of gas.

This is not unlike the situation about 20 years ago when NASCAR began expanding into major metro areas from its original strongholds in the South. Two decades later, the organization has a lot of problems ... and lot of their traditional fans are gone.

[Alberta's Child]

I don’t think the TV networks are going to be too keen on this. The ratings won’t be very good for an “NFL Today” show that starts at 9:00 on a Sunday morning.

[nickcarraway]

The NFL. Now with 50% more rioting and hooligans.

[dfwgator]

Plus the NFL season is in parallel with their “Footy” season, I’m sure they Premier League folks wouldn’t be too happy about that.