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.
A lot more of that has to do with NASCAR’s selling out to corporate ca$h and corporatized homogenization of the cars ... and drivers.
I used to care, but it’s hard to root for generic pretty boy driver x driving generic toyoforvy y anymore.
I think I watched one race last year. Probably won’t watch any this year.
This move has really nothing to do with trying to win fans in the UK. It has everything to do with expanding the TV audience back here in the US. And American TV is where the money is. The NFL has currently three windows for games on Sunday, with two windows on Monday and Thursday. There will be no games on Saturday, for two reasons, one is they do not want to hurt the NCAA, and two Congress passed a law back in JFK’s day that prevents the NFL from competing with the NCAA on Saturday. Friday’s are the traditional HS football night, with Tuesdays and Wednesday being a bridge too far for the NFLPA for health reasons. This leaves the League only one option, to expand on Sunday into an additional viewing window, Sunday morning. That is where London, and other European cities for down the road, comes into play. This would give the NFL an additional viewing window that they currently do not occupy. All they need from London is enough people in the stands to make it look good on TV here in the US.
They haven’t saturated, the fact that teams move proves that. But there’s 6.7 billion non-Americans in the world. An international footprint is good for sports, more money, more talent.
Aw...and I was so looking forward to Tuesday Night Football. :)
There are warnings about how the concussion problem will put an end to the NFL in about 20 years. However, there are more colleges playing football than ever before. The placing of a permanent team in London is a big mistake. Canada might be a better choise. Yet not really. 32 teams right now. To achieve balance there would need to be 2 more.