This weekend sees the first of three NFL International Series games at Wembley Stadium in 2014. With the return of the International Series comes the return of the debate on whether or not London should eventually get its own franchise. This topic divides both fans and experts but it does seem like the powers that be are going to try and put a team in London. The league has already started to explore their options about where a potential franchise would play, but which team would make the move across the Atlantic Ocean? The likely candidates will be those that have options to get out of their lease and are looking for a new stadium. Here are the leading contenders who could move and become London’s team.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are in the second year of a deal that will see them play a game in London for four years. This has led many people to label Jacksonville the favourite to move to the UK. However, despite Jacksonville not being an easy market or the biggest, owner Shad Khan has said he is committed to keeping the franchise in Jacksonville. In addition, the fact that the Jaguars process to get out of their lease would be a costly one and that they have just finished refurbishments on Everbank Field means this team is likely staying put.
St Louis Rams
The Rams, like the Jaguars, had a multi-year deal in place to play games in London before canceling it after one trip. Their lease at the Edward Jones Dome has now become year to year after they failed to agree on a deal to upgrade it with the city of St. Louis. However, it would seem a return to Los Angeles is a more likely destination than London. Rumours about a Rams move to LA refuse to dissipate and were fueled even more when owner Stan Kroenke bought a large area of land in Los Angeles.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders would probably not be the first team to come to mind for the NFL to export but it may be more likely than some would think. The Raiders are on a year to year lease, currently share a stadium MLB’s Oakland Athletics, and desperately need a new facility. The options seem to be running out for the Raiders. Negotiations with the city of Oakland for a new stadium have so far been fruitless. A stadium share with the neighbouring San Francisco 49ers at newly opened Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara has been mooted, but neither team seems particularly keen. A return to Los Angeles, where the Raiders played between 1981-1995, would seem like a perfect solution, but other teams are also circling. Owner Mark Davis recently held talks with San Antonio, but it is likely the owners of the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, Jerry Jones and Bob McNair, would look to block such a move. In all likelihood the Raiders would explore all options in America before looking at London, but if a solution fails to present itself the Raiders may be forced to consider more drastic action to solve their stadium problem.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are looking to get a new stadium and similar the Raiders and Rams are now on a year by year lease. However the Chargers are looking to stay in Southern California with San Diego their preferred option, but if that fails a move to Los Angeles would be preferable. San Diego, like the Raiders, would have to exhaust their other options before considering London.
Expansion Franchise
The alternative to moving an existing team to London would be to start a new one. While this would solve one set of problems such as stadium leases and local fan opposition to their team leaving, it would encounter a whole new set. Expansion franchises generally struggle in their formative years and a losing team could struggle to keep fan interest in a still relatively unproven market.
The NFL seem to be set on a path towards putting a team in London. Who exactly that team would be is still unclear. A number of teams need new stadiums and making a move to another city is one way to accomplish that. However, the teams that would be considered for such a move have greater ties to Los Angeles and Southern California. So perhaps the NFL must solve its Los Angeles conundrum first in order to make the picture about London clearer. An expansion team would be an alternative option but does come with its own issues. If the league is serious about expansion, new teams in LA and London may be a way to move forward with both markets without causing too much upheaval elsewhere.
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