The relocation of NFL franchises have become a common trend over the past few seasons. Since 2016, three NFL teams have been given permission to relocate their franchises across America. We have seen the St Louis Rams move back to Los Angeles in 2016 after a 21 year absence. This year we will see the introduction of the Los Angeles Chargers, following the relocation from San Diego. And in the 2019 season, we will see the Oakland Raiders move to Las Vegas. With relocation being a hot topic at the moment, one of the big talking points currently is potential destinations for teams to move to. And although domestically is the more likely option, is international relocation a realistic possibility? Is a London franchise viable?
Examining the Viability of a Londong NFL Franchise
London looks to be the most likely destination if any international expansion was to occur. Since 2007, London has played host to 17 NFL regular season fixtures. Each of these games have been played in front of sold out crowds, and have gained phenomenal results. But despite to these positive results, there are still many issues that appear in regards to international relocation. Here are some factors that may raise concerns over the possibility of a London franchise.
Location
Location is the clear issue that bridges the possibility of a London franchise. The fact that London is half way around the world would make travel an significant issue for other teams. To put it into perspective, 3,470 miles separates London and New York, which is around 700 miles further than the distance between New York and Los Angeles. Travel would become a major inconvenience for teams, especially in Central and Western America. Previously, teams who have participated in the International Series would have a bye week the following week to help in recovery. However, many have labelled this as impractical if a franchise were to be set up in London.
To combat this, a London franchise could play its home and away games in blocks. This would mean playing home games in consecutive weeks, and vice versa. This could make travel much more convenient for a London franchise, but it would not erase the distance American teams would have to travel. Could there be a possible solutions to this problem?
Demand
Another question that may be asked is if London has a suitable market for American Football? Would the stadiums be filled every game? Is the fanbase large enough? Well if the International Series has proven anything, it is that there is certainly a market for an NFL team in England. All 17 games London has hosted since 2007 have sold out their ticket allocation in just minutes. Thousands of people cram into Regent Street, one of Europe’s largest shopping districts, every year to enjoy the NFL Festival in the week building up to the games. There’s no doubt that London would welcome an NFL team with open arms. However, would English fans be willing switch allegiances and support a London franchise over their preferred team?
Stadium
A London franchise would need a permanent stadium to play their home matches. Despite the fact that Wembley has played host to 16 of the 17 games hosted in London, Wembley Stadium will likely not be available for all 8 home matches in a season due to other commitments.
However, Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are set to move into a brand new state-of-the-art stadium in July 2018. What is significant about this move is that Tottenham Hotspur have also signed a deal with the NFL. This deal will see NFL regular season games played at Tottenham’s new stadium from the 2018 season onwards. The stadium will have additional features that have been added specifically for NFL teams. This includes larger changing rooms and tunnels to suit a 53 man NFL roster. As well as this, the stadium will also have a retractable natural grass pitch over an artificial surface to be used for NFL games. This could be a potential solution for any venue issues that may be raised. But schedules would have to be based around Tottenham Hotspur’s fixture list, which could cause some inconveniences towards NFL schedules.
Overall
Although the possibility of a London franchise is reportedly becoming more likely, there are still many obstacles to overcome. With the Oakland Raiders needing a home for the 2018 season during their transition to Las Vegas, London has been highlighted as a potential solution. The Jacksonville Jaguars have also been linked with a possible relocation to London, after featuring in the International Series for the previous four seasons. But for the time being, nothing has been set in stone just yet. London will once again play host to four regular season games this upcoming season, with anticipation for a London franchise only increasing amongst British fans. They certainly feel that it is only a matter of time.
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