NFL expansion

[Bob Hunter]

The NFL is in demand in other parts of the world. There has been talk of expanding to London, Mexico and perhaps a major city in Europe. The NFL is becoming more diverse, just as the NBA is. When the Dream Team was formed, it displayed to the world how the game of basketball could be played and it opened the door to so many European players coming into the league.

Is it just a matter of time before the league votes for expansion across the pond? What would this do to the game? Some say it would be a scheduling nightmare. I agree, but a team could play a London game coming off of a bi-week and probably do fine. Also, the London team could play stateside for 5-6 weeks and then play a series of games at home. There are ways to work around it to minimize the travel. Yes, there would be huge sacrifices, but even Goodell has expressed openness to the idea. Soccer is getting huge here, why couldn't NFL football gain some traction overseas?

What do you all think?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ing-in-london/

[Jim Poteet]

The NFL is in demand in other parts of the world. There has been talk of expanding to London, Mexico and perhaps a major city in Europe. The NFL is becoming more diverse, just as the NBA is. When the Dream Team was formed, it displayed to the world how the game of basketball could be played and it opened the door to so many European players coming into the league.

Is it just a matter of time before the league votes for expansion across the pond? What would this do to the game? Some say it would be a scheduling nightmare. I agree, but a team could play a London game coming off of a bi-week and probably do fine. Also, the London team could play stateside for 5-6 weeks and then play a series of games at home. There are ways to work around it to minimize the travel. Yes, there would be huge sacrifices, but even Goodell has expressed openness to the idea. Soccer is getting huge here, why couldn't NFL football gain some traction overseas?

What do you all think?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ing-in-london/

The NBA will expand to other world cities long before the NFL.

[Bob Hunter]

The NBA will expand to other world cities long before the NFL.

I do agree that it is easier to transport a roster of 10 men to a European venue and play an NBA game when it is not so easy to transport 50 players, coaches and equipment. Not to mention finding a stadium suitable for an NFL game. So it would make sense to see the NBA expand, but they have a lot more games on their schedule. I just think it is time for the NFL to seriously consider expansion overseas.

[David Graham]

I think that expansion would be a great idea...... afterall we now live in a "global village", and the major sports played around the world could become much more global in status than localised as sports such as Gridion and Australian Rules Football presently are.
This has already been done successfully with other sports.

In Rugby Union in our part of the world there is a major southern hemisphere competition called the "tri -Nations series, where teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand compete at a high level. (Australia has three teams in this competition from Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT. Likewise there are teams from NZ and SA provinces as well) Europe has a similar competition as well, which in recent times has elevated England to a world champion status. (We intend to reverse that ASAP)

In Soccer (Football to the purists) there are already teams from major clubs playing in leagues in both Europe and in Asia. Again from an Australian perspective, we have two or three teams in the Asia League which has helped to develop the standard of soccer in our country...... to the extent that the Socceroo's (The Australian National team) can no longer be taken lightly on the world stage (World Cup & Olympics etc)

I could envisage a world basketball competition or at least a number of world regional Basketball competitions. I'm sure e.g. that we (in Australia) would definately benifit from having a team say playing in the NBA in the US...... judging by the number of Australians already playing in NBA and US College teams..... we could certainly field a team that would be extremely competitive in that league which would be probably the toughest Basketball competition in the world.

[Ryan Scott]

The NFL like their big London game right now. I'm not sure London could support a franchise at the same level the other NFL teams exist.

We're going to see a team in LA first.

[Jim Poteet]

I think that expansion would be a great idea...... afterall we now live in a "global village", and the major sports played around the world could become much more global in status than localised as sports such as Gridion and Australian Rules Football presently are.
This has already been done successfully with other sports.

In Rugby Union in our part of the world there is a major southern hemisphere competition called the "tri -Nations series, where teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand compete at a high level. (Australia has three teams in this competition from Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT. Likewise there are teams from NZ and SA provinces as well) Europe has a similar competition as well, which in recent times has elevated England to a world champion status. (We intend to reverse that ASAP)

In Soccer (Football to the purists) there are already teams from major clubs playing in leagues in both Europe and in Asia. Again from an Australian perspective, we have two or three teams in the Asia League which has helped to develop the standard of soccer in our country...... to the extent that the Socceroo's (The Australian National team) can no longer be taken lightly on the world stage (World Cup & Olympics etc)

I could envisage a world basketball competition or at least a number of world regional Basketball competitions. I'm sure e.g. that we (in Australia) would definately benifit from having a team say playing in the NBA in the US...... judging by the number of Australians already playing in NBA and US College teams..... we could certainly field a team that would be extremely competitive in that league which would be probably the toughest Basketball competition in the world.

When the NBA expands, the first foreign division will be in Europe. The second foreign division will be Asia with one franchise in Australia.

[Bob Hunter]

The NFL like their big London game right now. I'm not sure London could support a franchise at the same level the other NFL teams exist.

We're going to see a team in LA first.

Perhaps so, I do think London would exceed expectations in terms of support. We have to remember that London is a major host for sporting events. London is also a tourist destination. A lot of Americans travel to London and a good number live there. Nonetheless, the population of London is over 20 Million. I think an NFL team could fill the seats at Wembley a half dozen times a year. And we have to remember that NFL teams market themselves in such a way to garner a worldwide fanbase. And London is one of those cities that bring the world together. So I think expansion is a possible fit, I'm for it.

Now the L.A. problem is another thread!

[Shea Zellweger]

The NFL like their big London game right now. I'm not sure London could support a franchise at the same level the other NFL teams exist.

We're going to see a team in LA first.

we'll probably see a succession of several teams in LA, given their track record . I'm guessing there are a few other logical US locations that would get dibs in addition to LA. Portland, for instance. Or Birmingham.

[Scott Moseley]

Interesting that you bring this topic as I happen to be in the UK this week and have had a fair amount of sport conversations with quite a few lads n lasses and not one admitted to having a whit of US Football IQ though they said they had to tried to watch some NFL. I don't know who fills Wembly stadium when a Game is played there. I could see a Team in Mexico City much sooner than one in London.

LA - ? Local politics and unrestricted TV airing rights to the NFL tend to slow those moves, but I reckon it will be the next new franchise. LA Bengals anyone?

[Bob Hunter]

we'll probably see a succession of several teams in LA, given their track record . I'm guessing there are a few other logical US locations that would get dibs in addition to LA. Portland, for instance. Or Birmingham.

There was a lot of talk in Portland about landing an NFL team, but the politicians in Portland have made it clear they do not want to give the energy and resources to it, so it died. They lost their triple A baseball team simply because elected officials could not work out a deal to keep them there. So the historical Portland Beavers are no longer. But somehow they found the resources to land professional soccer! The Beaver's stadium has now been renovated for professional soccer.

I think L.A. has a terrible track record with the NFL and it really hurts them. A L.A. team should be a total start from scratch expansion team and not a relocation team. L.A. will need to form identity and ownership exclusively from within. But L.A. is too prideful for that, they don't want to build a franchise, they want a turn-key franchise that can win from day one.

I told you this was another thread!

[Ryan Scott]

You must be prescient. Roger Goodell announced just yesterday that in order for a team to move to LA they have to have a stadium capable of supporting two teams. I think the NFL is planning to have two LA franchises - likely by relocation, but they'll go to expansion if they have to.

I think the NFL in London is a great one off event - but even with the huge fan base potential, it will always be second fiddle. The NFL season happen entirely within the EPL season. London has at least four EPL teams with strong fan bases. You might be able to fill the stadium, but you won't build a real fan base. Most of the merch will come from the US - and the current NFL owners will have to share revenue with a club that isn't generating much of any from merch or broadcast. I don't think the economics make much sense right now.

[Bob Hunter]

You must be prescient. Roger Goodell announced just yesterday that in order for a team to move to LA they have to have a stadium capable of supporting two teams. I think the NFL is planning to have two LA franchises - likely by relocation, but they'll go to expansion if they have to.

I think the NFL in London is a great one off event - but even with the huge fan base potential, it will always be second fiddle. The NFL season happen entirely within the EPL season. London has at least four EPL teams with strong fan bases. You might be able to fill the stadium, but you won't build a real fan base. Most of the merch will come from the US - and the current NFL owners will have to share revenue with a club that isn't generating much of any from merch or broadcast. I don't think the economics make much sense right now.

You might be right, I think it would depend upon how many European players they could recruit. Not many of those guys around, but London is soooooo diverse ethnically. I envision an ethnically diverse team that would reflect the city that London truly is. I think if the personalities, players, and owners took the right approach, they could build a fan base. It may take years and sacrifice on the part of the owners, but there is no mistaking the huge overseas revenue potential overseas. If I were an owner, I would vote for it. But then, I'm an early adopter when it comes to change.

[Ryan Scott]

You might be right, I think it would depend upon how many European players they could recruit. Not many of those guys around, but London is soooooo diverse ethnically. I envision an ethnically diverse team that would reflect the city that London truly is. I think if the personalities, players, and owners took the right approach, they could build a fan base. It may take years and sacrifice on the part of the owners, but there is no mistaking the huge overseas revenue potential overseas. If I were an owner, I would vote for it. But then, I'm an early adopter when it comes to change.

I think that's why they're doing the annual game there - to build the brand and the fanbase. The Bucs are playing there quite often - mostly because their owner also owns Manchester United and they'd love to be the UK's "gridiron" team. It's a good step in the right direction.

I just think it's way too early to talk about expansion in that direction.

[Michael Flowers]

The NFL is in demand in other parts of the world. There has been talk of expanding to London, Mexico and perhaps a major city in Europe. The NFL is becoming more diverse, just as the NBA is. When the Dream Team was formed, it displayed to the world how the game of basketball could be played and it opened the door to so many European players coming into the league.

Is it just a matter of time before the league votes for expansion across the pond? What would this do to the game? Some say it would be a scheduling nightmare. I agree, but a team could play a London game coming off of a bi-week and probably do fine. Also, the London team could play stateside for 5-6 weeks and then play a series of games at home. There are ways to work around it to minimize the travel. Yes, there would be huge sacrifices, but even Goodell has expressed openness to the idea. Soccer is getting huge here, why couldn't NFL football gain some traction overseas?

What do you all think?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ing-in-london/

I think this is unlikely to happen any time soon. There was a NFL Europe league for a few years until it folded due to lack of interest. I think they would have to see a substantial interest increase before they would even consider it, especially given the travel expenses involved.

[Bob Hunter]

Okay, I read where the N.E. Patriots owner is projecting ten years. That seems reasonable.

[Shea Zellweger]

Okay, I read where the N.E. Patriots owner is projecting ten years. That seems reasonable.

well, if Kraft's predicting it, it must be so... After all, his team is really poised to make the move, they just have to change from being the New England Patriots, to being the NEW! England Patriots!

[Bob Hunter]

well, if Kraft's predicting it, it must be so... After all, his team is really poised to make the move, they just have to change from being the New England Patriots, to being the NEW! England Patriots!

I would name them the Red Coats for historical reasons and have their uniforms in the color of scarlet red with black helmets. That way you can't see blood on them. Seriously, you would have to do something the English will identify with even though it may be out of sorts with American NFL teams. The Red Coats can't be ANY worse than having a team named the Cleveland Browns. If there is any team in the NFL that needs a name change, a face-lift and possible relocation, it is the Cleveland Browns. But I wouldn't know anything about that, I've only been a Browns fan all my life.

[Ryan Scott]

If there is any team in the NFL that needs a name change, a face-lift and possible relocation, it is the Cleveland Browns.

Didn't that happen once already?

[Mike Schutz]

Didn't that happen once already?

And quite successfully at that.


Which lends support to Bill Simmons' contention that God hates Cleveland.

[Bob Hunter]

And quite successfully at that.


Which lends support to Bill Simmons' contention that God hates Cleveland.

yes, it happened once and it was premature. You don't kill something until it is completely ready to die then you plunge a sword in its side. So there was just enough life pumping through the veins of Clevelanders to resurrect the dumbest name ever given to a sports team. (No, I take that back, there were some pretty lame names before the merger). Anyway, now someone has to do the dirty work again for a second time. I predict it will happen in 5-10 years. Hopefully, this death will be more permanent.

[Steven Burton]

What do you mean NFL was in Europe for over 10 years. Walter Payton's son played there for a while. You could actually watch games over here in the summer for awhile. I don't think it would be to hard to transition. The main problem would be getting quality players. Since most who played in Europe where consider less than pro quality.NFL_Europe

[Bob Hunter]

What do you mean NFL was in Europe for over 10 years. Walter Payton's son played there for a while. You could actually watch games over here in the summer for awhile. I don't think it would be to hard to transition. The main problem would be getting quality players. Since most who played in Europe where consider less than pro quality.NFL_Europe

As I recall it was a developmental league and it wasn't exactly a miserable failure. It just couldn't be sustained in the terrible economy.

[Steven Burton]

As I recall it was a developmental league and it wasn't exactly a miserable failure. It just couldn't be sustained in the terrible economy.

I know that they did not have a good following in the Europe was what I had heard. They didn't have enough fan support.