London to get NFL team?
The head of the NFL in the United Kingdom says London is moving closer to getting an NFL franchise.
In an interview with Reuters, NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said the success of the NFL’s International Series in London, which began in 2007, has made a franchise there a real possibility.
“I think the first chapter has been considered a success with the owners voting on a renewal going forward,” Kirkwood said. “Jacksonville returning is also a sign of maturity of the concept.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced this week that the Jacksonville Jaguars will play one home game at London’s Wembley Stadium for four years starting next year.
“What this now does is allow us to test if we can bring in more new fans and boost a single team recognition,” Kirkwood told Reuters.
“Once that period has come up we will then have learnt an awful lot about it and know what the viability for us going forward is and then be in a great position to make a call [on putting a franchise in London].”
This year’s London game is scheduled for Oct. 28 between the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots.
Do you support the NFL moving overseas while U.S. cities such as Los Angeles remain without a franchise? And how about some ideas for a team name?
More NFL Coverage
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
126 comments Add your comment
Taipei Personality
August 24th, 2012
11:49 am
Delbert, they tried that. Canada would not hear of it unless we were willing to take Quebec in return…
tdawgmoney
August 24th, 2012
12:02 pm
Tthe London Olympians
The London Blue Bloods
The London Bridge-men
The London Queens (hehehe)
The “Old England” Patriots
The London Big Bens of Castlebury
The London Fightin’ Bag Pipers
Matt
August 24th, 2012
12:11 pm
MLB games were played in Japan recently, and Puerto Rico a few years ago. There is already a Canadian MLB team (used to be two) in the sport that used to be called America’s Pastime. Now they want to have an NFL team in London? Bat$hit insane.
Come on now, at least let us have our version of football to ourselves. I thought foreigners only cared about their version of football.
CEPH
August 24th, 2012
12:12 pm
I wish they would send the entire NFL to Europe,then I wouldn’t have to cut on sports TV and listen to a bunch of overpaid, underachieving morons talk about being underpaid,not respected,I didn’t do it, that wasn’t my gun,I don’t know who’s drugs they were but they weren’t mine, yada, yada, yada. Obviously Europe doesn’t want the problem or we wouldn’t have disbanded the teams that were already playing there!!!!!!
vladamir sonovabitch
August 24th, 2012
12:13 pm
It would actually make the term “World Champions” mean something when a team wins the Super Bowl. I always question how a team can be called world champions when the US is the only nation in the game.
Tucker
August 24th, 2012
12:25 pm
London Bridges…with the obvious fight song.
Theron Sapp
August 24th, 2012
12:32 pm
The travel problem is easy. The NFL buys a retired Concorde, tunes it up, and it’s three hours from JFK to Heathrow.
al b sure
August 24th, 2012
12:43 pm
London Broilers!
Okay, It's Over
August 24th, 2012
12:53 pm
This is not going to happen. For these reasons:
1) too far to travel. Only east coast teams could/would do it during the season. End of story
2) Peak Oil
3) Peak Oil
Hank44
August 24th, 2012
12:54 pm
Remember folks, Atlanta lost the Thrashers because of the foolish owners and the Canadians wanted a hockey team so bad they essentially bribed the NHL. The city the Thrashers moved to also lost a hockey team previously. The Gwinnett Gladiators are doing ok.
Okay, It's Over
August 24th, 2012
12:55 pm
This will only happen in John Madden football.
Let's Be Real
August 24th, 2012
12:59 pm
If you want to go international, Mexico City seems like the obvious choice.
Okay, It's Over
August 24th, 2012
1:13 pm
Let London have a fantasy football team.
They could start this year.
UGA89
August 24th, 2012
1:57 pm
This will be the 3rd, yes 3rd, time the Patriots have been to London to play a game. Does this mean they are the team that’s moving to London??? The Saints have been to London, are they the team that’s moving? Why is it that Atlantans( mostly Falcon fans) find it necessary to put down the Jaguars every time there is an article about expansion?! What have the Falcons done for you people to put the Jags down every time you can? The answer: nothing!! Jacksonville is an awesome city and the people there love their team as much as you love yours. It is a big stadium and they actually improved their attendance last year. The Falcons have nothing to boast about. Atlanta’s attendance last year averaged 550,000 to Jax. 500,000. That’s not a big difference considering the size of Atlanta over Jax. Khan just spent millions on upgrades- new locker room, new sound system. The city of Jax. is NOT giving up their team and LA does not deserve a team. They’ve already had multiple chance with an NFL team and couldn’t make it work.
Geoh70
August 24th, 2012
2:24 pm
The British Empires
The London ” Prince Harrys” (No games scheduled in Vegas)
Keep it American
August 24th, 2012
3:20 pm
There’s an NFL head in London? Must be a cush job with no teams
Keep it American
August 24th, 2012
3:25 pm
They’ve only attended and watched American football games as an every now and then novelty. Like when Americans only watch soccer when it’s the World Cup.
It will never replace or sustain over soccer in Europe, and that’s ok.
Quit forcefeeding soccer down Americans throats and leave them be with their soccer and rugby.
NFL finished tapping billionaires in America?
August 24th, 2012
3:29 pm
Goodell, We don’t need anymore American outsourcing.
Prince Charles
August 24th, 2012
3:30 pm
The “Old England” Patriots. That’s a winner.
Stop the rising costs for everyone involved...
August 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
run out of jock sniffing buyers/owners in USA?
MaxxFalon
August 24th, 2012
4:23 pm
London Knights
Reired Vet
August 24th, 2012
5:00 pm
Hell of a road trip. These people have way too much MONEY.
London to get NFL team? | football-feed.com
August 24th, 2012
7:38 pm
[...] to Original Content From Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog): read more Related Articles Share About Author [...]
granddad1
August 27th, 2012
2:52 pm
Why not Japan, Korea or China lots of potential fans there. Personally I believe the amount of the teams at present is 16 too many. The true talent is spread too thin. Would be nice to have league like we had when Lombardi was coaching where the players were not treated like the over paid prima donnas they are today
Eugene Mendez
August 28th, 2012
7:02 am
Nice blog keep writing more great blogs in the future!
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
August 29th, 2012
9:01 pm
This whole idea of an NFL team in London is really DUMB on so many levels. The teams that would have to travel to London would be at a huge disadvantage because of the amount of time spent making that long flight to and back from London. Why wouldn’t the NFL just established a European NFL conference?