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I think this is a bad idea: I wonder what team gets the short straw...... London Jaguars?

New report claims NFL commits to London franchise in six years

Posted by Mike Florio on January 20, 2016, 2:49 PM EST

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AP

It’s a movie we’ve seen many times before. A report emerges from a media outlet in the United Kingdom that the NFL will be moving a franchise to London. And the report seems to be, from the perspective of folks who want to see it happen, too good to be true. And then we find out it isn’t true.

The latest example comes from the BBC, which has posted an article online that commences with this bombshell: “The UK will have its own American football franchise within six years, according to NFL spokesman Mark Waller.”

The article contains no such quote from Waller, although he is quoted as saying things that could be viewed as suggesting that a relocation may occur at some point.

“We are in a unique position as a sport because of the way our season is structured — we only play one game a week,” Waller said. “It’s not something other American sports could do.”

Still, the article characterizes Waller’s comments as reflecting a “commit[ment] to a franchise permanently based in Britain.” Which Waller probably didn’t do.

We’ll now ask the league about Waller’s comments. And the NFL undoubtedly will say that Waller didn’t say what the BBC says that Waller said.

I assume that this is what our press conference today is about? haha

The most illogical of all places to put a team.

NFL will fail in Europe until they start to have home grown talent. Honestly, I think the NFL would probably do the best expanding into South America than Europe. Granted it's a lot less more prestigious, but I believe that the resources in South America show a bit more potential than Europe at the current time.

I could see where we end up having at least 4 new teams in europe as part of making an extra division. I just think having too many teams spreads out the talent too much. It's hard enough to get a QB as it is. The few teams with great QB's always seem to be dominant teams with a huge advantage.

I hope they name them the Bloody Wankers.

The NFL will never be able to put a team overseas. Those teams will never have Monday, Sunday, or Thursday night games broadcast in the states, as they are at least 5 hours ahead of EST. This also rules out those games appearing in the afternoon on Sundays, as those would start at 9 PM local in London, and later at night local if you go any further east. The logistics just suck to bring this product to their largest audience, the US.

London Jaguars

Just my opinion, but I think it's a dumb idea to have a team in London. Or anywhere in Europe for that matter. The travel logistics would be a nightmare in and of itself.

Put one in Mexico, or Canada.......or better yet, just keep them all here in the states.

There's no way on Earth a franchise could survive let alone thrive in Europe. And the players would be run ragged with the travel. It would be an extremely bad idea. So I expect the NFL to run with it.

This will be a monumental failure.

Brazil has the third most NFL fans in the world. I know Rio is a pretty great city when you're rich. Let's put one there

Guy's

I live 25 miles from London but have been a Cleveland fan since the fumble game. Like most of you I Think the logistics would be a bloody nightmare putting a team here,but not necessarily totally unworkable. As a player I'd hate to be located here also because of family considerations if nothing else.

Having said that I think Goodell is uber keen on getting a franchise here simply from the business and dollar aspect of this, and this will be the over riding factor on any decision made.

FYI the games in London over the last 7 years have always been sold out ( we had 3 regular season games last year with 80,000 fans at each)! It's also the 3rd most watched sport on Sky tv here after our own Premier league soccor and Prime time boxing events so it has a really big following. As a result I believe that putting on an 8 game season here will be no problem selling out. The reason for the earlier failures of the game this side of the pond were because fans here wanted the real NFL and not the scrub players that coudn't make the grade. In other words we didn't want a second hand product.

The Jaguars seem to be the most likely team to relocate if it happens imo but who knows.

Also a 1pm game London time is 8am EST. Early, but not ridiculously early, and also it means it would be the only game televised state side at that time (think viewing figures) and would give you a 4 game NFL Sunday if that's your thing.

Anyway, not a big fan of this happening but if I Was a betting man I'd say the odds are favourable that within the next 10 years it will, sorry !

GO BROWNS.
ps, I'd still be a Browns fan even if we get a team here.

Anchorage, Alaska should get a team before London does...

They'd have to make London games 4pm there.

London is going to happen and it's a market the NFL needs.

Sure expanding to LA, San Antonio, or Vegas are more logical to the average NFL fan, but most of the people in those markets already watch the NFL. There isn't any "new money" there. If the NFL wants to grow, they need to expand to markets that don't already consume their product. They've been playing games in London for a while and it's been a success in the NFL's eyes and pocketbooks. The players have been able to make the flight and play. The games have been on early or the same time and we've watched. I don't see the big deal. And it's not like anyone truly cares that the Jags stay in Jacksonville.

Mexico and Canada? I don't know if either are valid options. Don't the NFL and CFL have an agreement to not set up franchises in the others territory? And the NBA and MLB tried expansion to Canada and ended up moving teams back to the States (which could happen with London and the NFL, but they have to take the risk to grow their business).

I'm not for it, but I'm not against it either. I understand the NFL wants to grow. Expanding to Europe is logical in that sense.

Some times, chasing money for the sake of money, bites you in the rear.

I do agree with this. Look at NASCAR.

I do believe the NFL will have a franchise in London though. They've been running an experiment with having games there for a while now. I believe they are already sold on the idea and have every intent to make it happen.

I don't know Eric. I get the night games here would be out, but others wouldn't. We are also assuming the NFL is content to keep telecasting games in the traditional 1pm kick in the east. People on the west coast are accustomed to eating breakfast burritos while watching the game that starts a 1 on the east coast. No reason to think that people in NYC wouldn't get up to watch a game that kicks at 8-9am...a 1 -2 PM start in London. People in LA get up to watch their team playing in the east to watch at 10am.

I think in Hawaii games start at 7am.

I'd rather London over some crappy South American country or Mexico.


Think out of the box folks.

And some times, chasing money for the sake of money, makes you more money. Capitalism.

The NFL has planted many seeds in London over the years. They've made it no secret they want to expand there. It's gonna happen. They're willing to risk the money to gain a share of the Euro market. If it works, they're going to make A LOT OF $$MONEY$$!

I don't really have an opinion of if this expansion to the Euro market will work. Maybe it explodes positively, maybe it's an unmitigated disaster, or maybe it is no better or worse than keeping a team in a tiny Jacksonville market.

Also, I think the LA move sheds some light on what the NFL wants with London. They see it as a place to put a team, build an NFL flagship location to market their presence, a new TV market (moreso for London), host events like the draft, Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl. This isn't just about one team in a new location, it's a lot bigger.

You have to acknowledge, the NFL is probably already as big as they'll be in the States. If they want to grow, and growth is important to all businesses, they have to look outside of the States. I'd prefer they expand to Toronto or Mexico City, but I think the NFL already said no to that for various reasons.

They are maxed out here in the USA. The NFL wants global exposure.

horrible move

Punch, Jacksonville isn't a small market. The problem is it has a high percentage of people in the Navy. They hold allegiance to other teams, and don't stay long enough to really build allegiance to the Jags.


A bit different compared to cities like Tampa and Miami. They have fans from all over, but they stay there and build a loyality to the local team. The loyality might not beat their loyality to the Bears or Browns or whoever, depending on where they are from, but they still support the local team as they start to spend years in the area. Jacksonville is a different deal. You have a great number of people who transfer in, and transfer out before they can develop a loyality.

I am a Browns fan, but I live about equally between Atlanta and Nashville. I watch and support those two teams since I have lived here 40 years. I am sure a few on here who no longer live in Cleveland kind of, sort of, root for other local teams from time to time, but that doesn't happen over 3-4 years. It takes some time.

In Soviet Union, team cheers for you!

Not London!

Too many werewolves!

Imagine a west coast team having to play in London for a playoff game. That is an eight hour time difference.

Agreed; there are too many teams as it is. But for the moment, we're probably just looking at the London Jaguars.

I've lived in Portland for 6 years. The most popular team is Seattle, obviously. I used to root for them back in the day (I used to pick an NFC team each year to be my #2, and it was usually the Iggles or the Hawks), but living here has made me actively root against the Seahawks, just because their fans annoy me.

For this reason, I sort of assume a London team would have a consistent 8-8 record. Win all the home games, lose all the aways.

Never happen. I can't see a single player that would willingly pay 45% tax in the UK, then pay US tax on top of that. The Union would tie it up in court forever.

That probably is the best arguement against.

I could easily see 16 new teams from all over the world where they only have to play few games a year outside of their timezone. They they just make their bye week for when they change timezones.

Like you go to a 15 game season(which many players want) and add a bye week after every 5 weeks. You lose 32 games from the current league but gain 256? games from the new league and just eliminate the wild cards from the playoffs to keep the playoffs more manageable. That is a huge money gain not to mention the fan support and merchandizing.

Traveling ain't that hard if they invest in a supersonic jetliner or two.

Don't understand this league.

Trying to stimulate revenue through other countries, Yet taking away teams from your own country.

Should just start two new teams...

Shoulda kept Rams in St. Louis, and started a new team in LA.

Start a new team in San Antonio.

Relative to the NFL city sizes, Jacksonville is generally ranked 4th smallest on the various sites I've seen--above Green Bay, Buffalo, and New Orleans.

The only one I would have considered outside of JAX is Buffalo. But with the owner from Buffalo and their plans on building a new stadium downtown (away from Orchard Park) this still makes Jacksonville the favorite in my mind. But you never know.

China Manziel will feel like a giant.

Southpark''' --- " those Chinese can get up to 5 feet tall"

As far as broadcasting games on Sunday, the NFL HAS to love this. The grab up ANOTHER 4 hour block of coverage as the games would start around 9 am EST in the US. Football coverage from 9 am to midnight on Sundays? You bet.

If you were an owner, would you rather have 1/32nd of the pie or 1/34th of the pie?

Also, that would screw up the divisions and schedule royally.

The British Buggers?

Horrible idea. The time and money alone. Travel would be nasty. Months away for players. Consider taxes as well. WE have done this before, and it bombed outside the US. Maybe Canadia would be a better start.

Training facility might be The Rip Your Lungs Out Gym . . .hey, it could happen.