Over the last two weeks eight NFL teams have made the trip across the Atlantic to play regular season games in London, England. A game considered by many to be “America’s” has been expanding trying to gain a larger global following. In London the Miami Dolphins have faced the Oakland Raiders, the Atlanta Falcons battled the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys faced the Jacksonville Jaguars. The three games were a huge success at Wembley Stadium, all three were sold out. Next year, the NFL decided to schedule the first divisional game in London, as the New York Jets will be the visiting the Miami Dolphins. This game, in addition to two other games, marks a serious attempt for the NFL to expand globally, especially in London.
Rumors have circulated that an NFL based team in London could be on the horizon. There are a lot of variables that go with putting an NFL team in London, with travel and divisional placement being the main issues. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed his desire to place a team in London. However, if one analyzes the situation realistically, that will not be happening anytime soon.
Just like a regular NFL game, there is a home team and an away team in London. The home teams this year were the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. All three of these teams have had trouble selling out their home games in their respective stadiums. The games in London generate almost double the amount of revenue they gain in a regular season game in the United States. With increased attendance, along with international sponsorships, it is a huge moneymaker for small market teams. The NFL has placed well known teams such as the Cowboys and Jets as away teams in order to insure high attendance at the games.
So, for all those American fans grilling their hamburgers, hotdogs and sipping their cold beers, do not fret. You will not be eating fish and chips and drinking warm beer while watching a football game in London anytime soon. However, for teams like Oakland, Jacksonville and Miami moves to cities such as Los Angeles and San Antonio is much more likely to occur within the next five years. The NFL is a business and Commissioner Goodell, along with NFL team owners, has made that abundantly clear upsetting many fans that love their, “American game.”