There has been a lot of speculation in recent years about the possibility of the Jacksonville Jaguars moving to London. The NFL has been playing games in London since 2007, and interest in American football continues to grow across the pond.
But will the Jaguars actually make the move? Let’s take a closer look.
History of NFL Games in London
Since 2007, the NFL has played at least one regular-season game in London each year. The games have been held at Wembley Stadium, and starting in 2019, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium became a second venue for NFL games in London.
Attendance at these games has been strong, with sell-out crowds of over 80,000 fans filling the stadiums. In fact, the popularity of these games led to a series of agreements between the NFL and Tottenham Hotspur to host two regular-season games per year at their new stadium.
The Jaguars’ Connection to London
The Jacksonville Jaguars have played more games in London than any other NFL team. They first played there in 2013 and have returned every year since then, except for 2020 when all international games were cancelled due to COVID-19.
The team’s owner, Shahid Khan, also owns Fulham FC, a soccer team based in London. This connection has led some to speculate that Khan may be interested in moving the Jaguars across the Atlantic permanently.
The Challenges of Moving a Team Overseas
While it’s certainly possible for an NFL team to move overseas – just ask fans of the former St. Louis Rams who now cheer for them as the Los Angeles Rams – there are many challenges involved.
First and foremost is logistics. Moving an entire football team across an ocean is no easy feat.
There are issues with travel and time zones that must be considered when scheduling games. Additionally, players and their families would have to uproot their lives and move overseas, which could be a major deterrent.
There are also financial considerations. While the NFL has been successful in London so far, there’s no guarantee that a team based there would be profitable. The league would need to ensure that the team had a strong fan base and corporate support in order to make the move financially viable.
What’s Next for the Jaguars?
At this point, it’s unclear whether the Jaguars will actually make the move to London. Khan has said that he has no plans to relocate the team, but rumors continue to swirl.
One thing is for certain – the NFL is committed to expanding its international presence. In addition to games in London, the league has played games in Mexico and Canada, and there’s talk of adding more international locations in the future.
For now, Jaguars fans can rest easy knowing that their team will continue to call Jacksonville home. But with so much uncertainty surrounding the future of international football, anything is possible.
- Will the Jaguars make the move across the pond?
- Or will they stay put in Jacksonville?
- Only time will tell.
In Conclusion:
The possibility of an NFL team moving overseas is always a hot topic of discussion among football fans. While it’s certainly possible for a team like the Jacksonville Jaguars to make the move to London, there are many challenges involved.
For now, Jaguars fans can enjoy watching their team play in London each year while still calling Jacksonville home. And who knows? Maybe one day we’ll see an NFL team permanently based across the Atlantic.