Will There Be a London NFL Team?

By Anna Duncan

In recent years, there has been much speculation about whether or not London will be home to an NFL team. Fans of American football in the UK have been lobbying for a team to call their own for years, and the NFL has been exploring the possibility of expanding beyond North America.

Background

The idea of an NFL team in London first gained momentum in 2007 when the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins played a regular-season game at Wembley Stadium. This game was the first time that a regular-season NFL game had been played outside of North America. The success of this game led to more games being played in London over the next few years.

The Current Situation

At present, there are four regular-season games that are played in London each year as part of the NFL’s International Series. These games have proven to be incredibly popular with fans, with ticket sales often selling out within hours of going on sale.

Despite this popularity, there are still many obstacles that need to be overcome before a team can be established in London. One major issue is travel.

London is over 3,000 miles away from the eastern coast of the US, which means that teams would need to travel long distances for away games. This could lead to issues with fatigue and jet lag.

Potential Solutions

To address these issues, one potential solution would be for a London-based team to play several consecutive away games before returning home for a long stretch of home games. Another solution could be for the NFL to establish multiple teams in Europe, with each team playing against one another as well as against teams from North America.

Conclusion

While there are certainly challenges associated with establishing an NFL team in London, it is clear that there is significant interest and support from fans in both the UK and North America. With continued efforts from the NFL and its partners, it is possible that we could see a London-based team in the near future. Until then, fans will have to content themselves with the annual International Series games and hope for more in the future.