Would an NFL franchise be successful in the UK?

[Ajhutch]

I think it would work from a UK perspective, although there are supporters of all teams the Jaguars definitely get a great reception after having played a ‘home’ game here for a few years so I think people would embrace a team. The Spurs stadium is purpose built for American football and they could juuuuust about manage the logistics of 8 home NFL games during the premier league season.

There’s a new CBA due in a couple of years, it’ll be interesting to see if they try to write something in there to cover off the issues from the players’ perspective.

 

[DavidDetroit]

That would be interesting--whole families possibly living overseas for many months. I did like someone's idea of grouped, away games so that the jet lag/travel isn't an issue.

 

[Ajhutch]

I think it was last season where for the first time a team played in London and then didn’t have their bye the following week. It’s hard to imagine that they could logistically guarantee every visiting team a bye after a London game and unless they did do blocks it would be impossible for the London home team. London to the East coast is about twice the time difference as East to West so it’s definitely an issue. London one week and the west coast the next week would be too much I think

 

[DavidDetroit]

Distance keeps getting in the way. I thought we had the situation settled--London team stays for a block of time. I forgot about the visiting teams to London. NFL players association won't like it most certainly. They're already thumbs down about a Thursday night game which I agree is too soon to play after Sunday.

 

[jceg316]

Every so often there is an NFL game in London and it seems to fill a giant stadium. Seems to be a one off though, I'm not sure whether it's seen as a novelty and if a league would get such a following. Interesting question though, I work for a streaming sports company with rights to NFL in certain countries, but we aren't live in the UK so I can't check numbers. I'm leaving at the beginning of next month so I guess I'll never know...