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And based on the results they've gotten so far, the league and its partners abroad are ramping up their plans. The managing director of NFL UK said that he wants two regular season games played there next year -- one at the end of September and one at the end of October - with the amount doubling from two to four by the 2012 season. Roger Goodell has also suggested the likeliness of having two games in London next season.
The issue, of course, will be getting four teams to surrender a home game each season. On one hand, it might be easier because the length of the season will probably be increased by then. Also, with four teams giving up a home game, the strategic disadvantage of playing one fewer game in their own stadium becomes less pronounced, especially if you take all four teams in one division. Still, in terms of logistics, it's not an easy thing to ask of a franchise.
According to Pete Thamel of The New York Times, Patriots owner Bob Kraft has come out and said that he'd like to see an NFL franchise in London within the next decade. Influential though he may be, Kraft is only one owner, and one who already sponsors an Israeli football league. A track record of success in the annual games will have to be established before the NFL can get a majority to sign on to a London team.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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I bet even if they get NFL Europe out of it, they won’t get a white cornerback until Latvia gets a team.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Oct 24, 2009 12:31 AM EDT reply actions
Sure, start with the west division teams. See how that works out. Great scheduling fun time assured.
Here’s a question for starting a new franchise in England- which division gets to have a 5th team? Remember the whole reason for the restructuing a while back was to create even divisions? Here’s an idea, create new franchise in London, Japan, Mexico and Canada. Call it the International Division. Ooops, 9 divisions now. OK, put team in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. That can be the Outer Ring Division. So you then have 5 division champs plus 1 or 3 wild card(s) to keep the playoffs even. Now if they are really ambitious put a team on Mercury, Venus, Mars and the moon- the Stellar Division. But we’re back to an odd number of divisions. OK, teams in the Sahara desert, Antarctica, Siberia, and Easter Island- the Survivor Division. Then we can take the 4 new divsions and create a new ‘Freaks’ Conference
Amazing how the lure of money can make good sense go straight out the window…
by bryan1945 on Oct 24, 2009 4:56 AM EDT reply actions
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