NFL Eyeing UK Franchise, Third London Game

The National Football League is one of the most recognizable and profitable brands around the globe. So it makes sense that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would want to continue to expand the game of football outside of the US—something every professional sports league is trying to do.

Roger Goodell officially confirmed a 2012 report on Tuesday by stating that he hopes to take yet another NFL franchise over to England for a third game—perhaps even going a step further by expanding into the London market through the addition of an NFL franchise in England.

So which franchise would get the lucky distinction? Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports is reporting that Goodell might be leaning towards the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan certainly isn’t shying away from the thought.

“The NFL is going to be developing an international fan base. Why shouldn’t it be the Jaguars? In all honesty, internationally, they don’t know the difference between the Jaguars and the Steelers.”

Khan’s comments could also foreshadow a team playing annual games at the London venue—an honor that Khan is hopeful for as well.

“I think it would serve Jacksonville well to play a game or two overseas, to get the name Jacksonville out,” said Khan. “If you look at some of the international premier league teams, they have huge followings in the Middle East, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, etc.”

Since the NFL’s debut across the pond, the league believes that the game is getting great reception from fans and Goodell is interested in putting a franchise overseas as quickly as the millions in revenue can roll into his bank account. According to the New York Post, the league is looking at adding a third game in London “very soon.”

After record attendance of over 103,000 spectators, Roger Goodell knew he had struck gold. Since 2007 and at least until 2016, the NFL will be taking their talents to Europe to showcase the most elite athletes in the world. The inaugural matchup, in 2007, saw the first 40,000 tickets issued sell out in less than 90 minutes. That monumental game featured the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins—ending in a 13-10 Giants victory.

Though London’s Wembley Stadium is the first long-term contract to see NFL action outside of the US, the 2005 season saw the rival Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers square off in Mexico’s Estadio Azteca.

Having noted Khan’s delight in international affairs, it is worth noting that he plans to remain in the US playing his games in Florida. However, it is hard to think of another franchise more worthy of being relegated to play their games abroad. With attendance figures slipping and a number of mediocre seasons, the London Jaguars could be a reality as soon as 2020.