Goodell: London franchise a 'realistic possibility' if support keeps growing
The NFL has finally reached its goal of moving a franchise to Los Angeles, meaning speculation now turns to whether a team can be placed across the pond.
The league has increased its presence in the U.K. in recent years, holding three regular-season games at Wembley Stadium this season. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says the league continues to be impressed by the support, and a permanent London franchise could be viable if that support continues to grow.
"Every time we give our U.K. fans, and I think this is true on a global basis, an opportunity to engage with football, the fans want more, and the key to our strategy several years ago was to give them the real thing, regular season games, and I think that's worked," Goodell said Friday, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "I think fans have appreciated that. Every year I go back to London, I see the fans are more sophisticated. They understand the game more. They're following it more. We expect a big audience will be in the U.K. watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, Monday morning I think their time. That's exciting for us.
"We are considering playing more games in the U.K. It's a balancing act with our schedule. As you know, we're playing in two different stadiums this year, so that gives us a little bit more flexibility in how we do that, but I believe the future will see more games in the U.K. As far as a franchise, let's continue to grow. Let's continue to see that excitement and enthusiasm, passion, and support continue to develop. If it does, I think that's a realistic possibility."
The NFL will play at Twickenham Stadium for the first time next season - as well as in its usual home of Wembley - with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams set to face off in the league's debut at the venue.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Redskins will play the Cincinnati Bengals in the other two scheduled London games in 2016.