The NFL is holding its annual regular season game at London's Wembley Stadium Sunday. This year features the New England Patriots playing the Tampa Bay Bucs, who are owned by the Glazer family, owners of the English Premier League and European Champion League's defending champion Manchester United. Speaking at a conference while in town for the game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made his annual announcement that the NFL would eventually put a franchise in London.
I don't think there is any doubt that the league would eventually like to put a team in London, right after it puts a team in Los Angeles, Toronto, Monterrey Mexico, Vancouver and perhaps Mexico City. All North American cities currently without franchises, some with ready-made stadiums, and all much more convenient than London. The key word in Goodell's speech was "ultimately." That is a timetable for the sometime in the next twenty to fifty years, which is about how long I think it may be before a franchise relocates to London.
On the flip side, Patriots owner Bob Kraft expressed once again his interest in owning a Premier League team. However, he wisely tempered his enthusiasm for the EPL saying that he had no interest in buying a club until the league adopts a salary cap. Since there has been some talk but no movement on that front in recent years, I think Mr. Kraft has a wait on his hands. Enjoy American football Bob - you've got a good thing going.
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