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Roger Goodell optimistic about expanding to Europe
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Goodell thinks London can support two NFL franchises, hints at Europe division

The NFL has been playing multiple games in London for several years now, and it is pretty obvious the league is trying to plant the seeds for an eventual franchise in England.

On Saturday, just one day before the NFL's next London game involving the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers, commissioner Roger Goodell said he believes the city could not only support one NFL team, but actually two NFL teams. 

“There’s no question that London could support not just one franchise, I think two franchises,” said Goodell. “I really believe that. That's from a fan perspective, from a commercial standpoint, from a media standpoint. That is undoubtedly, I think you have all proven that. Thank you for that."

He did not stop there.

When it was pointed out that the NFL already plays in Wembley Stadium and Tottenham, with games also alternating between Frankfurt and Munich, he was jokingly asked if Europe could just have an entire division.

Goodell did not take it as a joke and said that is part of what the NFL is trying to do.

“That’s part of what we’re doing, right?” Goodell said. “We’re trying to sort of see, could you have multiple locations in Europe where you could have an NFL franchise? Because it would be easier as a division.”

He is not wrong. If the league is going to eventually go that route, it would be awfully difficult to do with just one team going over. 

That still seems to be a dream and a vision at this point, but it is pretty clear the NFL wants to expand its footprint all over the world. Not just with one team, either. 

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