Similar ideologies: NFL franchises in London & Underpants Gnomes

Posted on November 3rd, 2008. Written by Emmett Jones.

It really does seem to just be a matter of time…before the NFL begins to alienate its American fan base.

Strange that we had this conversation almost a year ago (Super Bowl in London…revisited), and now it has appeared again; talk of the NFL moving to Europe.  More info from Sports Business International, who talked to NFL Commish Roger Goodell after last weeks Saints-Chargers game, which was played in London,

London could some day host a full-time NFL team if the experiment with games in the UK remains successful, according to League chief Roger Goodell.

Goodell said: “it would be a great thing for the league. If the response keeps continuing this way, that’s a realistic possibility.”

Interest in the UK has remained strong with 83,226 fans watching Sunday’s match between New Orleans and San Diego at Wembley.

An NFL spokesman told BBC Sport there was “no timeframe even for exploring the possibility” but the NFL is looking at extending the season by two games. Goodell went on to tell American TV commentators: “They’re great sports fans here in London and they love the game of football.

“Next year we’re already committed to being back here for at least one regular-season game and we’ll be back the following year also. We are considering the idea of whether we play two games either next year or the following year.”

You can’t stop the NFL’s move to Europe…you can only hope to contain it. (c) Dan Patrick

As I said the last time I wrote about this situation a year ago, I like Roger Goodell.  He’s been a little inconsistent on doling out punishment (*cough* Spygate *cough*) but the fact that he is at least punishing players is a fairly refreshing change in comparison to the Taglibue era.  But seriously. Seriously.  NFL team in Europe?  It’s not going to work with just one team, for starters; you need two or three teams in Europe to begin play simultaneously, to cut down on the travel.  More important than the travel issue though, is the fact that it still hasn’t been established that London has a viable NFL fan base.  Sure, they had 83,000+ in attendance last week, and very strong attendance last year, but these are one-time occurrences.  In the land where soccer reigns supreme, what’s going to happen with an NFL franchise (which arguably will be lacking victories and star power at the onset) has to compete with soccer?  Or is even just available on a weekly basis?  Can a football team in London be profitable in that instance?

Again, it is impossible to deny the fact that Sports are going global.  But, people are continually jumping the gun and are placing an NFL franchise or a Super Bowl in London, without even making sure there is a London fan base.  I think people should have learned something when they saw that story unfold the first time… it was called NFL Europe.  The NFL needs to set up something where they have games in London for six straight weeks…look at the attendance, then work on taking a next step.  Right now the situation is too similar to the “Underpants Gnomes” (c) South Park.  The Underpants Gnomes had three steps to world domination.  1.) Steal underpants. 2.) ___________? 3.) Take over the world.  The Gnomes could never figure out what that middle step was.  My advice to Mr. Goodell and the NFL?  It’s going take more than just stealing underpants; you need a middle step.

Sports Business Digest:  Super Bowl in London…revisited

Sports Business:  London to host full time NFL team

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