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Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Wants An NFL Team In London. Is This A Good Idea?

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is “going to push for” having an NFL franchise in London, and he hopes it happens within the next decade. Roger Goodell has mentioned that this is an ultimate goal of his, so it’s a definite possibility. Whether or not it the logistics will work out, though, is a massive question mark.

Some Pros:

- Giving Brits a team to root for loyally and build a strong following, rather than just root for the hot team.

- Potentially gain more fans across Europe, as all Europeans have a team they can relate to more easily.

- The vast majority of Premier League games are on Saturdays. Sunday football could draw a following. People could watch both.

- Could be a cash cow for the league/owners.

Some (Big) Cons:

- Could potentially be the opposite of a cash cow, commonly referred to as NFL Europe.

- When the hell do you start the games? 7:30PM starts in London would be 1:30PM on the East Coast, but that means the London team plays only night games. And they’ll deal with six hours of jetlag for every road game.

- Yes, the NFL is gaining in popularity in Britain, but it’s still nothing like here, and it will never be like soccer (football) there. I mean, it’s hard to believe people will get too into a sport that has another country’s name in it (American Football). Can you imagine Canadian Hockey gaining any traction here? Can they really fill a American Football stadium in London?

- You’re forcing players to live in the EU, with a completely different lifestyle and legal system. Sure, there are hockey teams in Canada, but it’s much less of a culture shock. And the players are worshipped there.

- There are lots of other logistical problems regarding travel, passports, player rights, etc.

- Seriously, the players might revolt.

Clearly, this isn’t happening within the next couple of years. But 10 years from now? Ambitious, but possible. And regardless of whether it happens or not, it’s fun to think about. And what’s even more fun? Potential team names. Let’s give it a go.

Possible London NFL Franchise Team Names

- London Floppers (Americans would love it, perhaps not the Brits)

- London Clueless Fans (self-explanatory)

- London’s Only Hope (one team vs. 31? that’s not fair!)

- London Don’t-Forget-To-Use-Your-Hands (stop calling for a handball, fans!)

- London Un-Americans (those Brits are so damn un-American. U-S-A-! U-S-A!)

Follow Matt Rudnitsky