London Calling: The Globalization of the NFL

Until recently, the NFL was considered to be strictly an American organization. However now the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is expanding the organization and London is the target.

The NFL is an American organization, so it may not make sense to expand the sport outside of U.S. boundaries. This may be puzzling to viewers and fans, but to the NFL itself and its investors, expanding the sport gives it more attention and leaves the possibility of it becoming as globally popular as soccer (futbol). Not that the NFL is competing with soccer to be the most popular sport worldwide, but there is a great deal of money spent by fans to attend games. If American football can expand its popularity, the organization can grow and make more money.

So why London? Well, that's where the money is. Back in 2007 the first competitive NFL game to take place outside of the American continent was hosted in London with a great deal of success. The United Kingdom actually does watch American Football, and people from all corners of the continent travelled to watch the game. Bringing attention to the sport outside of its home turf means more TV time, more fans, and more money. Not to mention the cost of living is much higher in London than it is anywhere in the United States.

Great, so we just play more games in London and maybe even set up a new football team that lives in the UK. Then fans will travel from not only Europe but from America to watch games at a unique venue located outside of the country. More money for the NFL and the fan base diversifies, all is well, right?

Wrong. The distance from London to the East coast is roughly the same as from Florida to Washington state. However, if the London team were to play a game anywhere near the West coast, the plane ride would take a significant toll on its players. Changes in time zones can be difficult to adjust to as well. Also, what if NFL players would prefer to live in the U.S? Living outside of the nation you called home for your entire life is a drastic change, even if football careers do not last particularly long.

Incentives can be implemented to level the playing field between those who are on teams in the U.S. and those living in London such as pay raises, increased draft picks, or an extra bye week for the organization. These conditions may ease the strain of the difficulties faced by London athletes, but it definitely does not solve all of the problems.

Creating a new NFL team for London may be appealing at first glance for the league, but in reality it may create more problems than positive outcomes for the sport itself. After all, it is the players and coaches who will be making the time commitment to traveling across seas and living in a foreign country, not the fans.