The NFL games in played London have been a smashing success. The Britts love ‘em and the players enjoy the change of scenery. The last contest held at Wembley Stadium was between the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers featuring their own ‘Big Ben’ Roethlisberger. The Vikings won by the close final score of 34-27 provided a great game for the fans over there.
Adrian Peterson had a great day and the British fans were thrilled. The game was such a big hit that the NFL Commissioner’s office has announced that there will be 3 NFL games played in London in 2014.
But games over in London set some fans to thinking that perhaps we have not fulfilled our potential for NFL franchises here in the USA. Fans in Los Angeles for instance. Strange as it seems, LA no longer has a professional football team. Two baseball teams and two basketball teams but… no NFL franchise.
Some fans are wondering what we are doing over in England when a one of the largest cities in America, with one of the largest fan bases, does not even field an NFL team.
Of course, where Roger Goodell is concerned, it all comes down to the bottom line. How much money can be made off of the games in London as opposed to playing those games in Los Angeles? Goodell has made major strides to make the NFL one of the most successful sports leagues in the world. He has to be commended for that anyway.
When asked whether he would prefer to see a new NFL franchise in Los Angeles or in London, Goodell took the easy way out declaring that he wants both but that it does not matter which one happens first. “I’d (here referring to himself as the NFL) love to be back in Los Angeles. But it has to be done the right way, we have to do it successfully.” Based on past performance, the ‘right way’ will most likely Goodell’s way.
The 2014 NFL games scheduled for Wembley Stadium will be played between the Dolphins and the Raiders in the first game. Then we will see the Lions taking on the Falcons and finally the Cowboys against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Roger Goodell and his commissioner’s office could be making moves to get both new franchises underway within the next 5 years if they take a mind to. The commissioner say that’s what he wants and he usually gets what he wants.
