High ranking British government minister George Osborne wants to have an NFL franchise based permanently in London within the next five years to confirm the city’s status as the “sporting capital of the world”.
– NFL: Roethlisberger backs Vick to perform
– #360view: Just who can beat the Patriots?
– Lebron: Finals defeats never stop hurting
– #360USA: Stability and frugality of MLS
The Chancellor of the Exchequer met with NFL executives, team owners and former players at Downing Street ahead of the Miami Dolphins meeting the New York Jets at Wembley on Sunday.
Osborne said he would “love to have a team here based in the UK playing in the NFL” and believes “we are making steps towards that goal”.
“The real prize, the touchdown for London, would be to get a team based here,” he said.
When asked about the potential time frame for a team coming to London, Osborne said: “Hopefully it is something we could achieve in the next few years, maybe four or five years time.
“These things can’t change overnight because obviously teams are already based in some home cities in the States. “But I am in talks with the NFL, sorting out the arrangements.
“They get such a huge welcome, teams like the Dolphins and the Jets when they come here, there is a big fan base here and it would mean a huge amount for our economy because it would confirm London as the sporting capital of the world and that is what I want to see.”
Mark Waller, the NFL’s executive vice president international, was then asked if it is a question of when, rather than if, London would get its own franchise.
“I would certainly hope so, yes,” he replied. “We have always said our goal here is to build a fanbase that would be able to support a franchise.”
Waller continued: “We have always said that we felt that we started in 2007 with the games and we felt it was a 15-year process so that would give us years 2021, 2022 and that feels sort of right – five or six years.”
The NFL already has an annual presence in the UK with regular season games now being played at Wembley.
“I know this! …. pass.” @NYJets players test their knowledge of London. #NFLUK #NYJvsMIA http://t.co/YiqthNIOmt
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2015
After the Jets and the Dolphins meet tomorrow, the Buffalo Bills will play the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 25, before the Detroit Lions take on the Kansas City Chiefs on November 1.
Meanwhile, the Jets are so determined to experience all the comforts of home during their trip to London that they have packed 350 rolls of their own toilet paper. The NFL franchise’s senior manager of team operations told the New York Times that the Jets were bringing their own thick toilet paper to the English capital.
“Some may say that’s a little over the top or what not, but it didn’t really cost that much, so why not?” Aaron Degerness told the newspaper.
“We’re basically trying to replicate everything that we’re doing here over there.”
Inevitably, the unusual move prompted questions when the Jets arrived in London on Friday.
Rather than focusing on the erratic form of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick or their team’s chances of reaching the play-offs, Jets head coach Todd Bowles was asked about his team’s toilet paper.
“I could make a short comment right there but I decline,” Bowles said with a smile. “I’m not touching that one; I’m not saying a word!”
