NFL International: Staff Debate Possibility of European Team
The NFL has had a continuing interest in expanding its international presence, just like any successful business. 1. Would you support the creation of a European NFL team? Why/Why not. 2. How would you feel about your team playing a regular season game in either Mexico, Europe or Canada, thus losing an opportunity for general team fans to enjoy attending the game at home?
George Stockburger
I absolutely hate the idea of a London NFL team. The time difference for televised games, the travel for both the London and US-based teams and the disconnect on the side of the fans is too immense.
As for international games/games at neutral sites, I would be open to it, but would rather it be a preseason game. The NHL has had success with the Winter Classic and Stadium Series at mainly neutral locations, and MLB has had both spring training games and season openers in other countries. The NFL is doing what every business should be doing; finding new ways to make money. What better than opening your business to BILLIONS of new customers?
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Joe Wedra
I can see why the league would want a team outside of the country. There are a lot of moving pieces, and I’m certain the massive entity that is the NFL can get it done. Do I support it? Yes, if it’s truly the best thing for expanding the NFL’s fan-base. If I were a fan, I wouldn’t be happy one bit.
Sayre Bedinger
1. I hate the idea of a European team for the NFL, because that kind of travel should never be expected of an NFL team operating on a week to week basis. If you’re the European based team and you have two or three road games in a row, how do you cope with that? Do you go home between weeks anyway? How does that affect your players’ ability to stay mentally sharp? It’s a major disadvantage for visiting teams as well. I just think the idea stinks.
2. I would also hate if my team were involved in the London games, but Mexico or Canada I’d be fine with. The mess you run into is, when you do those international games, you void one team of a home game. It’s nice if you’re the away team, playing on a neutral field, but I would hate losing a home game if I were an NFL team.
Matthew Holowiak
I would not support an NFL team in Europe. It would make scheduling quite difficult for starters, and make it very tough for the players flying back and forth every week. As for individual games played elsewhere it would be nice for other countries to be able to see, but not Canada because that would be stepping on the toes of the CFL there — same goes for making a Canadian team.
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