Last week, for the first time since I saw my Broncos lose to the 49ers in October 2010, I went to the NFL’s International Series match at Wembley Stadium.
Both the atmosphere and the on-field action at Wembley were electric
Typically – and Gene Simmons’ singing aside – it was a fantastic occasion, this time matched by the action on the pitch. Inspired by 2012 MVP Adrian Peterson, the Vikings emerged victorious, condemning the Steelers to their fourth consecutive loss, the first time they’ve suffered that fate at the start of a season.
But despite the fact 83,000 fans packed into Wembley, the seventh successive season they have done so, I was convinced once and for all that a British-based NFL franchise would be a mistake.
It’s probably just about feasible, either for someone like the Jacksonville Jaguars – visitors to London at the end of October – or the St Louis Rams, who have home games in Blighty in the next three seasons, to relocate. There could also be another reorganisation of the NFL’s divisions.
But travelling would be tough for west-coast teams, even if the UK team could spend a few weeks being a road franchise rather than making a transatlantic flight once a fortnight.
For me, the main problem with the idea would be the fanbase – or lack of it. Not because there aren’t enough NFL fans in the UK – there are – but because those NFL supporters already have their own teams.
Personally, I’d continue to support Denver.* I’m sure the vast majority of fans at Wembley, most of whom wore jerseys of the other 31 clubs, would be similarly unwilling to transfer their allegiance. The Wembley game is currently so popular because it is an annual one-off. If there were at least eight games a year there, I’m certain tickets would be tough to shift. And what would we have then, a TV blackout? Could that be applied to Sky Sports? Such are the problems with the concept of an overseas franchise.
Still, long live the International Series and its brash pomp bringing an annual slice of Americana to north London.
One thing though: LET’S NEVER HAVE ANOTHER MEXICAN WAVE AT WEMBLEY AGAIN.
*Wembley was great, but in terms of sporting action, the highlight of my Sunday was checking, via an app, score updates from Denver’s Peyton Manning-inspired 52-20 trouncing of the Philadelphia Eagles at Mile High.
An Early Bath 