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NFL UK: George Osborne backs London franchise
Chancellor George Osborne has given his support to the idea of an American Football team in the capital, arguing it would be a “huge boost to London”.
With Wembley due to host the second of three NFL games this season on Sunday, and the FA contemplating hosting England games elsewhere, there has been increased speculation the stadium could become home to an NFL franchise.
Osborne met with NFL officials today to give his backing to the idea, according to the Evening Standard.
Osborne told the paper: “I’ve said to the NFL that anything the Government can do to make this happen we will do, because I think it would be a huge boost to London.
“I just think it will cement London as a global sporting capital as well as a global financial and business and cultural capital.”
NFL senior vice-president Hans Schroeder confirmed to Morning Wire the league was considering a London franchise.
He said:
We’re really focused on making the three games we’re playing today as successful as they can be.We’re very open and flexible on the models going forward and I think we’ll look to continue opportunities we have to grow the engagement and activation in the market for our fans there, so if that means more games, if it means a team down the road – all of those things we’ll look at, but it really starts with how we continue to grow and give more opportunities to our fans to experience the NFL live in the London market.
This Sunday over 80,000 fans are expected to pile into Wembley to watch the Detroit Lions take on the Atlanta Falcons, while a full house is also expected for the 9 November clash between the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars.