Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Wants An NFL Team In England

**Sweets** · #1 06-28-2012, 09:49 AM

Speaking on a promotional tour of London ahead of his team's NFL International Series meeting with the St. Louis Rams at Wembley Stadium on Sunday October 28, the influential Kraft stressed the importance of growing American football overseas, Neil Reynolds of Skysports reports. "I personally think we should have a franchise in London and that is something I am going to push for," Kraft said. "I think I said that the last time we were over here in 2009 and before this next decade is out, I hope we have a team here. I think that would be right for the NFL and this fan base has proven they deserve it. "I think we're starting to tap out in the United States. If you look at the last Super Bowl we were in this past season, we had over 180 million people watching - that's almost two thirds of America. So for us to grow the game, we have to expand globally. Having seen the kind of support we have received here in London, it is the intention of the NFL owners to get two games here, starting next year. "The only bad part of putting a franchise in London is that I can assure you it won't be the Patriots who are moving here."

Source: The Redzone

**86WARD** · #2 06-28-2012, 01:37 PM

Well that eliminates the Lions from playing over there...lol.

**Rottstein** · #3 06-28-2012, 06:46 PM

Don't assure us you won't go. You want it so bad make it happen.

**86WARD** · #4 06-28-2012, 06:52 PM

Bet he wouldn't be preaching it if the Patriots were the team moving to London he wouldn't be talking this way.

The whole thing is just a logistical nightmare...let's just scratch the surface and think of OTAs...would a player fly from LA to London and then right back? Lol...

**andy82** · #5 06-28-2012, 08:18 PM

I don't think logistics would be too much of an issue, although drastic adaptations to schedules would be a nessecity. The biggest issue is the risk involved in taking a team out of the States and into a country were the sport is still very much in it's infancy, in addition to the declining attendances/interest into the annual single game we currently host. Eight games would be disastrous.

Even if current growth patterns are maintained, London being able to successfully host an NFL franchise is at least 20 years away.

**86WARD** · #6 06-28-2012, 09:19 PM

It's a logistical nightmare!! First of all, some of these players that have had trouble with the law, owe child support or a number of other criminal activities could be denied a passport.

Then there is the issue of physically getting there, getting the equipment and everything else there aside from the players. The cost of living is evidentally more than NYC...big downside with the players and moving their family there. Financially, they wouldn't be able to fly to the states, play in San Francisco, fly back to London, play a game and then come back and play a game somewhere else...

The OTA schedule would be a mess, the training camp schedule would be a mess.

The idea that some Europeans don't like the idea of American values forced on them and could have a negative affect on the game and then let's be honest, the London Monarchs couldn't hold fans and folded.

The whole idea makes zero sense. The league is looking at it as another money grabbing idea...