NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said interest in London in the league from the United States is so strong that the city could have a team of its own before the decade is out.
“It depends on if we continue to see that growth, and how fast it goes,” Goodell told the NFL Network. “We couldn’t be happier with what we are seeing. We actually couldn’t be more surprised by the tremendous demand for NFL football in London and the UK in general, and frankly even Europe.
“It’s not something I think is 15 or 20 years away, it could be five or 10 years away.”
For the upcoming season, the NFL is staging three regular season games in London, the most they have ever held overseas during a season.
“The [London] fans want to see more NFL football,” Goodell said. “Our clubs have responded very favourably.
“We’re anxious to do more of it.”
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft also expressed his bullishness on giving Londoners a team of their own.
“We played here three times,” Kraft said.
“It’s amazing – the last two times we sold 85,000 tickets out, just like that. It was a great experience.
"I know enough of us in the ownership category, along with executives at the league level, feel that would be a great entry point and a way for us to expand the reach of the NFL.
“I’d personally like to see a franchise in London before the decade is out.”
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