Taproom Network

By Ray

The conversation around NFL teams being located outside the United States has reared its ugly head… again. Whilst fans are split on whether NFL teams should be based abroad, I am firmly against the idea.

As a Kansas City Chiefs fan, I have visited America twice and seen my team play three games at Arrowhead Stadium. I also watched us play the Detroit Lions at Wembley in 2015. The difference between a home game at Arrowhead and a “home” game at Wembley is huge.

I believe anyone who has seen their team play a home game both in and outside the United States would understand what I mean. In my opinion, they are totally different experiences.

The game we played at Wembley felt much more like playing at a neutral venue than playing at home.

It is that feeling I experienced at Wembley that has always put me off teams being based outside America. The International Series games are fantastic: they bring the sport to other countries and give fans abroad the opportunity to watch an NFL game or, even better, attend one featuring their chosen team.

When it comes to moving teams abroad, a lot needs to be factored in. Would the suggested cities be able to sell tickets? For most, I think the answer would be a resounding “yes”. The issue is that many fans outside America already have a team they support.

My concern is that, whilst games would sell tickets – and maybe that is what the NFL cares about most – they would still feel as though they were being held at a neutral venue rather than at home. British fans are loyal to their teams, and many of us are not going to stop supporting them just because a team has moved to London. Some may adopt them as a “second” team; we have seen this to an extent with the Jacksonville Jaguars because they play so many games in London.

There is also the time-zone issue. The difference between the UK and the USA is significant. How would this affect scheduling? The logical answer to me would be to play the home games first and the away games second, or vice versa. Then there is another question: how would this affect the playoffs?

Playoff games can kick off later than regular-season games. If a UK-based team secured the number one seed and home-field advantage, kickoff times would need careful planning, including consideration of public transport services. There would also be the question of jet lag and its effect on players travelling between countries.

Overall, I just do not see how having teams based outside the United States would work efficiently. There are too many issues to overcome, especially around scheduling.

I am sure the NFL will figure something out. If there is money to be made, they will find a way to make it happen, even if it is not what the fans want.