Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, says a NFL London franchise could be only “six or seven years away” because the league’s owners have been blown away with the “fabulous” support for the international series of American Football matches at Wembley.
Speaking before the Falcons’ game against the Detroit Lions in London on Sunday, Blank also said the logistics of having a UK franchise flying back and forth to the US were solvable and that young men and their families would love the chance to play in Europe.
Blank said: “We as a league could not be more enthusiastic about the response we have got from the fans in London. It’s been extraordinary. There has not been one owner I have spoken to who has not come back being very enthusiastic about the atmosphere, the way they were treated, the hospitality and the facilities.
“The league has aspirations to continue to grow the number of games and to eventually have a franchise in London. We think that’s a possibility. It’s six to seven years away, somewhere in that time frame. No one knows for sure but we are certainly moving in that direction.”
Blank said the fact that all three NFL games at Wembley had sold out so quickly had encouraged the league owners to think bigger in the years ahead. And he hinted that it would be no surprise if there were more American football games at Wembley in the next year or two.
“Our three games have sold out in hours, so we will find ways to create solutions to get more games,” he said. “We have to look at will that schedule at Wembley work? Can the stadium take soccer and American Football? These are all questions for the NFL but the feeling is a positive one that it can happen and it will happen.
“Overall the response has been fabulous. It’s grown slowly but very effectively. And the decision makers in London and the NFL have been progressive about their thinking and added games when they could have games and continued to do so.”
Sceptics have suggested that a London franchise would not work because of the long flights and American-born players not wanting to come to work in the UK but Blank disagreed.
“I do think those problems are solvable,” he said. “We have teams now that are on the west coast, such as Seattle, San Diego and San Francisco who fly back to the east coast and play. It’s not as far as London and although the time difference is only three hours not five or six it is still a significant time difference.
“It’s not something that has been decided upon but, if a NFL team was based in London, they would probably play two to three games at home in a row and then two to three games away.
“The players would welcome the chance to experience a wonderful city and travel around Europe. I don’t think being in London would be a problem for them.”
