If the NFL expanded... (1 Viewer)

[MIMN]

I don't see expansion any time soon but Toronto, Mexico City, LA (to fail again) are valid options. (for relocation ...)

LV would be unfair for that owner. Can you imagine an NFL casino/field? Gambling proceeds, a weekend destination, and a high-end "nightclub" with cheerleaders. The debauchery would be endless. Can you say Sodom Field?

 

[tonka]

Toronto has some major hurdles to overcome, not the least of which is the fact that half the stadium is empty for the Bills games that have been held in Toronto and it's unclear whether the city truly cares about the NFL.

There's no NFL-ready stadium in Toronto, so a new one would have to be built. The Rogers Centre only seats ~55,000 and it couldn't be used for more than a year or two as a temporary home. There's simply no money for a new stadium. There is no chance in hell of public money being used to build an NFL stadium (Canadians don't really go for that), so unless somebody magically shows up with a billion dollars to spend, it ain't happening. That person does not currently exist. The corporation that initially seemed to want to buy the Bills and relocate them, Rogers, has switched gears and is now pursuing the Raptors and Maple Leads (the true cash cow franchise in Ontario). The NFL no longer seems to be in Rogers' plans.

There's also the problem of TV rights. A franchise in Canada would have to negotiate television contracts independently from the rest of the league. The primary sports broadcaster in Canada currently has a massive stake in the CFL and would likely do everything possible to keep it alive, since the CFL performs very well (better ratings than the NFL) in most of the country and is far more lucrative than the NFL would be (last I checked, American broadcasters spend so much on NFL rights that they lose money).

 

[renesauz]

Isn't this like the 5th time this discussion has been started this season? (O/U at 4 in any given season.)

 

[habsfan]

Toronto has some major hurdles to overcome, not the least of which is the fact that half the stadium is empty for the Bills games that have been held in Toronto and it's unclear whether the city truly cares about the NFL.There's no NFL-ready stadium in Toronto, so a new one would have to be built. The Rogers Centre only seats ~55,000 and it couldn't be used for more than a year or two as a temporary home. There's simply no money for a new stadium. There is no chance in hell of public money being used to build an NFL stadium (Canadians don't really go for that), so unless somebody magically shows up with a billion dollars to spend, it ain't happening. That person does not currently exist. The corporation that initially seemed to want to buy the Bills and relocate them, Rogers, has switched gears and is now pursuing the Raptors and Maple Leads (the true cash cow franchise in Ontario). The NFL no longer seems to be in Rogers' plans. There's also the problem of TV rights. A franchise in Canada would have to negotiate television contracts independently from the rest of the league. The primary sports broadcaster in Canada currently has a massive stake in the CFL and would likely do everything possible to keep it alive, since the CFL performs very well (better ratings than the NFL) in most of the country and is far more lucrative than the NFL would be (last I checked, American broadcasters spend so much on NFL rights that they lose money).

Apart from putting "CFL" and "lucrative" in the same sentence, I agree with most of this. The Blue Jays were 12th out of 14 AL teams this year in attendance. Raptors are middle of the pack. Typically, people will go when it's new and go when the team is very good. Otherwise, not so much - unless it's the Leafs.

 

[TheChairman]

Fairbanks?

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Toronto has some major hurdles to overcome, not the least of which is the fact that half the stadium is empty for the Bills games that have been held in Toronto and it's unclear whether the city truly cares about the NFL.

There's no NFL-ready stadium in Toronto, so a new one would have to be built. The Rogers Centre only seats ~55,000 and it couldn't be used for more than a year or two as a temporary home. There's simply no money for a new stadium. There is no chance in hell of public money being used to build an NFL stadium (Canadians don't really go for that), so unless somebody magically shows up with a billion dollars to spend, it ain't happening. That person does not currently exist. The corporation that initially seemed to want to buy the Bills and relocate them, Rogers, has switched gears and is now pursuing the Raptors and Maple Leads (the true cash cow franchise in Ontario). The NFL no longer seems to be in Rogers' plans.

There's also the problem of TV rights. A franchise in Canada would have to negotiate television contracts independently from the rest of the league. The primary sports broadcaster in Canada currently has a massive stake in the CFL and would likely do everything possible to keep it alive, since the CFL performs very well (better ratings than the NFL) in most of the country and is far more lucrative than the NFL would be (last I checked, American broadcasters spend so much on NFL rights that they lose money).

Apart from putting "CFL" and "lucrative" in the same sentence, I agree with most of this. The Blue Jays were 12th out of 14 AL teams this year in attendance. Raptors are middle of the pack. Typically, people will go when it's new and go when the team is very good. Otherwise, not so much - unless it's the Leafs.

Honestly, the same could be said about most professional franchises.I think there are valid points here about the obstacles, but Toronto really seems the most likely -- and most feasible.

The city has a very big and comparatively affluent population that already supports major league franchises. There is no language or (as much as this pains me to say as a Canadian) culture barrier, and the city has not only had exposure to Buffalo's franchise through network coverage, but has been seemingly groomed as a relocation spot for years, given the "home games" that the Bills have played there over the years.

Contractual matters vis a vis Canadian vs US dollars are trivial -- no different than the NHL and NBA teams in Toronto already -- though tax issues affecting the players may make it more attractive for them to play on a Statesside team.

Also, at a time when a lingering recession and economic fears are very much still in play, Toronto -- which has been hit much less by global and homegrown recessionary/housing market pressures than American cities -- may have more of a fiscal appetite to fund a new team, civically and philospohically.

This matches the NFL's desire to go international, and would achieve that aim more fluidly from a business and operational aspect -- Toronto's geographical location would make scheduling a non-issue (except for weather in late-season games if they build an outdoor stadium).

 

[Doug B]

Fairbanks?

No schtick: I actually think the burgeoning city of Anchorage, AK could support an NFL team in the next 20 years, as far as local attendance goes. It could be much like Green Bay in being the only game in town, and thus having deep local support (e.g. 1 in 3 locals being ardent fans).

 

[Blutarsky]

I have heard Pat Kirwin say more than once that the NFL is seriously considering a team in London. He has even laid out the logistics of the travel and schedule. I would venture to guess an NFL franchise will be located in London with in 10 years, if not sooner.

 

[CrossEyed]

I have heard Pat Kirwin say more than once that the NFL is seriously considering a team in London. He has even laid out the logistics of the travel and schedule. I would venture to guess an NFL franchise will be located in London with in 10 years, if not sooner.

Wouldn't they have to change to the IFL?

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

I have heard Pat Kirwin say more than once that the NFL is seriously considering a team in London. He has even laid out the logistics of the travel and schedule. I would venture to guess an NFL franchise will be located in London with in 10 years, if not sooner.

Wouldn't they have to change to the IFL?

1) Pretty sure that's already taken by both the Indoor Football League and the International Fight League. For the sake fo brand confusion, would think the NFL would keep the brand that's working for them.2) NHL and NBA have teams in Canada and still remain "National."

 

[sportsphysio]

Interesting thread.

I agree with some of the locations already mentioned (Toronto, LA, Mexico City) as realistic, but London's too far. Going outside of the US is also an economic concern (contracts in US Dollars? Pesos? Canadian Dollars?).

One thought is to look at the popularity of USFL franchises. IIRC Birmingham was extremely popular - but I don't know about the NFL competing with college football in Alabama.

That is actually true, and the XFL team was fairly popular as well (in it's very short run). As a transplanted native New Yorker to Birmingham, I would love this to happen, but it doesn't stand a chance due to:1. Auburn / Alabama territory.

2. Atlanta -- 2 hours away

3. Nashville/Titans -- 3 hours away.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

Toronto homer here -

1. I believe at least 25% of the stadium crowd at each Bills game is Canadian

2. We definately have the population and gush for sports that we could support an NFL team - we do need a new stadium but I think if push comes to shove someone (maybe the RIM guy) would step up and throw in some money.

3. There is a massive amount of NFL fans in the Greater Toronto Area - all of my buddies play fantasy football and that extends to their buddies and so on and so on.

4. None of my friends are huge fans of the CFL - the CFL is more popular in cities like Regina, Montreal and Vancouver.

5. The bills series hasn't been as huge of a success cause they are trying to cheat the average fan - ticket prices have been insane ($250-500) for lower level seating. It's much more economical for me to get a bills ticket for 75 bucks a pop and go across the border than watch a game in Toronto.

6. Right now we have laws that prevent tailgating - even if the team sucks there will be a massive amount of fans who will come purely for the enjoyment of the tailgate (once we get that passed)

7. We've just recently allowed the UFC to come to Toronto - the event in April is scheduled to be at the Rogers Centre and it should break the attendance record (55-60K).

Toronto is a huge market - the NFL would be making a huge mistake by not taking a serious look here.

 

[KCitons]

In response to the OP's reference to Omaha, the population here is just barely above 500k. There would also be a conflict with the Huskers, who have been the only show in town for 70 years. That's all most people care about.

With that said, this city has no problem whoring itself out to the highest bidder. City officials love overtaxing us to pay for any project that gets the rest of the country to look at Omaha.

 

[renesauz]

Hampton Roads VA is the biggest metro area in the country without a pro franchise of any kind. The people could and would support it...if the cities would ever work together to make it happen

 

[roadkill1292]

As noted previously, I'm not a proponent of expansion. But if the NFL went to a relegation system, it could have as many teams as there were cities to support them. You could have different salary caps for each division and the Omahas and Birminghams and Norfolks of the world would always have the opportunity to be promoted and play with the big boys.

 

[TheWheel]

LA is going to get a franchise the moment it can. As long as they can put a winning team there in a few years, people will go as long as the tickets are cheap. If the Raiders went there they would be the most popular team the day after.

I really don't see the ability for an international team. Most Canadians live close enough to the border to catch a Seahawks, Vikings, Lions, Bills, or Pats game if they really care. Mexico city looks appeasing but they have to clean up the government/drug cartels before any of that can happen. I'd hate to see the athlete kidnapped and murdered over politics. London is too far away and football will always be at least second fiddle. Not worth the headache.

They need to move at least one team out of Florida. I'd put them somewhere in the Midwest. I don't see how college football competes with professional. Most people can support two teams on two days. Just because The Crimson Tide is good doesn't mean a good team in Birmingham will flop. When it comes to sports, outside of Florida, if you put a good product on the field and win games, you are gonna fill the seats. They are football towns generally. There is no law saying you have to pick. It isn't as if they play at the same time. Saturday is amateur hour and Sunday is professional day.

If the NFL wants to the game international they should have either kept the NFLEurope or create a Eurasian league with more than 12 teams. Football doesn't seem to be a Western European game to me. Eastern Europe and the Urals is where it's at.

 

[TheChairman]

As long as they can put a winning team there in a few years, people will go as long as the tickets are cheap.

You could say this about any city.

 

[JohnnyU]

Louisville

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

LA is going to get a franchise the moment it can. As long as they can put a winning team there in a few years, people will go as long as the tickets are cheap. If the Raiders went there they would be the most popular team the day after.

They already tried the Raiders in LA and it failed. As a matter of fact, every attempt at NFL football in LA has failed. Hell, even the AFL Chargers only lasted a year in LA.