Chargers moving possibly?

[Grid]

Originally Posted by Boo

If they play all 8 home games in a row and then come back to the states for 8 away games it would work. It would suck but it would work. Should be an East Coast team though to cut down on the travel of the other teams. The Raiders having to go to London every year?

That is actually the plan. To do 4 away and 4 home and keep flip flopping that.

Imagine a global Super Bowl being held in Europe? Big bold move for sure.

[shayscards79]

Here's what my British friend in London said (who is an NFL fan)

"It would be good for the NFL as a means to go global and maybe become an international sport.

It would also give the nation a team to support - but that's tricky in itself as English people don't like what's put in front of them... What I mean by that is, they'd deliberately support a different team because one became the English NFL team.

On Sunday, I'd reckon a good 80-90 percent at the stadium were Americans.

To work properly and generate large sums - the team would really have to do two main things:

1. Come with a marquee player who people have seen/heard a lot (OBJ for example)
2. Be with SkySports

Skysports basically owns the sporting mainstream here. BT and whatever else are minor in comparison. EG Fury/AJ: There's no comparison.

On that, I have noticed a lot more NFL headlines on the SKysports app so maybe that's what's happening."

[altaeria]

I always say that the NFL has one fatal flaw in regards to international appeal: Calling its sport "Football". The rest of the planet thinks that is something else. Maybe if it was called "Gridiron" instead- but the NFL is too entrenched in its existing brand. How interested would the American public be in watching "European Baseball" if it was a sport that looked like lacrosse?

[Grid]

Originally Posted by shayscards79

Did you ever stop to think that tickets for NFL games sell well now because of the novelty? A random game a couple times a year is much different than basing a team there all season.

Can't compare American football popularity in England to Basketball anywhere in Asia. It's not even close.

You are acting like this is my plan. Don't object to me, go to NFL executive vice president Mark Waller. He has been laying out the blue print on this for years.

Novelty, sure. But you are only talking 8 home games to sell out, right? You do know they sold out all 4 games there this season, right? In a blink too.

And you do understand we have now been playing NFL football in London for over a decade straight, right?

As for China, the NBA attacked that market when the NFL was doing the same in Europe.

The NBA set up shop in China in 1992. They started with semi pro and youth development leagues. Branded their big names all over chip and cereal packages. Set up tours for their stars to visit, and exhibition games.

Things didnt really blow up, until they started adding strategic partners there over the past 10 years. They got a Weibo account in 2010, and that spread the brand like wild fire since now billions can watch live games.

They then got into bed with Chinese tech giant Tencent in 2015, and now all of China can watch NBA, and for pro sports, pretty much JUST NBA.

You are right, you cant compare the 2 since the NBA did theirs correctly, and over several decades. The NFL jumped in to Europe in the 80's, then pulled out. Back in the mix for the 90's, then pulled out, back in the 00's and, well, they never committed.

Moving an actual franchise there is a commitment. And after years of not going all in, they almost HAVE to now, or just stop playing games there and give up once more.

[shayscards79]

Originally Posted by altaeria

I always say that the NFL has one fatal flaw in regards to international appeal: Calling its sport "Football". The rest of the planet thinks that is something else. Maybe if it was called "Gridiron" instead- but the NFL is too entrenched in its existing brand. How interested would the American public be in watching "European Baseball" if it was a sport that looked like lacrosse?

NFL would not want to compete with Soccer and Rugby though and if NFL scheduled games during the times that the other two sports were on.. it would get slaughtered in ratings.

[shayscards79]

Originally Posted by Grid

You are acting like this is my plan. Don't object to me, go to NFL executive vice president Mark Waller. He has been laying out the blue print on this for years.

Novelty, sure. But you are only talking 8 home games to sell out, right? You do know they sold out all 4 games there this season, right? In a blink too.

And you do understand we have now been playing NFL football in London for over a decade straight, right?

As for China, the NBA attacked that market when the NFL was doing the same in Europe.

The NBA set up shop in China in 1992. They started with semi pro and youth development leagues. Branded their big names all over chip and cereal packages. Set up tours for their stars to visit, and exhibition games.

Things didnt really blow up, until they started adding strategic partners there over the past 10 years. They got a Weibo account in 2010, and that spread the brand like wild fire since now billions can watch live games.

They then got into bed with Chinese tech giant Tencent in 2015, and now all of China can watch NBA, and for pro sports, pretty much JUST NBA.

You are right, you cant compare the 2 since the NBA did theirs correctly, and over several decades. The NFL jumped in to Europe in the 80's, then pulled out. Back in the mix for the 90's, then pulled out, back in the 00's and, well, they never committed.

Moving an actual franchise there is a commitment. And after years of not going all in, they almost HAVE to now, or just stop playing games there and give up once more.

I think the most concerning thing is what my British friend said in my post above.

"On Sunday, I'd reckon a good 80-90 percent at the stadium were Americans."

It'd be tough to imagine that a British team would garner enough support by Americans to fill the stadium every week.

I don't want you to think I'm attacking you over this, I'm just thinking it's a bad idea... mostly for the players and staff that have to travel across the ocean eight times a year. It really isn't fair for them.

[zonacats8]

There is a ton of appeal in having a team in London, everyone talks about England as a whole would adopt them as a team, I'd bet some other countries would join in as well since they could easily get into London on the train for games.

But it's a logistical nightmare that will never work long term and would likely have trouble attracting the type of talent it would need to be consistent contenders.

Even if you do the 4 home, 4 road rotation, doing 4 straight weeks living on the road and from hotels would put those teams at a huge competitive disadvantage in those games.

If anything the NFL would almost need to build a very nice mini-city somewhere in the middle of the country that serves as their "home" during their month in the US. It would have housing for the players and an elite NFL training facility.

It's also rough for teams going over there, imagine a west coast team needing to play in London and then the next week back home, that's two 12-13 hour flights to make it work, that's terrible.

Also how are they going to bring guys in for workouts throughout the year to sign necessary players?

Guys aren't going to want to take 8+ hour flights each way just to be one of 8 WRs trying out to hopefully get singed for a few weeks.

It's a nice idea that has lots of positives, but I think there are too many on-field competitive issues with it that you'd never have a contending team over there, and what's the point of moving a team there who is going to finish bottom of their division every season?

[zonacats8]

Originally Posted by Bassplayah101

Excerpt from the article:
Perhaps this explains why the Hall of Fame quarterback hasn't signed a new contract with the team? Rivers is NOT going to London. He's just not. He commutes from San Diego to Los Angeles but he isn't moving his wife and nine kids overseas for the final year or two of his NFL career.

Sorry, but this is a dumb thought.

If they were to ever move a team to London, it would not happen in the middle of one off season, it wouldn't happen for at least 2 years after an announcement I'd think, there is too much for them to work out to make it happen that fast.

There also wouldn't be anything stopping Rivers from retiring, even if he had a contract, if they decided to move to London.

[Carl]

I'm English, there's a lot of NFL fans here in Great Britain however we already have teams we love and support, a tiny percent would change to a London team.

Second, London is expensive, it's OK for one or two games, however 8,forget it. A lot of fans are from outside London area so hotels add cost or travel options limited and again, expensive, many from Germany and Holland come over. Quite a few people now opt to come stateside rather than attend the full London games, 4 London games cost wise equals long US weekend.

Third, penny's dropped its a money grab, ticket situation was appalling, plus Game Pass rip off issues, etc has left a sour taste with many.

Hope Chargers come as a Broncos fan I'd get to watch them every season!

It's BS on 80-90% of stadiums are filled by Americans, its not. Lots of US Panthers fans came over, it was their first London game so guess attractive, however even then not even half stadium would be American.

[zonacats8]

Originally Posted by Carl

Hope Chargers come as a Broncos fan I'd get to watch them every season!

Even if the Chargers did make the move, no way they'd stay in the West, odds are they'd shift the Texans to the West and put the Chargers in the South.

[fadster]

The UK games have an odd atmosphere. Very few people there support either team and it's more like general entertainment at the cinema or a comedy show then going to see a team you support. There's enough interest to support a couple of games a year from people flying in from around Europe for a special occasion but I honestly think they'd struggle the fill the place all season long. How they build general interest into genuine support I don't know but I guess it'll take a lot of time if it happens at all.

[Braswell10]

Chargers owner came out and said the rumors were total bs.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by zonacats8

But it's a logistical nightmare that will never work long term and would likely have trouble attracting the type of talent it would need to be consistent contenders.

Even if you do the 4 home, 4 road rotation, doing 4 straight weeks living on the road and from hotels would put those teams at a huge competitive disadvantage in those games.

If anything the NFL would almost need to build a very nice mini-city somewhere in the middle of the country that serves as their "home" during their month in the US. It would have housing for the players and an elite NFL training facility.

It's also rough for teams going over there, imagine a west coast team needing to play in London and then the next week back home, that's two 12-13 hour flights to make it work, that's terrible.

Also how are they going to bring guys in for workouts throughout the year to sign necessary players?

Guys aren't going to want to take 8+ hour flights each way just to be one of 8 WRs trying out to hopefully get singed for a few weeks.

It's a nice idea that has lots of positives, but I think there are too many on-field competitive issues with it that you'd never have a contending team over there, and what's the point of moving a team there who is going to finish bottom of their division every season?

Meh, the way it was being sold, you have all of your conditioning and preseason in the US. You dont start your home stand in London until Sept. You spend all of October back in the states from your US base. Then back to the UK for Nov.

Dec games in the US, as you continue your road tour, and your playoff games in your London stadium, if you earned the right to host.

That puts you in your overseas "home" 2 months out of the year. And it is not like they are dropping you off in Berlin. London is VERY friendly to Americans, all of our junk food and fast food is over there. And best of all, they speak English too.

As for WR flying over there to try out for the team, that would all be done at the US base where they are holding camp.

[Grid]

This is a great piece on it if anyone has time.

it shows what the NFL is thinking when it comes to a London team.

There is money in the UK, which is why that is now the focus as opposed to Mexico.

No offense to Mexicans living over there, the disposable income in London is just so much greater, as is their connection to other European cities to draw fans and viewers in

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-nfl-franchise

[corndog]

San Antonio would be a great NFL city.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by corndog

San Antonio would be a great NFL city.

3 teams in Texas? No thanks

[shayscards79]

Originally Posted by Braswell10

Chargers owner came out and said the rumors were total bs.

[49erRCCollector]

Chargers should leave... no one wants them here. No one will pay premium prices at the new stadium. Get out.

[goodole13]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

When it comes to QBs and HOF a ring is mandatory.

I have watched 75% of PR's games and he is not a HOF QB. The proverbial stat compiler. Did not come through in the clutch enough.

Marino is not a HOF QB either.

Flame away.

HAHAHAHA this has to be a joke haha. I actually chuckled at this statement.

[goodole13]

Originally Posted by zonacats8

Even if the Chargers did make the move, no way they'd stay in the West, odds are they'd shift the Texans to the West and put the Chargers in the South.

Why?
I doubt they would. The NFL would want to keep the historical rivalries with the Chargers, Raiders, Broncos and Chiefs.
There would be no reason to mix up the divisions. The time change is such a big difference, there would be no advantage to moving divisions. The hours difference would be brutal either way.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by goodole13

Why?
I doubt they would. The NFL would want to keep the historical rivalries with the Chargers, Raiders, Broncos and Chiefs.
There would be no reason to mix up the divisions. The time change is such a big difference, there would be no advantage to moving divisions. The hours difference would be brutal either way.

It’s actually a pretty big difference in how it affects the body. East Coast to UK is like LA to NY. LA to UK is hard on the body. I’d be pressing for a division change.

And a ring is not a requirement for a HOF QB, but it helps. Rivers is not even remotely Marino, that’s the bigger thing. And there is no signature win or play, no remarkable highlight. Rivers is just a guy. Just a guy on a ho-hum franchise. That’s my argument against him.

[Fenway55]

A team in London would be an abysmal failure from a competitive standpoint. Teams complain when they have to travel cross country. Players aren’t going to want to move their families out of county. Every season would be like playing the most brutal 16 game road schedule you can imagine.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

A team in London would be an abysmal failure from a competitive standpoint. Teams complain when they have to travel cross country. Players aren’t going to want to move their families out of county. Every season would be like playing the most brutal 16 game road schedule you can imagine.

Yeah but you know the NFL wants a team there, badly.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

It’s actually a pretty big difference in how it affects the body. East Coast to UK is like LA to NY. LA to UK is hard on the body. I’d be pressing for a division change.

And a ring is not a requirement for a HOF QB, but it helps. Rivers is not even remotely Marino, that’s the bigger thing. And there is no signature win or play, no remarkable highlight. Rivers is just a guy. Just a guy on a ho-hum franchise. That’s my argument against him.

Yeah they’d definitely have to do a division change. Quite honestly what I think makes the most sense is put London in the AFCE, move Miami to the AFCS and take one of those teams (looking at you, Houston) to AFCE.

[hairysasquatch]

It is so stupid to try and break into British sports culture with the current NFL product. Never going to work.