There has been a lot of talk today about the possibility of a UK NFL franchise in the next 10 years after Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he was keen on the idea.
I'm a Dolphins fan, always have been, always will be, but most importantly I'm an American Football fan: watch minimum 2 NFL games a week, numerous analysis shows, follow College Football, play Fantasy leagues etc so the idea that we may get a UK Franchise is quite exciting to me...but it has also got me thinking.
I hate the way American sports teams just up and leave towns and suddenly play in a new city with a new name yet think they can keep the other teams history. I know in the States money talks but the idea of supporting teams that used to be something else doesn't sit well with me (I'm a Chicago Cubs fan in baseball as they have the history: however bad it is). That's why IF, and it still is a big if, we get a team I really hope it is an expansion side and not someone elses castoffs.
I'm also a Londoner living a stonesthrow away from Wembley - so you might be thinking the prospect of the franchise being a London one playing all home games at Wembley excites me...it does but it wouldn't be right for the development of the sport in this country or the attendances. It needs to be a UK franchise. It needs to play games at places like Murrayfield, Millenium Stadium, Old Trafford as well as Wembley, that way everyone could follow and see the team and you could guarantee sellouts at all the games. Call me naive but I can't see fans travelling down to London 8 times a year on expensive tickets when many will already pay out huge amounts to follow their Football teams week in week out. So to make this work we need to go 'on the road' for our home games (it would still be homefield advantge with 60,000 Brits cheering you on) and even possibly play one in Dublin to get the fans bought into this team.
Wouldn't it be great if you had the BBC actually broadcast the games rather than just jump on the Superbowl bandwagon each year then diappear off again (I know they have the radio team covering games but come on you know what I mean). Or if Sky gave you a red button choice of the UK team in addition to the live normal fixtures they show? It would mean everyone could follow the team and give them that ownership of it.
We all, I am sure, will get ahead of ourselves just like I am now with the ifs and buts and how it could work, and it is all a very long way off, and I am sure the people of LA would have something to say as well BUT I would love to see this dream become a reality.
Would I go to as many games as I could, yes.
Would I buy a shirt, yes.
Let's just clarify one thing though - if it's the Dolphins playing our UK team then there will always only be one winner!
GO PHINS!!
