NFL Franchise in London? Why Not?

The National Football League (NFL) is the most popular professional sport in the United States. It is also a business. Like all successful businesses there a comes a time when global expansion needs to be considered and that’s exactly what is being done with the roll out of the NFL International Series,  which for the first time ever will feature three regular season games in London, England, spread over six weeks of the 2014-15 season.
 

Courtesy of MLive.com -Detroit

You might at first think this is a horrible idea. Why would people from a country that considers football a sport with a round ball and a net, find our version of the game interesting? The answer….reverse Beatle-mania. This time however, instead of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, think Peyton, Dez, Golden, and Ndamukong. Still don’t believe? Well based on a recent CNN article, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed this past February that all three games, 270,000 tickets in total, were completly sold out well in advance of the opening kickoff.  In fact, during this past Sunday’s game, Fox Sports Broadcasters Thom Brennaman and Troy Aikman commented numerous times how the sellout crowd could be seen in jerseys representing all 32 NFL teams.

Lions fan from Scotland shows his team spirit.
Retrived from MLive.com - Detroit

They like the sport… now what?

Goodall has been quoted as saying that interest is so strong in London that the city could have its own team by the end of the decade. Additionally, several reports, including one from Adam Stites of SB Nation, discuss the possibly of the Jacksonville Jaguars picking up and moving to London. Owner Shad Khan, who already owns a London-based soccer team, is said to be enthralled with the idea of moving his franchise across the pond.  

In my mind, the answer is to not move an existing NFL team overseas but instead create a new expansion team for London. This new market, however would not be without several challenges right off the bat. During the Lions-Falcons game on Sunday, Aikman stated he didn’t think a London franchise would work given the jet lag visiting teams would face during their travels. Additionally, the Lions had to send Defensive Tackle CJ Mosley and Running Back William Powell home early for undisclosed infractions of team policy. Let’s face it, since the Ray Rice case earlier in the year, nobody has mistaken NFL players for boy scouts and being introduced to a new (yet similar) culture, could open the doors for additional infractions.  

On the other hand, NFL schedule makers can at times be real creative. For example, both the Lions and the Falcons were given bi-weeks for next week. Additionally, the four-hour time difference to London in some cases isn’t much worse than the Lions traveling to the west coast to play a conference foe. Who knows, a successful London franchise could open up doors for additional expansion, making the NFL a truly global sport.

 

References

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/26/sport/nfl-international-series-wembley/index.html

http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2013/10/29/5042796/mark-brunell-jaguars-london-relocation

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/22747067/shad-khan-jaguars-are-the-home-team-for-london

http://www.nfluk.com/

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2014/10/22/detroit-lions-london-william-powell/17708501/

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11760827/cj-mosley-suspended-detroit-lions-sent-back-us-london

 

If You Build it They Will Come, But Will They Spend Enough?

(Illustration courtesy of The District Detroit)

Last summer the City of Detroit and the Red Wings organization announced plans to build a $650 million downtown entertainment and sports district that will feature a new hockey stadium by 2017. This development was again in the news this week after the announcement of a new agreement involving the land currently  being occupied by Joe Louis Arena, current home of the Red Wings, between the city and a creditor as part of the Detroit bankruptcy settlement.

As reported by the Detroit News last month, the inspiration behind the new venue was conceived 12 years during the Illich family’s visit to San Jose, California’s Santana Row. The 42-acre development is described as a “walkable ‘village within a city’ full of trendy bars and eateries, upscale shops and high-end residences” It definitely looks nice; almost overwhelming in a sense, but I wonder… is this the right move for Detroit? Is this too much too soon for a city that is just coming out of bankruptcy after 50 plus years of city corruption and mismanagement?

Santana Row works because it’s California, it never has had to contend with a polar vortex, it also appears to have the type of economy that can sustain such an extravagant thriving district. Detroit on the other hand, is a blue-collar town that perhaps could do without another Gucci or Brooks Brothers. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I’ve seen with Campus Martius and how that development has taken off near mid-town. Nevertheless, I’ve also seen how desolate Detroit can be when there’s not an event on a given night. Detroit cannot be converted into another Chicago in less than three years. I guess my option would be to start small, maybe just build the area and see what works from there. Regardless of my option, the construction is already underway. I just hope this isn’t another mistake that the city will regret down the road.

Sport Shorts...

The World Series starts tomorrow. I say Kansas City in five games, which means yes; they will have to finally lose a game.

Tony Paul of the Detroit News looks at five directions the Tigers could go this offseason. This includes trading newly acquired All-Star David Price. I however don’t think they can afford to do this, especially when they are almost guaranteed to lose Max Scherzer, another all-star, to free agency.

Hats off to the Detroit Lions and their come from behind win over the New Orleans Saints. Was it just me or was it nice to see the Lion’s defense come up big in the 4^th quarter? Thank you Glover Quin. Next up, the Atlanta Falcons in London, England.

 

 

References

http://www.csnchicago.com/blackhawks/red-wings-close-down-joe-louis-arena-new-stadium-2017

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2014/10/19/five-directions-tigers-might-proceed-offseason/17587839/

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/10/16/detroit-gives-joe-louis-arena-land-to-creditor-in-bankruptcy/

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2014/09/25/detroit-red-wings-ilitch-cass-corridor-downtown-detroit/16192173/

http://redwings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=674634

MLB End of Season Review

This autumn marks another end to the playoff hopes of the Detroit Tigers, after a fourth straight year of clinching the American League Central Division. However, this is the first year that my 7-year old son started following baseball. He actually took the time to learn all the rules, the teams, and the specific players. No longer will I have to worry about completely missing a game. Yes, SpongeBob Square Pants finally will take a backseat going forward.

The Tigers will have some offseason moves to make if they want to try to make it back to the post season. Team needs include upgrading their bullpen, resigning designated hitter Victor Martinez, and retooling their lack of a bench, which hurt them in key post-season pinch-hitting opportunities.

Aside from their lackluster playoff performance, there were many bright spots this year. Martinez, finished second in the American League in batting average, J.D. Martinez came out of nowhere to win a full time position, while singlehandedly winning clutch games through dramatic game ending walk off homeruns; finally Nick Castellanos solidified 3^rd base, earning a spot on the American League All Rookie Team.

From a MLB standpoint, it was sad to see Derek Jeter retire after his two decades of being the Yankee’s captain. Love the Gatorade ad! Additionally, it will be interesting to see how the Kansas City Royal’s fare after jumping out to a commanding 2-0 lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series.  

 

 

References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ICkcUa_tZE                         

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfgS1lvqX8I

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/kurt-mensching/2014/10/13/mensching-slick-royals-tigers-wanted/17186517/