At the Penn State/UCF Game in Dublin...tons of Irish Fans wore their NFL Jerseys to the game...as for some, that is as close as it gets to a NFL Game.

Some though, like an Irish friend I met over there....do travel to London for NFL Games as they have become fans of the game over the years.

(10-28-2014 10:08 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(10-28-2014 09:38 AM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(10-28-2014 09:32 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Let's say they move Jacksonville and leave them in AFC South. They could have a permanent camp in say Memphis. You flip their schedule so they always play two or three road games.

Take this year's schedule except push each road game into pairs.

Finish pre-season training in Memphis, fly to Philly to play, return to Memphis fly to DC depart for London.

Play Indy and Pitt in London.

That would put the London team at a severe competitive disadvantage, and make it very hard to attract free agents. You probably could not have a team spend so much time away from home as a rule, and make it work.

The bigger disadvantage on free agents would taxes. That's why I threw Memphis as their US base so they wouldn't be hit with state income tax during training.

That is where my thoughts begin....how do you handle taxation?

Is it like being an American working abroad that isn't subject to foreign taxes?

Quote:Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

If you meet certain requirements, you may qualify for the foreign earned income and foreign housing exclusions and the foreign housing deduction.

If you are a U.S. citizen or a resident alien of the United States and you live abroad, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, you may qualify to exclude from income up to an amount of your foreign earnings that is adjusted annually for inflation ($91,500 for 2010, $92,900 for 2011, $95,100 for 2012, and $97,600 for 2013). In addition, you can exclude or deduct certain foreign housing amounts.

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Internati...-Exclusion

(10-30-2014 06:30 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  At the Penn State/UCF Game in Dublin...tons of Irish Fans wore their NFL Jerseys to the game...as for some, that is as close as it gets to a NFL Game.

Some though, like an Irish friend I met over there....do travel to London for NFL Games as they have become fans of the game over the years.

It sounds like it makes a lot of sense putting an NFL team in Dublin with the shorter distance to the US and a built in rivalry with London.

A new AFC East with London and Dublin.....London Jaguars and Dublin Bills. Move Miami to the AFC South.

(10-29-2014 03:53 PM)Niner National Wrote:  When I was in Germany for Oktoberfest, I was amazed at how many people I met that were American football fans. Several times when I mentioned where I was from, people were like "ohhhhh Carolina Panthers."

Have to keep in mind that a London franchise would probably have appeal outside of just London. There are fans all over Europe that cannot affordably go to an NFL game. Having a team in London would change that. There are over 50 million people in England alone. Millions more just across the channel in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

I'm not a big proponent of putting a team there, but I think they'd have a strong and steady following.

I think that photo is a very cool scene and I agree with you that although I am not in favor of putting a team in London, if it happens it would be supported and successful. I've seen London version of the NFL RedZone and they are very very knowledgeable of the sport. The NFL will never top soccer there but it would still be huge.

(10-31-2014 03:25 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(10-29-2014 03:53 PM)Niner National Wrote:  When I was in Germany for Oktoberfest, I was amazed at how many people I met that were American football fans. Several times when I mentioned where I was from, people were like "ohhhhh Carolina Panthers."

Have to keep in mind that a London franchise would probably have appeal outside of just London. There are fans all over Europe that cannot affordably go to an NFL game. Having a team in London would change that. There are over 50 million people in England alone. Millions more just across the channel in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

I'm not a big proponent of putting a team there, but I think they'd have a strong and steady following.

I think that photo is a very cool scene and I agree with you that although I am not in favor of putting a team in London, if it happens it would be supported and successful. I've seen London version of the NFL RedZone and they are very very knowledgeable of the sport. The NFL will never top soccer there but it would still be huge.

Exactly right, if the pie is big enough a small slice can be large. NBA isn't on pace to top the NFL but I don't see the NBA owners looking like this.

If there are 2 NFL franchises to move looking at this map it would start with the Rams and Bengals, neither of which have even a state (or even a few states) to call their own.

https://interactive.twitter.com/nfl_foll...ll&order=1

(11-06-2014 09:10 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  If there are 2 NFL franchises to move looking at this map it would start with the Rams and Bengals, neither of which have even a state (or even a few states) to call their own.

https://interactive.twitter.com/nfl_foll...ll&order=1

What? No chance the Bengals move.

(10-30-2014 09:04 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 06:30 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  At the Penn State/UCF Game in Dublin...tons of Irish Fans wore their NFL Jerseys to the game...as for some, that is as close as it gets to a NFL Game.

Some though, like an Irish friend I met over there....do travel to London for NFL Games as they have become fans of the game over the years.

It sounds like it makes a lot of sense putting an NFL team in Dublin with the shorter distance to the US and a built in rivalry with London.

A new AFC East with London and Dublin.....London Jaguars and Dublin Bills. Move Miami to the AFC South.

LOL ...... it's not THAT much shorter. 3200 miles in the air to NYC versus 3450 miles.

Finding teams willing to make the trip will be a challenge ..... but I do think an annual college game in Dublin would be a success. Like KnightLight, I made the journey to Dublin for the UCF/Penn State game. It was remarkable the number of Irish fans who went to the game --- they truly do like football and had a pretty solid understanding of the game (it did help that the game was competitive and exciting, they got to see a good game).

(11-06-2014 09:10 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  If there are 2 NFL franchises to move looking at this map it would start with the Rams and Bengals, neither of which have even a state (or even a few states) to call their own.

https://interactive.twitter.com/nfl_foll...ll&order=1

Huh??????

Hell, per that map, none of the Cowboys, Bears or Steelers have "a state to call their own." Time to move those franchises to London!

(11-06-2014 09:38 PM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 09:10 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  If there are 2 NFL franchises to move looking at this map it would start with the Rams and Bengals, neither of which have even a state (or even a few states) to call their own.

https://interactive.twitter.com/nfl_foll...ll&order=1

Huh??????

Hell, per that map, none of the Cowboys, Bears or Steelers have "a state to call their own." Time to move those franchises to London!

Rams, Jaguars, Bengals, Bills don't have much of a regional fan base to speak of.

Compare to Seattle or Minnesota or Pittsburgh. Those are much more regional markets. New Orleans has Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama supporting it.

Make a whole division of Europe for the AFC....

London Bengals
Amsterdam Rams
Dublin Bills
Paris Jaguars

Bengals have a good following in Kentucky compared to the Titans but that is mainly because the Bengals where there first. The Titans and Colts can divide up Kentucky.

(11-06-2014 09:28 PM)bmorex Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 09:10 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  If there are 2 NFL franchises to move looking at this map it would start with the Rams and Bengals, neither of which have even a state (or even a few states) to call their own.

https://interactive.twitter.com/nfl_foll...ll&order=1

What? No chance the Bengals move.

If you include college football, Jacksonville only has its own tiny (by NFL standards) metro area.

It's clearly a high value market expansion. The NFL has pretty much every US market covered so adding the biggest one in Europe and one without a language barrier would make sense if they can pull it off.

(11-06-2014 11:32 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Rams, Jaguars, Bengals, Bills don't have much of a regional fan base to speak of.

Depends on how you define region. The Bengals fan base covers most of Kentucky and portions of Indiana and West Virginia. The Bills have a pretty wide region just with upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, and Canada.

(11-07-2014 11:07 AM)1845 Bear Wrote:  It's clearly a high value market expansion. The NFL has pretty much every US market covered so adding the biggest one in Europe and one without a language barrier would make sense if they can pull it off.

I think logistically, Mexico City would be a better international expansion option. This presumes Toronto is off the table unless the Buffalo team moves (or is the one that moves there).

(11-07-2014 01:06 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 11:32 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Rams, Jaguars, Bengals, Bills don't have much of a regional fan base to speak of.

Depends on how you define region. The Bengals fan base covers most of Kentucky and portions of Indiana and West Virginia. The Bills have a pretty wide region just with upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, and Canada.

That is not what the Twitter Map I posted is showing....

Steelers own West Virginia and 80% of Pennsylvania.

(11-07-2014 01:08 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 01:06 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 11:32 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Rams, Jaguars, Bengals, Bills don't have much of a regional fan base to speak of.

Depends on how you define region. The Bengals fan base covers most of Kentucky and portions of Indiana and West Virginia. The Bills have a pretty wide region just with upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, and Canada.

That is not what the Twitter Map I posted is showing....

Steelers own West Virginia and 80% of Pennsylvania.

Yeah, but I am living in the real world over here.

(11-07-2014 01:07 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 11:07 AM)1845 Bear Wrote:  It's clearly a high value market expansion. The NFL has pretty much every US market covered so adding the biggest one in Europe and one without a language barrier would make sense if they can pull it off.

I think logistically, Mexico City would be a better international expansion option. This presumes Toronto is off the table unless the Buffalo team moves (or is the one that moves there).

1- Mexico has other issues that would prove to be difficult if we are being honest. The country has much more unchecked corruption, violence, and other issues.

2- Secondly Europe is the logical next step whereas Mexico City leads you where as another step? If London takes off big I could see Dublin or a major city in Germany have a shot at further expansion. After Mexico City I don't see a market in Mexico or Central America that even allows for expansion beyond that. Honduras? Guatemala? No way. Europe is far more lucrative and if you are going to try a hail mary to get a team in a new place you want it to help leverage future growth.

(11-07-2014 02:02 PM)1845 Bear Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 01:07 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 11:07 AM)1845 Bear Wrote:  It's clearly a high value market expansion. The NFL has pretty much every US market covered so adding the biggest one in Europe and one without a language barrier would make sense if they can pull it off.

I think logistically, Mexico City would be a better international expansion option. This presumes Toronto is off the table unless the Buffalo team moves (or is the one that moves there).

1- Mexico has other issues that would prove to be difficult if we are being honest. The country has much more unchecked corruption, violence, and other issues.

2- Secondly Europe is the logical next step whereas Mexico City leads you where as another step? If London takes off big I could see Dublin or a major city in Germany have a shot at further expansion. After Mexico City I don't see a market in Mexico or Central America that even allows for expansion beyond that. Honduras? Guatemala? No way. Europe is far more lucrative and if you are going to try a hail mary to get a team in a new place you want it to help leverage future growth.

While I 100% agree that Mexico is a far inferior choice to London / Europe, there are other large and wealthy cities in Mexico that could probably support NFL teams. It's a country with over 100,000,000 people and a decent sized middle class.

Even if Mexico could support multiple NFL teams, I just don't see them being successful. The language barrier and perception of violence and crime will keep many players away. Even London would struggle to attract top talent despite being wealthy and English speaking, but it'd be way easier to get talent there than it would be to Mexico.

(11-07-2014 02:15 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 02:02 PM)1845 Bear Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 01:07 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 11:07 AM)1845 Bear Wrote:  It's clearly a high value market expansion. The NFL has pretty much every US market covered so adding the biggest one in Europe and one without a language barrier would make sense if they can pull it off.

I think logistically, Mexico City would be a better international expansion option. This presumes Toronto is off the table unless the Buffalo team moves (or is the one that moves there).

1- Mexico has other issues that would prove to be difficult if we are being honest. The country has much more unchecked corruption, violence, and other issues.

2- Secondly Europe is the logical next step whereas Mexico City leads you where as another step? If London takes off big I could see Dublin or a major city in Germany have a shot at further expansion. After Mexico City I don't see a market in Mexico or Central America that even allows for expansion beyond that. Honduras? Guatemala? No way. Europe is far more lucrative and if you are going to try a hail mary to get a team in a new place you want it to help leverage future growth.

While I 100% agree that Mexico is a far inferior choice to London / Europe, there are other large and wealthy cities in Mexico that could probably support NFL teams. It's a country with over 100,000,000 people and a decent sized middle class.

Even if Mexico could support multiple NFL teams, I just don't see them being successful. The language barrier and perception of violence and crime will keep many players away. Even London would struggle to attract top talent despite being wealthy and English speaking, but it'd be way easier to get talent there than it would be to Mexico.

Mexico would be a sweet location to relocate a few baseball franchises though.

Yucatan Pirates anyone?

(11-07-2014 02:02 PM)1845 Bear Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 01:07 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 11:07 AM)1845 Bear Wrote:  It's clearly a high value market expansion. The NFL has pretty much every US market covered so adding the biggest one in Europe and one without a language barrier would make sense if they can pull it off.

I think logistically, Mexico City would be a better international expansion option. This presumes Toronto is off the table unless the Buffalo team moves (or is the one that moves there).

1- Mexico has other issues that would prove to be difficult if we are being honest. The country has much more unchecked corruption, violence, and other issues.

2- Secondly Europe is the logical next step whereas Mexico City leads you where as another step? If London takes off big I could see Dublin or a major city in Germany have a shot at further expansion. After Mexico City I don't see a market in Mexico or Central America that even allows for expansion beyond that. Honduras? Guatemala? No way. Europe is far more lucrative and if you are going to try a hail mary to get a team in a new place you want it to help leverage future growth.

Oh I realize Mexico has its own problems. I just think the logistics of Europe, namely travel (and time zones) make it close to impossible to actually be feasible. So if international is the goal, assuming Toronto is off limits, Mexico would be the next logical choice.

Now truthfully I think Mexico would be better for a baseball team. But that's anither animal.