NFL’s Future Plans: No Super Bowl in London, Says Goodell
Commissioner Roger Goodell recently laid out the NFL’s stance on the possibility of hosting a Super Bowl in London, emphasizing the league’s focus on cities with existing franchises.
The NFL has been hosting regular season games in London since 2007, but a Super Bowl in the English capital is not on the horizon. During his appearance at the Leaders Week conference in London on Thursday, Goodell addressed the growing speculation surrounding a Super Bowl in London.
Although suggesting that the NFL could be open to hosting an overseas Super Bowl in the past, Goodell made it clear that prioritizing markets with NFL franchises is essential. He stated, “It’s hard for me to look down the path, but I would say our major focus for us is to play the Super Bowl in markets where we have franchises. It’s a huge economic impact. Last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans had over a billion-dollar economic impact… That’s a significant investment that we believe our communities deserve.”
Goodell noted that currently, the league is not considering London for a Super Bowl because it lacks an NFL franchise. Previously, he acknowledged that the league explored the possibility of establishing a team in London, but no definitive plans have emerged.
Also contributing to this discussion, British Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson has been a vocal advocate for bringing the Super Bowl to England. In August, he stated, “I’ve made a big pitch for the first Super Bowl outside the U.S. to take place in Britain. I want that Super Bowl in Britain. I don’t care when it happens, but I want it announced while I’m ambassador.”
In prior years, London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his commitment to making the Super Bowl a priority for his city. He stated, “The Super Bowl is really important for us. We have a number of American football games, and I want it to come here because we want American sports fans in Europe to come to London to watch them.”
Given the previous comments from officials, Goodell’s remarks seem aimed at minimizing speculation about the possibility of a Super Bowl in London without a corresponding franchise.
Although a Super Bowl in London is unlikely now, the city is set to host three NFL games in the near future, making it a key player in the league’s international plans.
