The Patriots and the Bucs are playing in London on Sunday. This is a fantastic thing American Football fans, not just in the UK, but Holland and Germany as well. The game sold out in a few hours, but what about a NFL team based in London.

The idea of the NFL basing a team in London is a growing one. There is frequent mention of the fact that there is no team in Americas second biggest TV market, Los Angeles, the value of a team in London would quickly surpass this. A TV deal to show this team would be worth hundreds of millions of pounds,the advertising revenue would also be massive. Expanding American Football around the world is a stated aim of the NFL, no where is better prepared for this than London. Compared to places like Jacksonville, it is a perfect place for a team.

 

What would it mean for the other teams in the NFL? I don't think an expansion team would work over here,it would take too long to establish itself. A current NFL team would be better but which one and would it really be fair on that city? It does not matter to the league, they want to maximise revenue and putting a team in London would do that?

 

The biggest problem, as i see it, with bringing a team to London is the differing tax systems. I don't know what the personal tax ratse are in the states, but the players coming to London would have to pay around 55% in tax in the UK. I guess this is alot more than in the states. Whilst they could get the same net pay it will increase the staff costs to the frachise by around 10%. This might not be sustainable. Still, i would like the NFL to come to the UK on a permanent basis.

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