By Jordan Long
The NFL is set to play three NFL games in London this upcoming season. The first is October 14th at Tottenham Stadium as the Seattle Seahawks take on the Oakland Raiders. The other 2 games will be in Wembley Stadium. Those are on October 21st when the Los Angeles Chargers meet the Tennessee Titans and October 28th as the Philadelphia Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars. With 3 games being played each year across the pond, Jaguars Owner Shad Khan has an idea of playing a Super Bowl in Wembley Stadium. According to cbssports.com, Khan said, “”Our role would be to provide a world-class venue. Wembley is a great stadium and you want to get it configured to hold Super Bowl and World Cup finals.”
The NFL wants the game to be more global. Besides having 3 games in London they are also going to have one in Mexico.
A Super Bowl in London doesn’t seem might have some merit. Teams would have two weeks in London to prepare for the game. This helps them with the time change. When the teams fly there for a regular season game, it could be a week or a few days, not enough time for the athletes or the coaches to get used to the time.
The problem with a worldwide Super Bowl is the time for a football game back in the United States. People enjoy gathering for a Super Bowl party. The time difference between California and London is 8 hours. The NFL would have to figure out a time that works so that kick-off isn’t so late in London and not too early back in California.
An International Super Bowl isn’t the best idea. The games played in London already feel like the “Big Game” since they are playing it on a neutral field. If the NFL wants to try a venue not in the United States for the Super Bowl, try Canada. The best place could be the BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is an indoor stadium and weather wouldn’t be a factor. The time is the same as California. At least this would be a step towardsa global Super Bowl. Then if it works out, look at other places to host the game.
Super Bowl in another country……!! It always bothers me about US sports how they call themselves the “world champions” or the “World Series” when they only compete against other US teams. #alternativefacts BUT super bowl is America and having it somewhere else is wrong