NFL boss: It’s inevitable that American football team will be based in London
⬤ point for us.” Mr Waller said that once the decision to base a team in London is taken “it can happen very quickly”. He pointed out that longterm agreements on player wages and media rights are due to be agreed by 2022, “so that would be an optimum time if we were to make a move”.
By the end of this year’s trio of fixtures — the other match is the Philadelphia Eagles v the Ja c ks o nv i l l e Jaguars — 29 of the NFL’s 32 teams will have played in London. Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium had been due to host one of the three matches this year but construction delays meant the fixture had to transfer to Wembley.
Mr Waller said he did not believe the collapse of the sale of Wembley stadium would have any impact on future NFL fixtures or the prospect of a Londonbased franchise. He said: “We have always enjoyed a prosperous partnership with the Football Association.”
He added that a London franchise would not have to be based at one stadium but could share its home games between Wembley, Spurs’ new ground and Twickenham, which has already hosted three matches.