The question is not whether the NFL will expand again, but when. The league’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, has been discussing potential expansion with the media for several years now. It seems that the owners are only interested in expansion if it translates to more money in their pockets. There are, of course, arguments against expansion. The most commonly cited argument is that it would dilute the talent across the league. The league already struggles to find enough quality quarterbacks to start at the NFL level for every team. Another argument is the potential travel issues that could arise for teams if they are located in some of the cities mentioned.
So, if it’s inevitable, which city or cities should be next? Goodell has also noted that, with all the international games being played now, the league would eventually like to have teams located outside the US. Some of the global cities mentioned as possibilities are London, Toronto, and Mexico City. As the NFL continues to expand its reach, the list of potential locations will grow. In addition to the list of international possibilities, there is a long list of US cities that would either like to have an NFL franchise or have one again.
San Antonio is the largest city without an NFL team, so its name often comes up. Another possibility is a team for the region to cover the San Antonio/Austin area, which has seen significant population growth over the last couple of decades. Other cities mentioned include Salt Lake City, Utah; Portland, Oregon; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, all of which are in states currently without an NFL franchise. There are also the two metro areas that have lost their teams in the past, San Diego, California, and St. Louis, Missouri. Additionally, there are some other random outlier cities that are mentioned, but they mostly seem like unlikely candidates as they are located in areas that are already fairly close to a current NFL franchise.
So tonight’s Phinsider Question Of The Day is:
Do you think NFL expansion is a good idea, and if so, or if not, why? Given that expansion is almost guaranteed, who do you think will get a franchise, who should get a franchise, and who would you like to see get a franchise and why?
Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-