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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Wants To Launch Four European Franchises

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver admitted that "his sport has fallen behind American football" in physically expanding into the U.K. but said that "its ultimate aim remained to launch four European franchises," according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. Silver said, "My sense is that the NFL is a little bit ahead of us in terms of their timeline for having a franchise based in London. There are some aspects of their schedule that make it easier -- they play once a week, they have fewer games. It will be easier logistically for them to pull it off. It would be difficult for us to have one team in Europe. We’d have to put both feet down. That would mean having four franchises in Europe." He said that "the arena infrastructure was improving across Europe" with U.S.-style arenas in place or under construction in England, Germany, France and Spain. Silver: “We’re not there yet. I know that as much growth as we’ve seen, we have a long way to go before we can sustain four franchises in Europe." Silver insisted that "the sport is attracting new fans rather than preaching to the converted." Silver: "We are reaching new audiences. Each time we come, we learn from prior experiences and mistakes we’ve made." When asked about the recent furore over attempts by the former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans to return to football after being released on licence having served two and half years of a five year sentence for rape, Silver said that "it was important that each case was judged on its specific facts." Silver said, “I am a lawyer by training. I believe in due process. I believe that someone who is contrite and has paid their price to society ... I don’t think anyone wants to live in a society where people don’t get second chances" (GUARDIAN, 1/15).

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