Khan has also stated that he would like to see Wembley host a Super Bowl in the years to comeGETTY IMAGES
Jaguars Owner Shad Khan is "hoping to give Wembley Stadium a retractable roof that fully closes" and "allayed any fears" over the England national soccer team's future at the venue, according to Jason Burt of the London TELEGRAPH. Khan said that "he would not be buying" the venue if the England national team did not play there. He added that Wembley would not be worth US$817M "if it did not always remain the home of the England team." He said, "England must play there. Otherwise, it will be a shell. It would be like an empty suit that doesn't have soul" (London TELEGRAPH, 4/30). THE MMQB's Peter King wrote Khan's explanation for "why he wants to buy Wembley Stadium as it relates to the Jaguars leaves me with a lot more questions, and leaves me thinking the Jags are still the biggest contender to eventually move to London" (SI.com, 4/30). Jaguars GM David Caldwell said of whether the team could move to London, "We love Jacksonville and we're hoping this is going to be our home for a long period of time." PFT’s Mike Florio said, “I don't buy the idea that a move’s inevitable, although a lot of people are chattering about it" (“PFT,” NBCSN, 5/2).
SUPER BOWL IN LONDON? In Boston, Ben Volin noted Khan has "established the Jaguars as an annual participant in the NFL’s International Series, and also owns Fulham FC." At minimum, the NFL "owning a stadium in London should open the possibility of hosting a Super Bowl and/or Pro Bowl across the pond" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/29). PFT’s Florio said of Khan wanting to host a Super Bowl at Wembley, “I understand why the NFL from time to time dangles that carrot, whether it's relocation of a team to England or whether it's the possibility of a Super Bowl being played there. I don't think that's ever happening. I think the NFL likes to find ways to enhance interest in England as it relates to the NFL product, but the practicality of moving a team there, the backlash that would come from putting a Super Bowl there, even though 99.999% of all football fans are going to watch the Super Bowl from home and it looks no different in London versus how it would look in Miami or New Orleans or L.A., or anywhere else. They're not going to react well if the Super Bowl is played anywhere but the U.S. ("PFT," NBCSN, 5/2). ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said, “There is no event that drips with Americana more than the Super Bowl does. It is the most quintessentially American event that we have." But ESPN’s Michelle Beadle: If you don't tell them where the Super Bowl is or what city the Super Bowl is being played in, they don't necessarily know or care because we are all at Super Bowl parties or on our couches. The Super Bowl experience would not change" (“Get Up!,” ESPN, 5/2).
