Osi Umenyiora (right) believes empty seats at Chargers' home games strengthen the case for a London team.GETTY IMAGES
Former NFL N.Y. Giant Osi Umenyiora said that London is "close" to hosting its own permanent NFL franchise, according to Malik Ouzia of the London EVENING STANDARD. Umenyiora is now a "resident pundit" on the BBC's "The NFL Show." Umenyiora, who was born in London, said, "I think we're close. They just gotta work on the logistics of it, work out what team it is that's gonna be here and how that would look. But all signs are pointing towards that happening, no question." He said that he believes "faltering U.S. attendances," like the ones for the L.A. Chargers, are "making it increasingly difficult to argue against a London team." Umenyiora: "If something makes good business sense and it's not hurting anybody, I don't see why you wouldn't do that. Why would you be in Los Angeles, struggling over there, to fill out a 30,000 seat capacity stadium? They already have another franchise there, when you could be here selling out 80,000 seats [in London]" (EVENING STANDARD, 10/23). Ouzia also reported Umenyiora said that he believes the sale of Wembley Stadium "would have hastened the arrival" of a London team. He said, "I can't say anything for certain because I don't know what [Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan's] business plans are but I think it would have made sense" (EVENING STANDARD, 10/23).
GLOBAL PUSH: Philadelphia Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie believes the NFL has "got to be more willing to be aggressive" in growing its int'l profile and "take chances" in new markets. Lurie said that the success the NFL has had in London and Mexico City "reinforces going more international." Lurie said, "We're all talking about China. Not necessarily for a franchise, but it's a market that is gigantic that doesn't have a dominant sport. I think that's the next frontier -- not necessarily for a team but to start understanding NFL football." He added that he is "sure games will be played" in China in the future. Lurie said on the NFL's presence in London, "Should it be a team that is a London franchise or should we have a game every week in London that's shared by all the teams? It's certainly a serious decision" ("Good Morning Football," NFL Network, 10/23).
