Cities that should be next on the NFL’s expansion list

San Antonio has a inhabitants of 1.5 million folks. It’s the most important metropolis in America with out an NFL franchise. Regardless of having a small media market, the San Antonio Spurs proved that Alamo Metropolis has what it takes to host knowledgeable sports activities crew. 

Likelihood is, a San Antonio crew within the NFL would have a bitter interstate rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. That seems like must-watch TV, particularly if a playoff spot is on the road. 

Texans love their soccer. We see it at each stage: highschool, school, and the professionals. It’s about time skilled soccer is performed in San Antonio. 

Do you know after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Saints relocated to San Antonio to play their common season? They went 3-13 and moved again to New Orleans. The next season, new head coach Sean Payton and not too long ago signed quarterback Drew Brees labored out fairly nicely for the Saints.

London is already a member of the NFL Worldwide Collection. The primary NFL sport ever performed in London was in 2007 in entrance of a crowd at Wembley Stadium. Since then, 33 NFL video games shall be performed in London, together with the upcoming 2022 NFL season. The Jaguars performed 9 video games in London since 2013. They’ve been the house crew for each sport.

The choices of franchise names are limitless. You can go together with the Redcoats, Royals, or the Monarchs, their title throughout their NFL Europe days. 

The biggest metropolis in Canada already has an NHL, MLB, and NBA crew. May an NFL crew be in retailer? Town is accustomed to the gridiron. From 2008 to 2012, the Buffalo Payments performed in Toronto for 2 preseason and 6 common season video games. Town can also be residence to the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Soccer League.

An NFL enlargement crew in Toronto would make hometown rapper Drake very completely satisfied.

Like London, Mexico Metropolis is a part of the NFL Worldwide Collection. They hosted their first NFL sport in 2016. 4 NFL video games have been performed in Mexico Metropolis.

Since Mexico Metropolis is the capital of Mexico, it is smart this hypothetical sports activities franchise could be known as the Capitols, Senators, or one thing alongside these strains.

Dwelling of the NBA’s Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, this metropolis has proved it’s worthy of an NFL franchise. The Thunder’s rabid fanbase makes their presence identified at each residence sport. However it is a soccer metropolis in a soccer state. The Oklahoma Sooners are a school soccer powerhouse and have given the folks of Oklahoma rather a lot to cheer for over time. Those self same followers would love an NFL crew to root for. Possibly they inject some school fan spirit into an NFL stadium, giving them a novel residence sport expertise.

It’s the birthplace of Budweiser.

The Rams franchise performed in St. Louis from 1995-2015 earlier than relocating to raised climate in LA. The St. Louis Rams gained the Tremendous Bowl in 1999 with The Best Present on Turf. The St. Louis Blues gained the Stanley Cup in 2019. And final however not least, the St. Louis Cardinals have 11 World Collection to their title. Make no mistake, the Gateway to the West deserves skilled soccer once more.

Seeing the Rams win the Tremendous Bowl in 2021, not even a decade after relocating, should’ve damage each St. Louis sports activities fan. 

The capital of California is already residence to the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. It’s a metropolis with tons of tradition and historical past. Sacramento could be the fourth franchise in California if it have been to obtain an NFL enlargement crew. This could make it the state with probably the most NFL groups within the nation.

With a inhabitants of 200,000 and a strong school soccer fanbase, Salt Lake Metropolis offers different potential NFL cities a run for his or her cash. The Utah Jazz has known as the capital of Utah residence for many years. It’s probably the most populous metropolis in a state with no soccer crew. This one’s a no brainer.

Just like the Utah Jazz, an NFL enlargement crew in Salt Lake Metropolis may merely go by the state’s title as a substitute of town they play in. It will appeal to extra followers from a wider space.

Their beloved Chargers left for LA in 2016. It was the primary time San Diego was disadvantaged of knowledgeable soccer crew since 1961! San Diego soccer was residence to NFL greats Junior Seau, Philip Rivers, a younger Drew Brees, and naturally, Ladanian Tomlinson. Bringing an NFL crew again to this metropolis would imply rather a lot to the San Diego trustworthy.

Sydney’s inhabitants is a whopping 5 million folks! It’s one of the crucial populous cities in Australia. Dwelling to the Sydney Opera Home and several other waterfront points of interest, the one factor this metropolis is lacking is likely to be a soccer crew.

One thing to say about Sydney and Australia is residence to a number of the most vicious animals on Earth. Tasmanian devils, crocodiles, and Kangaroos that field like heavyweight champs… and that’s solely naming a couple of. In the event that they have been awarded an NFL enlargement crew, there are a number of choices to select from for an intimidating animal title.

Sticking with the worldwide metropolis narrative, Tokyo permits the NFL to go world. The larger Tokyo space’s inhabitants is 37 million. There is no such thing as a scarcity of potential followers in Tokyo. If given an NFL crew, it could instantly be one of many largest markets within the league from a sheer dimension standpoint.

Like St. Louis and San Diego, Oakland is a type of cities soccer followers would like to see have an NFL crew once more.

The previous Raiders’ residence, Oakland, is a viable choice for a possible enlargement crew. There are ensures to this market that a number of the different cities talked about on this checklist lack. NFL franchises have succeeded at Oakland earlier than. The one draw back to an NFL crew in Oakland is how do you replicate The Black Gap? Raiders followers have been identified for his or her aggressive habits and unusual outfits throughout video games. The nosebleed seats have been paying homage to a avenue battle as a substitute of an NFL stadium. They left a troublesome act to comply with.

One other Bay Space metropolis, San Jose, has by no means had an NFL crew. However they’re residence to the San Jose Sharks of the NHL. It may not be as huge of a sports activities city as close by Oakland or San Francisco, however giving them an enlargement crew is likely to be price a shot. A Bay Space rivalry with San Francisco is intriguing.

Hartford is subsequent on our checklist. The capital of Connecticut, they have been as soon as the house of the now defunct Hartford Whalers of the NHL. The largest downside of an NFL crew in Hartford could be their neighbors. The New England Patriots are subsequent door. Would you slightly watch a crew with six Tremendous Bowl victories or a brand new enlargement crew? Until it is free scorching canine night time at Hartford, you will the Patriots sport. Possibly they may grow to be the Patriots’ JV crew? Or a punching bag. Who is aware of, they may be capable of pull a couple of upsets. This seems like a crew followers would like to root for, sarcastically. 

Montreal is the second most populated metropolis in Canada. It’s second solely to Toronto. The Montreal Canadiens and the Canadian Soccer League’s Montreal Alouettes play within the metropolis. The Canadiens have 24 Stanley Cups, and the Alouettes have seven Gray Cups. An NFL crew in Montreal must keep it up the successful custom. 

Vancouver is a two-hour drive from Seattle. Relaxation assured, these two groups would create a formidable rivalry with each other. They have already got an NHL and CFL crew, so there’s a strong sports activities fan base right here.

The final Canadian crew on our checklist is Ottawa. It’s a vibrant sports activities city with devoted followers. The Ottawa Senators and Reblacks every play within the metropolis already.  The capital of Canada has the makings of an NFL metropolis.

4 Canadian groups made the checklist. They’re Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa. If these groups made the minimize for an enlargement franchise, it is smart to place them in a brand new division full of Canadian groups. This fashion, the AFC and NFC don’t should bear realignment throughout the divisions. Letting the Canadians have their very own division is smart.

Frankfurt has already hosted an NFL-affiliated crew earlier than. The Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFL Europe League gained the championship 4 instances earlier than the league resulted in 2007. With a strong inhabitants of 750,000, Frankfurt is an intriguing vacation spot for an NFL enlargement crew. A logical rivalry for this crew could be the London enlargement crew.

The flight time to get to Frankfurt would give them a major home-field benefit over visiting North American groups. For instance, a flight from LA to Frankfurt is roughly 11 hours. It’s additionally throughout totally different time zones. Issue within the twelfth man, and enjoying in Frankfurt is likely to be a nightmare.

They’re already residence to the Portland Path Blazers of the NBA, who’ve the seventh finest successful share in NBA historical past at .533%, according to Stat Muse. Portland is used to rooting for a winner. Why not give them a soccer crew? 

The Seattle Seahawks versus Portland’s NFL crew could be the battle of the Pacific Northwest. 

It could be attention-grabbing to see the goofy outfits hipsters would provide you with for Portland’s residence video games on Sunday.

Hear me out right here. They’ve the potential to be the Flint Tropics of the NFL. Taking part in in Honolulu could be a trip for NFL gamers. The franchise may appeal to getting older veterans who need an opportunity to delay their careers within the heat climate whereas contributing to a successful tradition. It’s the same mannequin to what NBA government Pat Riley has constructed with the Miami Warmth of the NBA. 

Make no mistake, the attractive climate could be a significant promoting level to the followers as nicely. NFL followers are identified to journey lengthy distances to observe their beloved groups play. Watching your favourite crew in individual whereas on trip seems like a dream. There is likely to be extra away followers than residence followers at their video games.