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 an expert sports activities workforce. 

Likelihood is, a San Antonio workforce within the NFL would have a bitter interstate rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. That appears 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 Sequence. The primary NFL recreation ever performed in London was in 2007 in entrance of a crowd at Wembley Stadium. Since then, 33 NFL video games might 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 workforce for each recreation.

The choices of franchise names are countless. You would 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 workforce. Might an NFL workforce 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 workforce in Toronto would make hometown rapper Drake very joyful.

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

Since Mexico Metropolis is the capital of Mexico, it is sensible 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 recreation. 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 so much to cheer for over time. Those self same followers would love an NFL workforce to root for. Perhaps they inject some school fan spirit into an NFL stadium, giving them a novel residence recreation 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 Biggest 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 Sequence 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 harm 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 workforce. This might make it the state with essentially 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 essentially the most populous metropolis in a state with no soccer workforce. This one’s a no brainer.

Just like the Utah Jazz, an NFL enlargement workforce 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 an expert soccer workforce 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 workforce again to this metropolis would imply so much to the San Diego trustworthy.

Sydney’s inhabitants is a whopping 5 million folks! It’s some of the populous cities in Australia. Dwelling to the Sydney Opera Home and a number of other waterfront points of interest, the one factor this metropolis is lacking is perhaps a soccer workforce.

One thing to say about Sydney and Australia is residence to a few 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 workforce, 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 international. The better Tokyo space’s inhabitants is 37 million. There isn’t any scarcity of potential followers in Tokyo. If given an NFL workforce, it might instantly be one of many greatest markets within the league from a sheer dimension standpoint.

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

The previous Raiders’ residence, Oakland, is a viable possibility for a possible enlargement workforce. There are ensures to this market that a few of the different cities talked about on this record lack. NFL franchises have succeeded at Oakland earlier than. The one draw back to an NFL workforce 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 harking back to a avenue combat as a substitute of an NFL stadium. They left a tricky act to comply with.

One other Bay Space metropolis, San Jose, has by no means had an NFL workforce. However they’re residence to the San Jose Sharks of the NHL. It won’t be as massive of a sports activities city as close by Oakland or San Francisco, however giving them an enlargement workforce is perhaps value a shot. A Bay Space rivalry with San Francisco is intriguing.

Hartford is subsequent on our record. The capital of Connecticut, they have been as soon as the house of the now defunct Hartford Whalers of the NHL. The most important downside of an NFL workforce in Hartford could be their neighbors. The New England Patriots are subsequent door. Would you slightly watch a workforce with six Tremendous Bowl victories or a brand new enlargement workforce? Except it is free sizzling canine evening at Hartford, you will the Patriots recreation. Perhaps they may change into the Patriots’ JV workforce? Or a punching bag. Who is aware of, they may be capable to pull a couple of upsets. This appears like a workforce followers would like to root for, mockingly. 

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 workforce 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 workforce, so there’s a strong sports activities fan base right here.

The final Canadian workforce on our record 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 record. They’re Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa. If these groups made the lower for an enlargement franchise, it is sensible to place them in a brand new division full of Canadian groups. This fashion, the AFC and NFC don’t must bear realignment throughout the divisions. Letting the Canadians have their very own division is sensible.

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

The flight time to get to Frankfurt would give them a big 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 perhaps a nightmare.

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

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

It might be fascinating 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 growing older veterans who need an opportunity to delay their careers within the heat climate whereas contributing to a successful tradition. It’s an analogous mannequin to what NBA government Pat Riley has constructed with the Miami Warmth of the NBA. 

Make no mistake, the gorgeous climate could be a significant promoting level to the followers as nicely. NFL followers are identified to journey lengthy distances to look at their beloved groups play. Watching your favourite workforce in particular person whereas on trip appears like a dream. There is perhaps extra away followers than residence followers at their video games.