With the recent relocation of the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas and the Chargers to Los Angeles, it appears that every team is where they belong. But as a new NFL season gets underway, talk inevitably begins to wind its way to the topic of expansion.
Let’s take a look at 10 cities that should be next up on the NFL’s list for expansion.
10. San Diego, CA.
Bring back the Chargers (or someone else)! OK, the Chargers now call LA home, but San Diego deserves another team. The Chargers’ move north was not because of a lack of fan support, it was due to the team and government failing to agree on a stadium plan. San Diego has the population needed to support a team, and traditionally, they have. It’s time to put San Diego back on the NFL map.
9. Salt Lake City, UT
Traveling northwest through Denver to Seattle, there is baron wasteland waiting for NFL expansion, making Salt Lake City the ideal location for a new team. Salt Lake City has the population and infrastructure needed to house an NFL team, as well as a love for the game. Salt Lake City’s location also makes it ideal to grow a fan base that includes Utah, and parts of Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada.
8. Honolulu, HI.
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With a metro population of over 1 million people, abundant tourism, and almost perfect weather, Honolulu, Hawaii makes perfect sense for an NFL team. From 1980 to 2016, the NFL regularly played the Pro Bowl in front of sellout crowds in Hawaii, so clearly the desire for football is there, as well as the infrastructure.
7. Oklahoma City, OK.
Football might be king in Texas, but it’s still royalty in Oklahoma. The popularity of college football in the Sooner State proves that the addition of a pro team would also be incredibly successful. The existing natural rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas also makes placing a franchise in OKC too good to pass up.
6. Birmingham, AL.
Since Alabama has long held a deep appreciation of the college game, it makes sense for the NFL to consider the great city of Birmingham. Population-wise, Birmingham ranks ahead of NFL cities such as Buffalo and New Orleans, so clearly a future fan base isn’t an issue. Geographically, Birmingham sits in an ideal place for a future rivalry/division with the Falcons, Titans, and Saints.
5. San Antonio, TX.
It’s often said that football is king in Texas, but they only have 2 NFL teams. California, New York, and Florida each have 3 teams, so why shouldn’t the country’s 2nd most populated state? Texas certainly has the size to warrant the addition of a third team, and San Antonio is the perfect place. Population-wise, San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas, and its location works to create in-state rivalries with the Texans and Cowboys, while also not taking away from their fanbases.
4. Toronto, Ontario
What if the NFL could go international without the traveling and scheduling nightmares? Placing an NFL franchise in Canada makes perfect sense. The proximity to the US makes Toronto an ideal location. Additionally, Toronto has the population to support an NFL team, has a long history with football (the CFL’s Argonauts have been around since 1873), and has a future rivalry with Buffalo that is just too good to pass up.
3. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City is the 6th largest metro area in the world with a population of over 21 million people. It makes sense for the NFL to seriously consider a franchise here. In addition to its size, the NFL has hosted games in Mexico City since 2016, regularly drawing over 76,000 people. A large population base with an appetite for American football is too good an opportunity for the NFL to pass up.
2. St. Louis, MO.
The third time’s the charm for Gateway City. Football belongs in St. Louis. The city has a long football tradition, previously being home to the Cardinals (1960-1987) and the Rams (1995-2015), and has long supported their teams. Plus, St. Louis is one of the all-time great sports cities in the United States. The NFL needs to do right by St. Louis and give them back their NFL team.
1. London, England
It’s time for the NFL to go BIG! It’s time for the NFL to truly go global, and there’s no better place to make that splash than London. The NFL started hosting games in London in 2007 and has held multiple games a year there since 2013. The games at Wembley Stadium traditionally draw upwards of 80,000 fans. The addition of multiple bye weeks makes the travel to and from London much less of an issue than previously thought. If the NFL truly wants global sports domination, London is the place to be.
