Every year the NFL typically begins the season with the process of discussing the issue of expansion. What city should be the lucky recipient of a shiny new NFL franchise?
While there are many cities that would make a great home for an NFL team, there is also the flip side. Some cities are, or would, make a terrible home for a team. Team location is never an easy choice for decision makers.
In an attempt to make their lives easier, let’s take a look at 5 cities that deserve an NFL franchise, and 5 that don’t.
DON'T – Oakland, CA.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times… Oakland has had two chances with NFL franchises, having been home to the Raiders from 1960 -1981 and again from 1995 – 2019. Both times the team has left the city. Taking a third chance on Oakland would just lead to failure; clearly the NFL doesn’t work there.
Fortunately, there is a successful team a short ride away in San Francisco that people can root for. If the NFL really has a desire to award another franchise to California (they shouldn’t), there are better options than Oakland.
DESERVE – New York City, NY.
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This might be splitting hairs, but New York City doesn’t really have their own team. Sure, the Giants and the Jets both call themselves New York teams, but they play in New Jersey. While it is still the NYC metro area, other New Jersey teams (NJ Devils) don’t bear the New York moniker.
The Big Apple is the number 1 market in the country and deserves to have their own true team. Build a stadium in Queens or on Long Island and move the Jets there. Nothing against the Jets, but for some reason they seem to make more sense there than the Giants. If relocation isn’t an option, there’s always expansion. If there’s one city that could handle a third team, it’s New York City.
DON’T – San Diego, CA
Despite having a long history with San Diego, the Chargers were right to leave town. The city has a lot going for it – large population, beautiful weather; but for some reason football wasn’t a priority. For many years, the Chargers typically fell towards the bottom of the league in overall attendance.
The NFL is a business, and if a team isn’t successful, they should fold or move. After moving in 2017, San Diego has often been mentioned for an expansion team. The NFL would be smart to steer clear. There is no point in going down that road again in San Diego.
DESERVE – Portland, OR
Portland may not have been on the NFL’s radar in the past, but it should be now. Over the last several decades the population has steadily increased, making Portland one of the 25 largest metro areas in the country, even larger than several current NFL markets.
Northwestern Oregon has long had a strong love of football, so a professional team is sure to garner widespread support. While not close enough to encroach on Seattle territory, the newly created rivalry is certain to be one of the best in the NFL. Portland is an up-and-coming city that has a lot to offer a future NFL team.
DON’T – Chicago, Il
With a population of over 9 million people, Chicago could certainly handle a second NFL franchise. But like my first marriage, just because something seems like a good idea doesn’t mean it is one. New York has two teams, and the Windy City has two baseball teams, but a second football team in Chicago would be a huge mistake.
The city is, was, and always will be, a Bears town. They have been in existence for 103 years and rightfully rule the football landscape there. No team, no matter how successful, could ever topple the mountain of fan support Da Bears enjoy. Simply put, Chicago is a one NFL team town.
DESERVE – Norfolk, VA
Norfolk might be one of the bigger surprises on the list, but it’s an intriguing choice. The metro area has a population of over 1.7 million people, making it larger than Jacksonville and Buffalo. The area is home to several universities and has a large military presence, both of which only add to the future fanbase.
The region has a diverse and stable economy, which makes supporting an NFL franchise feasible. Similar to several cities on our list, future rivalries with Washington and Charlotte add to the intrigue of a franchise here. Norfolk might not be the first for a franchise, but they should be in line for one.
DON’T – Omaha, NE
Omaha looks like a city ripe for an NFL team. It’s a fairly large Midwestern city in a state that loves football. But looks can be deceiving, especially here. The NFL would be wise to expand into the Midwest, as it is a potentially large untapped market, but Omaha is not the answer.
If awarded a franchise, Omaha would be the smallest NFL market, and one that probably would not be able to support the team. It doesn’t matter how much the people love football. If there’s no one to attend the games, the team can’t be successful. The NFL needs to look elsewhere in the Midwest for a new market, as Omaha just isn’t the right fit.
DESERVE – El Paso, TX
El Paso is the 22nd largest city in the US, with a population that is increasing over time. There’s also no denying how popular football is in Texas. High school, college, and pro games are often played in front of large, sold-out crowds.
Currently, the two pro teams in Texas play in the eastern part of the state, so El Paso is far enough away from their would-be in-state rivals. A large, untapped market in a football hungry region with no other competition nearby, El Paso makes a lot of sense for a new franchise.
DON’T – Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo has a lot of factors going for it when it comes to NFL expansion. It’s a city of over 13 million people and the NFL did hold several preseason games there in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Placing a franchise in Tokyo would be a great opportunity for the NFL to enter the lucrative Asian market. But there are two 250-pound linebackers standing in the way of Japanese football.
First is location. Even with creative use of bye weeks, Japan is just too far for most teams to travel. Especially with short turnarounds between games during the playoffs, traveling across the Pacific is too much. The other obstacle is that if the NFL wants to expand outside of the US, there are more deserving cities than Tokyo.
DESERVE – Orlando, FL
The fact that the NFL hasn’t placed a franchise in Orlando is a huge surprise. It would seem to offer the NFL everything they could want. There is a large population, ample tourism, and plenty of revenue to support a team. A possible partnership between the NFL and the “House of Mouse” would be a financial juggernaut.
The seeds for a franchise have been planted, as the city has hosted the Pro Bowl four times. The only question is whether or not Florida could handle having four NFL teams, and they absolutely can. Orlando is an NFL market waiting to happen.
