League owners also consider expanding play-off format.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has re-affirmed his desire to introduce a London-based team to the league while also looking at the market in Los Angeles.
Goodell is said to be encouraged by the on-going success of the International Series games at Wembley Stadium, with three regular season games set to be held in England next year.
As a result, he has admitted that the continued support could earn London its own NFL team, despite critics of the idea suggesting that it would be difficult logistically for teams to travel amongst other things.
The New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins in the first regular season game at Wembley back in 2007, but while Goodell supports the idea of a London-based team he is also looking at the return of the game to Los Angeles for the first time since 1995.
“I think it’s possible if we continue to have success in London that we would have a franchise there,” he said, as reported by Sky Sports.
“I don’t know which of Los Angeles or London will be first and I’m not sure I care. I’d like to see if we can be successful in both ultimately.”
Each game at Wembley has attracted crowds of around 80,000, and while the interest in undoubtedly there, there are fears that regular games would see the novelty of the live NFL experience wear off while any potentially new organisation struggles in its opening year.
Meanwhile, there are also discussions over introducing extra teams into the post-season in order to reduce the number of meaningless late-season games.
“That is under serious consideration,” he added. “One of the great things about the NFL other than it’s unscripted is that every team starts the season with hope.”
Goodell was speaking in New York ahead of the first cold-weather Super Bowl on February 2, and also revealed that he would look at other cities with cold climates being given the chance to host the showpiece event moving forward.
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