Rams To Play in London Next Three Years

Added on Jan 20, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

In a somewhat puzzling move, the St. Louis Rams have agreed to play a game in London, England for the next three years. The trips across the pond will be considered home games for St. Louis, meaning one less “real” home date for fans. Team owner Stan Kroenke owns a majority stake in Arsenal of the English Premier League, which partially explains the long-term commitment.

Kroenke views the deal as a win-win for the franchise and the NFL.

“We’ve seen first-hand the increased popularity of the NFL not only in London but throughout Europe,” Kroenke said in a statement. “To play a role in that growth over the next three years will be incredible and is a testament to the many good things happening not only in the NFL but also in the St. Louis Rams organization.”

The first of the three matchups will be held at Wembley Stadium on October 28th, 2012 versus the New England Patriots, coming on the heels of the highly anticipated London Olympics. It will mark the second appearance for the Patriots, who first played at Wembley in 2009, resulting in a 35-7 victory over Tampa Bay.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed interest in adding a permanent franchise in England as part of the league’s plan to transform American football into a global entity. The three-year deal could serve as a way to gauge interest in the Rams as a potential candidate to relocate, especially with Kroenke’s London connections.

Before expanding into Europe, first on the agenda is finding a team for the number two TV market in Los Angeles. The Rams have long been linked to making a return to LA, and other possible choices include San Diego, Minnesota, Indianapolis and Jacksonville.

The Rams are hoping to usher in an era of winning after hiring Jeff Fisher a week ago. The last time they finished over .500 was 2003. Since then they have gone 37-91.

Source: ESPN.com