The NFL is strongly trying to get all 32 team to have played a game in London. And all but 3 teams have... the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans.

The Packers haven't had a London game because there is no way in hell any team, under normal circumstances, would willingly give up a home game with how well the Packers fans travel (and therefore spend money)... but it might finally happen next season.

The NFL's two main ways of getting teams to London have been the Jaguars (who want to play in London as they seem to be considering a potential move to London) and the unusual circumstances of teams that are relocating and don't have their new stadium ready yet (such as Chargers, Rams and Raiders, whose new stadiums are expected to be ready to go in 2020).


So why could 2019 be the year the Packers finally play in London? Because they're scheduled to face not one but two of these teams (Chargers and Raiders).

The Raiders don't currently have a stadium contract signed for next season as their new stadium isn't ready and their old one is playing hardball since it's the last time they'll be getting money from the Raiders, so depending on what arrangement the Raiders have set up, this could be a great game for the NFL to move to London.

Meanwhile the Chargers are playing home games in a 27,000 capacity soccer stadium while their new stadium is being built. The Packers fans normally travel to warm areas Packers games (especially in winter) in huge flocks... 27,000 seats simply isn't enough for the crowd they could get and maximuming the games potential crowd. Meanwhile, NFL's 2018 London Games achieved an average attendance of 85,031 including a record attendance of 85,870 to watch the Eagles/Jaguars game.

As we all know the NFL likes setting and breaking records, and with the Packers fans that travel so well, the NFL will probably try to break the London game attendance record. So I'm fully expecting the Packers to have a London game next year, and I'm thinking it will be Packers vs Chargers.

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Good post, beast. I thought about most of this, as well, as I'm 100% going if the Packers come to London. Can't wait for them to announce what teams are playing in London, but I can't imagine the wait will be much longer, as they did so on january 11th the last two years.

I thought the Chargers would be the team, as well. Mainly because I figured the NFL would send the Raiders to Mexico City to make up for the fiasco this year. There's some rumours about the Steelers playing the Chargers in Mexico, though.





Maybe we're playing the Raiders, althought I do wonder why you'd want two stadium filling fanbases play eachother. Then again, it doesn't really matter who's playing who in London, as it consistently draws big crowds. Even the stinkers.

It will be a great chance for Rocky to see a game. Hurrah! I still hate the idea.

Edit- I see Rocky just weighed in on this as I was typing. Nice.
I think Dulak is in England too. Good chance for him to see a game too.

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Thanks for the info Rockmolder, if that's the case then maybe the Packers aren't going to London after all, because

It's Chargers or nothing for Packers international games in 2019 (unless NFL changes home games, which they haven't done before).

The NFL has announced that there will be four London games and five international games, including the 5 teams giving up a home game... "the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will each stage a home game outside the United States next season ".

The Packers play the Raiders and Chargers, but the Raiders game is in Green Bay. To go with what Rockmolder heard, the Chargers host the Steelers and Packers, so it could be either one, and the travel businesses might have some insider info that it's the Steelers.

The Panthers have a road game against the Bucs. The Texans have road games against the Bucs, Chargers and Jaguars... so they potential could have their first London game.


One reason I thought they would do it in 2019 was because the Chargers, Rams and Raiders were suppose to get their full time stadiums in 2020.... but if the Bucs are giving up games, the Packers do have an away game against the Bucs in 2020 (though I think their owners would hate giving up a road game against the Packers, especially since Packers winter time Florida games seem to be HUGE sells!

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My son and his wife are in London and he would go crazy if they came...thanks for the post

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There's a few fans I'd like to leave in London.

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Also there is absolutely no way the jags move there until we figure out how to teleport.

Think of all the logistics and BS involved in making that work. Not only for them, but the league and everyone who would have to play them. Imagine getting drafted by a team and suddenly you have to move to London.

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Talk about a Brexit nightmare.

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I'm pretty sure that's what Baltimore used to say about the Colts leaving the city... and then the owner got a new place and the move happened... same with the Rams recent....

And Jaguars owner Shad Khan offered a $800 million deal to buy Wembley stadium in London , though he withdrew the last week before an important vote, because the idea of the idea of selling the National Stadium became divisive  (probably especially since Khan is a foreigner)... and because informal polling seemed to suggest he would get a "slim majority", not the "conclusive margin" that would be needed for the Football (Soccer) Association’s Chariman wanted to order to approve the sale.

I could be completely wrong on this... but I don't think he attempted to spend $800 million, so his team could play only one game there a year, especially since they're the team that's most willing to play there and promote the most....

The biggest problem in making it all work would be the taxes... because if this link is correct, the UK chargers 45% income tax rate of pay over £150,000 ($186,327.46)  so no FAs would willing go there... but would the NFL (who's been talking about attempting to get in new major market, including getting teams there for years) been willing to make some adjustment, in attempt to make the salary equal? I don't know... but I'm guessing Jaguars owner Shad Khan thinks he knows.

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I've heard the idea of keeping the teams "home" and facilities in jax but still playing 4-8 games in London.

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