2023-07-23 17:11:18
What would a 40-team NFL look like?
July 23, 2023
The current map of NFL teams.
20 years ago the #32 team joined the NFL, the Houston Texans. This led to certain changes: the division was renamed Central a Nortethe new South division was created in both conferences and, in order for there to be 16 teams per side, the Seattle Seahawks they returned to the NFC Oestea division in which they participated only in its inaugural season in 1976.
As we all know, the NFL It is a business and, as in any business, the important thing is the money and the millions that and partners can bring. This explains the recent move of the Raiders to Las Vegas in 2020 and the move of the Chargers to Los Angeles in 2017, among other decisions.
That is why in this note we will see what other cities might have teams if the NFL decided to expand:
The 10 that Miami needs.
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— No Huddle (@nflnohuddle) July 22, 2023
What cities could host an expansion team?
1- Cities that are guaranteed to have an expansion team
San Diego, California
Former home of the current Los Angeles Chargersthis city in southern California had the team from the 1961 season to the 2016 season, the last one they played there.
Troubles between the city and the team’s owner over a new stadium, disappointing regular seasons after four straight division championships and Dean Spanos’ greed culminated in the team leaving for LA and many fans burning Chargers jerseys and other memorabilia.
This city is historic in terms of football, for more than 55 years the NFL was present there, in addition to having two football teams in Division I of the NCAA (San Diego State and San Diego in FBS and in FCS respectively); and for a brief time it had the San Diego Fleet team, part of the failed Alliance of American Football league, also known as the AAF.
St. Louis, Missouri
Another city with history in the league, Saint Louis used to have two different NFL teams. Between the years 1960 and 1987 the current Arizona Cardinals called this city home, and then between 1995 and 2015 the current Los Angeles Rams They knew how to celebrate three consecutive MVPs in addition to the Super Bowl XXXIV before the Tennessee Titans.
Again the problems between the owner, Kronka apartmentand the city, county and state for a new stadium or the renovation of the Edward Jones Dome, as well as the greed to take the team to a larger market (consummated with the purchase of the land where SoFi Stadium stands, shared between the Rams and Chargers) made the team return to LA for the 2016 season.
After almost four years without having a professional football team, the new xfl it gave them the right to be the only city without an NFL team to participate in the league’s second incarnation (the other seven cities had at least one team in their cities, NY and LA two each), and thus the Saint Louis Battlehawks were born, though they didn’t last long as the league went bankrupt due to the pandemic. The second revival of this, thanks to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnsonshowed that the city again needs a team in the elite of American Football.
2- Cities that, due to previous experiences, could easily have a team
San Antonio, Texas
House of the Roadrunners of UTSA and of the very loved ones in Argentina (thanks to Manu Ginobili) san antonio spursthis Texan city could certainly get an NFL team.
With a population of more than one and a half million people, this city knew how to have a much-loved team in the AAF (San Antonio Commanders), who knew how to see where the business was even though it did not work.
It has the renowned Alamo Bowl with a capacity for 65,000 spectators, which annually hosts the Bowl of the same name (the game that awards the most money apart from the New Year´s Six Bowlsthe six most important Bowls) and the High School All-American Bowl that pits the best players in the nation divided into East and West.
Birmingham, Alabama
Another city with a university team like the Blazers de UAB and who also knew how to own a team in the AAF (Birmingham Iron). It has an estimated population of 200,000 people, which although it may be little, demonstrated in the extinct AAF that can host a professional team representing the entire state.
With a stadium under construction, the Protective Stadiumwith capacity for 45,000 people and another old great stadium, the Legion Field (home of the Birmingham Bowl), with a capacity of 71,000, a team could make good use of either and draw spectators from the states of Alabama and Mississippi.
3- Cities that could have teams to fill 40
Portland, Oregon
The most populous city in the state with more than 650,000 inhabitants and almost 2 million in the urban area, this city has the population to have an NFL team. Although it will have to compete very closely with the 49ers and the Raidersthis team could not only represent the only state connected to the Pacific Ocean without a team in the league, but others like Idaho and Montana as well.
With a very small stadium in their city, they could reach an agreement with the University of Oregon to use the Autzen Stadium as your home on Sundays.
Orlando, Florida
One of the most representative cities in the state of Florida thanks to its parks Disney y Universalwith an estimated population of more than 250,000 inhabitants and one and a half million in the urban area, could support a professional football team as it did with the Orlando Apollos from AAF.
with the stadium UCFknown as “Bounce House”, which has a capacity of 44,000 spectators, and with possible businesses between the different parks and attractions in the city, it is economically viable to carry out a league franchise in this city.
4- International cities that could have an opportunity
Mexico City, Mexico
The capital of MexicoHome to more than 9 million people, where many fans of the sport live, it could without a doubt be the first city outside the United States to have a team in the NFL.
With a professional league in the country (Professional American Football League) this city could complement these teams, develop not only the internal league but also the university one, and globally represent the third most powerful nation in this sport.
Toronto Canada
The most populous city in Canadahome of the Raptors from NBAlos Blue Jays from MLB and the Maple Leafs from NHLcould be the first city to host both American football and Canadian football teams.
With several professional teams in his possession and the BMO Field with capacity for 25,000 people, the NFL you could bet on going north by adding a team in your neighboring country.
Now we will see how some divisions would be already with 40 teams in the league:
AFC
AFC Este: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Orlando.
AFC Norte: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Birmingham.
AFC Sur: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Mexico City.
AFC Oeste: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, San Diego.
NFC
NFC Este: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Saint Louis.
NFC Norte: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Toronto.
NFC Sur: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saint Anthony.
NFC Oeste: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Portland. . . . Alvaro Towers Swanston
Thermo fan of Gymnastics and New England Patriots. Apostle of Belichick and Brady. The Bengals won a playoff game again before my team won a title again.
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