As the Jaguars prepare for their second of four annual home games in London, there’s good news as it relates to their non-American following.
Team president Mark Lamping told Jaguars.com LIVE on Wednesday that the Jaguars have gone in only one year from the 31st most popular NFL team in England to the ninth.
The news comes at a time when NFLUK.com is circulating to fans in England a lengthy survey that asks about, among other things, whether it’s a good idea to have an NFL team in London on a full-time basis and whether fans would be more or less likely to attend games in London if a franchise is moved.
The problem for folks in Jacksonville is that: (1) if the NFL is determined to move a team to London; and (2) if the Jaguars develop a true following there, they become more likely to move to London.
In the interests of clarity, we hope that doesn’t happen. We (or at least I) don’t believe that it’s feasible to have a team headquartered on a full-time basis in London. The better approach would be to simply play eight games per year in London.