London may host future SuperBowl
While the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has previously admitted an interest in bringing the game to London, this is the first confirmation of discussions.
“We’ve spoken on what it would take to host and for us to bring it over,” events vice-president Frank Supovitz said.
“The city has all the facilities needed, and in great quantity.”
Supovitz was talking in New York City where the NFL Draft will take place this weekend.
“We have had very substantive conversations with the city of London. We’ve got to the point of exploring the bid document,” he told BBC.
“I don’t think it’s an unrealistic prospect at all.”
The venues for the next three Super Bowls have already been decided with Dolphin Stadium in Florida, Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas and the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana putting together successful bids.
But London has become the focal point for the NFL’s desire to expand the sport globally, and bringing the sport’s showpiece event to the city appears to be a real possibility.
Mark Waller, NFL head of sales and marketing, said: “The NFL is a global property, has a global audience, and London is an incredible city from a sports fan’s perspective.
“I don’t think it’s an unrealistic prospect at all,” he said.
There is certainly good reason for the NFL to believe that a Super Bowl in London would create sufficient interest for the game to be a success.
In October 2007, the NFL staged its first regular season game outside of the Americas, with over 80,000 fans at Wembley watching the New York Giants defeat the Miami Dolphins.
Last year, 83,000 supporters turned out to watch the New Orleans Saints beat the San Diego Chargers.
Visit London estimate that the match brought about £20m (€22m) to the city with 7,000 team employees, sponsors and their guests crossing the Atlantic for the Wembley clash.
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