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I took my daughter to her first ever football game yesterday in London to see the Rams "play host" to the Patriots, or as she thought the banner read - The New England "Parrots".

The NFL looks like it is hell bent on establishing a franchise by hook or by crook in London. There was a heated debate in the UK when Wembley Stadium was rebuilt some few years ago: England's Football Association wanted a "spiritual home" for their soccer team. Countries like Germany move their team around stadiums, and when England did the same thing while Wembley was rebuilt, they sold out regional stadiums like Manchester United's 76,000 seat "Old Trafford" ball park with "local" interest. By taking the team "home" to Wembley Stadium in London, though, the FA does not fill the Wembley even with an arch rival like Germany coming to town.

Yet, when the NFL comes to town, the stadium is an 88,000+ sell out - 8 months ahead of kick-off: I bought my tickets in January 2012. Apart from the tailgate party at the stadium, the NFL stirred up enough interest to fill Trafalgar Square with an estimated 45,000 fan rally.

Not bad for a regular season game.

The NFL has organised a second game in London next year. Jacksonville hosts the 49'ers in October, and last night the NFL said the Vikings will host the Steelers. They think they'll sell out both games, and I am not betting against them. London's happy - the "International Series" game as it is called - brings more than £10 million to London.

I doubt the League would send 4 teams to Europe in 2013 year for PR, parrots or not. I don't know how they'll do it, whether they will expand the league or relocate a team. I wouldn't be surprised if London shows up on the franchise list one of these years soon though, and if they do, I think they'll have a franchise with an enormous - and mental - fan base.

Once upon a time, nobody would have dreamed Ohio State might leave the 'Shoe, but not too long ago the Buckeyes went to Cleveland Stadium for the first time. What odds the NFL takes a Superbowl to somewhere like London one day (gasp!)?

OSU leaves the Shoe a lot for away games. In fact they've never played an away game at home. The Cleveland trip was an OOC "away" game. I love that your daughter thought the Parrots were playing!

I thought there was talk of establishing a team in London as part of the NFL. The only issue I can see would be the travel costs, as that team would be making 8 transatlantic round trip flights every year, where the other teams would either make one or none. To me, there's probably a reason the NFL hasn't expanded to Hawai'i or Alaska, aside from the lack of population in those states.

It's (relatively) easy to fill a stadium for a once-a-season "tradition" that's five years old. But eight home games a year, plus two exhibition games with a Jacksonville/Cleveland/St. Louis-level team at best? Better start winning really, really quickly.

Also, if the London team ever does make the playoffs, how is a team going to feel about having to make that trip to London and back in a week with direct Super Bowl implications?