Fans worried as NFL owner buys iconic London stadium, addresses relocation
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan confirmed Thursday he has put in an offer to buy the iconic Wembley Stadium in London.
The BBC put Khan’s bid at $1.26 billion ($837 million for the stadium and $419 million for Wembley’s hospitality business).
The London Evening Standard reported his offer was going before Football Association of England’s board of directors Thursday.
The stadium, considered England’s premier soccer field, has hosted 18 NFL international games, and the Jaguars have played there five times.
Many reached the obvious conclusion that Khan’s move is a step toward making Wembley the team’s permanent home.
Jaguars owner Shahid Khan is in talks to buy Wembley Stadium, with an eye toward potentially moving the Jags to London full-time one day, per @JamesOlley https://t.co/1BMJZ3hmya pic.twitter.com/wCqoERY7Xq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/stehoare/status/989473035064414208
Please jags please don’t go to London 😢😢
— 🔥 (@thegreatjohnnyt) April 26, 2018
If khan buys Wembley it’s a massive step towards the jaguars moving to London #FA #NFL #Wembley
— Shaun McDowell (@shaunstockton1) April 26, 2018
But Khan tried to assuage the fears of Jacksonville fans.
In a statement Thursday, the Jaguars owner said purchasing Wembley “would deliver another — and very significant — asset and local revenue source that would further strengthen our investment in London, which as everyone knows is crucial to the Jaguars’ continued sustainability in Jacksonville.”
Owner Shad Khan issues a statement regarding Wembley Stadium.https://t.co/08s8D9qA4r
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 26, 2018
“Today’s news changes none of what we envision for the long-term promise for the Jaguars here in Jax, and it changes nothing as to the goals we have for your downtown,” Khan said. “If anything, today’s news is the embodiment of the ethos we adopted several years ago of being proud, bold and committed.”
He said in a separate statement that buying Wembley would “protect the Jaguars’ position in London at a time when other NFL teams are understandably becoming more interested in this great city. …
“And the stronger the Jaguars are in London, the more stable and promising the Jaguars’ future will be in Jacksonville.”
While some fans took him at his word, others were dubious.
— Shaffer (@RyShaffer5) April 26, 2018
I would take this as an overwhelming sign of moving the franchise to London in a few years time. He cannot cause a riot by releasing a statement saying 'we're off, bye!' The only way the investment pays off for Khan is with the Jags in there, otherwise why would the FA sell?
— Sam (@LordSGC) April 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/TravisCatch/status/989506376841027585
Whatever the case, the purchase has the support of the NFL.
“We are very happy for Shad Khan and the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Mark Waller, NFL executive vice president of events and international, said in a statement Thursday. “The potential purchase of Wembley Stadium is a further powerful sign of their commitment to the UK and their vision to help us grow the sport.
“Having stadium options in London has always been critical to the NFL and, in tandem with our 10-year partnership with Tottenham Hotspur, this new relationship would allow for even greater flexibility in scheduling future NFL games in London.”
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