Philadelphia 76ers owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer are reportedly interested in owning the first NFL team in London, according to Forbes' Mitch Lawrence. Blitzer and Harris have just become investors in the Crystal Palace Football Club in London and are reportedly trying to get to know the market, as they want to own the first NFL expansion team in London.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan has consistently been in rumors about moving the Jaguars to London and has stated that he wants to play a home game in London through 2030 prior to the beginning of this season, according to the Jaguars' team website. The Jacksonville City Council just voted 19-0 in approving a $90 million renovation to EverBank Field, and with the upgrades coming in Jacksonville, it seems highly unlikely for the Jaguars to make a move to London.
Harris and Blitzer are "more interested in getting the NFL in London than they are in the NBA," a source close to the situation said, via Forbes. "Their No. 1 goal is to get the NFL team in London. They want to flip the Sixers anyway."
Harris said back in October that he was committed to the 76ers and that he would be there for many years. "That's not at all in my thoughts. I expect to be, and the ownership expects to be, happily involved with the Philadelphia 76ers for many, many years to come," said Harris, via the Philadelphia Daily News. "There's not plans to sell it. Our ultimate goal hasn't really changed, which is to bring an NBA championship to Philly and be an elite team over many years."
Harris took over as the majority owner of the 76ers in July of 2011, and the team has only declined every year since he has taken over. While Harris and Blitzer may be interested in owning the first NFL franchise in London, they face a ton of hurdles.
The NFL currently prohibits team owners from having a majority ownership of different sports franchises outside the city of where their NFL team is located. St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke transferred ownership of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets to his wife Ann Walton Kroenke, as he is currently trying to relocate the Rams to Los Angeles.
While Harris and Blitzer are reportedly interested in owning the first NFL franchise in London there is no guarantee they can make it happen. NFL owners may be hesitant to let two NBA owners who have run a franchise into the ground take over as the first NFL owners in London. It will be interesting to follow this story as more reports and news comes out, but for right now, it seems like a long-shot to actually happen.
