Man Utd told they could strike £100m NFL partnership with new stadium potentially able to host Super Bowl if USA's biggest sporting event goes global

Sport finance expert Professor Rob Wilson has claimed a UK-based NFL franchise could happen, which comes hot on the heels of United unveiling their ambitious stadium plans. The plans are part of a larger regeneration scheme for the surrounding Trafford district, aiming to create a vibrant waterside area with homes, businesses, and public spaces along the Bridgewater Canal. The new stadium's design, initially featuring a trident-shaped canopy and three towering masts, has been revised due to land acquisition challenges and cost concerns. The estimated cost for the stadium is £2 billion ($2.6bn), with the entire regeneration project potentially exceeding £3 billion ($4bn). Construction is anticipated to take around five years, with a target completion date of the 2030-31 season. Fans have been consulted, with a majority favoring a new stadium over redevelopment of the existing one. Concerns exist about financing, with reports suggesting the club might seek public funding for infrastructure. 

Speaking to Compare.bet, who offer NFL betting, Professor Wilson said: “A Super Bowl or NFL regular season game could generate around £10million at a stadium like Old Trafford, potentially increasing to £15 million with optimal pricing and ancillary services. It represents a significant opportunity. Taking NFL games outside of London to other parts of the UK, such as Old Trafford, would be interesting as it would engage a different demographic. Strategic partnerships, like a long-term deal between Manchester United and the NFL, could be worth over £100 million over a decade. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is currently the most aligned with US stadiums, which is why Spurs has been cultivating that experience. The new Old Trafford build is also being designed to be a multi-event stadium, similar to SoFi Stadium in California.”

The NFL's presence in England dates back to exhibition games like the American Bowl series, which saw its first fixture at Wembley in 1986. However, the crucial shift came in 2007 with the launch of the NFL International Series, featuring regular-season games played outside the United States. The first of these landmark games saw the New York Giants defeat the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley Stadium. The success of these initial games led the NFL to schedule regular-season games in London annually, solidifying a strong following in the UK. The series has expanded to include multiple games each season at iconic venues such as Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Jacksonville Jaguars have become a staple of the London Games, playing a home game in the UK annually since 2013. In 2022, the series expanded further to include games in Germany, highlighting the growing international reach of the NFL.

So, could regular season matches be augmented by the biggest match in the sport, the Super Bowl? Professor Wilson said: "The NFL in London is more lucrative than the Champions League in the States. The NFL market in Europe is bigger than the Champions League market in America. You get inward tourism, with people flying over from North America and Europe for the NFL. This is in contrast to people flying out of Europe into America to watch a Champions League final, which would have a much more local market. Both games would sell out, but the new revenue generated for the NFL with the Super Bowl would far exceed that from the Champions League final in the States."