London mayor: NFL committed to returning to England in future

As expected, the National Football League released its 2020-21 schedule yesterday, and that schedule did not include gridiron games in London. That means that Spurs will not be hosting the two matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that they were expecting.

The NFL released the following statement, saying that they were cancelling the entire International Series, including matches in London and Mexico.

However, the NFL also went to lengths to assure London mayor Sadiq Kahn that they are committed to the partnership they have established with England, and plan to return to London in future years, as soon as there is further clarity on the coronavirus pandemic situation.

“While the NFL’s many fans in London, the UK and Europe will obviously be disappointed by this news, it is absolutely the right decision to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the sport.

“I know that the NFL remains fully committed to London and I look forward to welcoming NFL teams back to the capital in 2021.”

— London mayor Sadiq Kahn

For Tottenham, that means at least £4m less revenue for the coming season. While that doesn’t seem like much in the context of multi-million pound transfers, it’s a substantial loss, especially when coupled with other cancelled events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It’s a blow, especially since Spurs are more reliant on matchday revenue from football and other events than many other clubs in the league.

It’s a bummer.