Despite growing speculation about a potential NFL team putting down roots in London, a recent announcement by an NFL owner makes the the move look farther away than ever.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, who previously put in an $800 million offer to buy London’s Wembley Stadium from the Football Association, withdrew his offer on Wednesday.
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The 127 Football Association council members were scheduled to vote on the deal in exactly a week, on October 24.
“The intent of my efforts was, and is, to do right by everyone in a manner that strengthens the English game and brings people together, not divides them,” Khan wrote in a statement released by PR professional Jim Woodcock. “Unfortunately, given where we are today, I’ve concluded that the outcome of a vote next week would be far from sufficient in expressing the broad support favored by the FA Chairman to sell Wembley Stadium. Until a time when it is evident there is an unmistakable directive from the FA to explore and close a sale, I am respectfully withdrawing my offer to purchase Wembley Stadium.”
Statement from client Shahid Khan on offer to purchase @wembleystadium. pic.twitter.com/tALsAkloHF
— Jim Woodcock (@WoodySTL) October 17, 2018
Since Khan has been in talks to buy the renowned soccer stadium, the Jaguars have played five games over in London. The next game they’ll play is on October 28 against the Eagles. Speculation that Khan has wanted to move the Jaguars to London permanently has mounted in the last year or so, however this latest decision to put the deal on hold puts a serious wrinkle in that plan — for now at least.