NFL team in Toronto.... Could it actually happen?

[WhoIam]

Why does the NFL not have a farm league? It seems like it would be win-win for everyone. You could have an entire euro division (say the London Dolphins, Dublin Saints, Berlin Bengals, and Paris Chargers) and these markets would then root for their local teams as well as their "real" counterparts in the states.

[Lazy Meatball]

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Why does the NFL not have a farm league?

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NCAA serves as their farm league. Also, you are aware of the collapse of NFL Europe, aren't you?

[4Tay]

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Anyone else puzzled as to how Toronto could possibly get a team before Los Angeles??

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I'd be surprised if Toronto got a team, but it's the 5th largest market in North America. It's not that crazy.

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The 2nd largest market (LA) doesn't have a team.

[TheNoodleMan]

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Why does the NFL not have a farm league? It seems like it would be win-win for everyone. You could have an entire euro division (say the London Dolphins, Dublin Saints, Berlin Bengals, and Paris Chargers) and these markets would then root for their local teams as well as their "real" counterparts in the states.

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Except for the fact that it didn't win for anyone. The World League of American Football (later changed to NFL Europe) tried on and off for 16 years and failed miserably. The London team bailed in 1998. By the end it was basically the German league, with 5 teams in Germany and one more in Amsterdam. The NFL was reportedly losing $30 million a year on it.

[ChuckyB]

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With the recent news of CFL executives rumoured to be searching for an NFL franchise, I wonder if it is actually possible for an NFL team to end up in Toronto. I don't think there is any doubt regarding the potential market, as Toronto is one of the largest cities in North America, however, there seem to be many questions that need answering... Would the Rogers Centre be a suitable facility to house an NFL franchise, or would a new stadium have to be built? Would a Toronto team be able to secure a lucrative TV deal? What about the CFL? Would an NFL franchise completely ruin the CFL, or could the two co-exist?

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4. Regarding a lucrative TV deal, I have no doubt that stations in Canada would pony up to buy the rights to games.

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Adding to what VeeCee said:
NFL teams don't sell their rights to regular season games individually. The NFL sells them as a whole. And three networks have already ponied up for a piece of it...TSN, Sportsnet and CTV (TSN and CTV being the same company). One of them would easily buy the right to any preseason games.