London calling for Rams

21 Jan 2012 01:18:53

The NFL has announced the St Louis Rams will play one game in London in each of the next three seasons.

The Rams will meet the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on October 28 this year, with the opponents for the next two games still to be determined.

The Rams, who finished this NFL regular season with a dismal 2-14 record, will give up home games to allow for the London fixtures.

"We've seen first-hand the increased popularity of the NFL not only in London but throughout Europe," Rams owner Stan Kroenke said in a statement.

"To play a role in that growth over the next three years will be incredible and is a testament to the many good things happening not only in the NFL but also in the St Louis Rams organisation."

The Rams-Patriots matchup will be sixth NFL regular season game to be played at Wembley, and NFLUK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said they would like to increase the number of games played at the stadium to more than one per year.

"This year is a very competitive year for sport in the UK, especially with the Olympics in London," Kirkwood said.

"Also, with the Rams having made an unprecedented commitment to playing in the UK for the next three years, we wanted to focus on them as our 'home' team without another game taking place."

"We would like to increase beyond one game per year as soon as possible and the five-year commitment by the owners to playing in the UK allows us to make that decision when we feel it is appropriate."

The Rams fired coach Steve Spagnuolo earlier this month after their poor season, with former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher taking the helm on January 13.