NFL: NFL boss not worried over Man United owner's debts

Printer Friendly

Share

Text Size

MIAMI, Feb 5, 2010 (AFP) - Malcolm Glazer putting Manchester United into debt for more than one billion dollars does not worry National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell when it comes to Glazer's NFL club and solvency.

In his annual news conference Friday ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl 44 between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, Goodell addressed several global topics impacting the NFL, including the Glazer family's financial situation.

"They are sound owners," Goodell said. "They are terrific for the NFL and we don't see any factors that would stress any of their sports teams or other operations."

What has stressed Manchester United supporters is the severe debt load the fabled English Premier League side has amassed since Glazer, who owns the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, took over in 2005.

Accounts filed last month revealed the massive debts. The club is trying to sell 800 million dollars in bonds to help dig the club out of debt.

Goodell backed Glazer, one of the 32 club owners who employ him, despite the NFL's own economic worries.

Goodell said that concern over costs in a tough economic environment and the lack of a new labor deal with players has limited the NFL's ability to expand globally.

"There are billions of fans we think will love the game if they are exposed to it, but that takes an investment," Goodell said.

Labor and money concerns prompted the NFL to reject a second regular-season game in Britain this season, although they will send the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos to meet at Wembley Stadium in London on October 31.

"We seriously considered playing two games in the UK. We decided not to," Goodell said. "It's an investment. It's a short term loss for the clubs involved. I'm not sure it made sense in this environment."

The NFL is focusing on staging regular-season games in London rather than Asia in part because in the short term the logistics are easier, Goodell said, but stressed Japan and China remain important markets to the league.

"It's important for us to continue to be there," he said. "There are some unique challenges to playing a regular-season game in the Far East. We think we can handle them but the goal right now is to be successful."

Returning to Mexico City remains an easier possibility, especially if the regular-season is boosted beyond 16 games in a new labor deal, Goodell said.

"We're not making a choice of London over Mexico. We think we can do both successfully," he said. "We would love to be back in Mexico. It has to be right for us and out partners in Mexico."

The Buffalo Bills play one regular-season game a year in nearby Toronto and the Canadian city remains a priority for the NFL.

"We want to continue to service that market," Goodell said.