The NFL is an ever growing sport that continues to expand its doors and horizons to new markets. Twenty years ago, the NFL expanded its markets to the Carolinas by establishing the Carolina Panthers and to Northern Florida by establishing the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the near future, the NFL may decide to once again expand to new markets around the country. In this article, I will discuss why Omaha would be a great market for a new NFL franchise.
Omaha Has A Solid Steak Culture
One of the great associations with watching football is food. People like to eat different kinds of food while watching the game whether it is at home or live at the game. Among these foods is various types of meats and different cuts of meat whether it is by itself or on sandwiches. Omaha is no stranger when it comes to production of meat.
Omaha is well known for its various steaks and steakhouses around the area. The fans there would love nothing more than to enjoy a nice juicy steak or cut of steak during the game. It makes perfect sense for the hardcore fan to be able to grill a nice juicy steak as part of a tailgate before a big game or to enjoy a steak from the comforts of their own home near the stadium. It would be a perfect fit for an NFL franchise as Omaha caters to the hardcore NFL fan, of which there are many around the country.
Omaha Already Has A Strong Sports Culture
The University of Nebraska, which is located an hour away from Omaha, has a storied college football program as well as a solid fan base. Omaha is also home to the College World Series. Fans would definitely be willing to embrace an NFL team that they would not have to travel very far to see. With such a solid fan base in place, it makes good sense to put an NFL team in Omaha in the near future.
It Would Open Doors To A Fanbase In The Mid-Northwestern United States
One of the biggest regions in the United States that does not have a nearby team is the northwest which includes states such as Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas. The Seattle Seahawks arrival in 1976 helped establish a fanbase in the Pacific Northwest in states such as Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. However, there are still many states in the northwest such as Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas that feel left out because they are not anywhere near an NFL team. The presence of a team in Omaha gives these states a team to cheer for and possibly make the trip to see.