For 25 years, the Concorde cut transatlantic travel times in half. Nearly 25 years after it was grounded, the dream of supersonic passenger flight is picking up steam again, and the NFL is paying attention.
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Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal reported the league's interest, as relayed by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.
Boom Supersonic and several international partners are working toward commercial planes that can fly faster than the speed of sound, with the first flights possibly arriving in 2029.
If the technology returns, it could change the NFL's long-running stance on European expansion, Florio noted.
He added that cutting travel times would remove one of the biggest hurdles, just as the Concorde once allowed Phil Collins to perform at both Live Aid venues in London and Philadelphia on the same day.
The NFL reportedly has no firm plans to plant franchises in Europe, but Beaton noted that league officials are keeping a close watch on the progress of ultrafast commercial aviation.
Travel is only one part of the challenge, of course. Taxes, exchange rates, housing players abroad for extended stretches, and even convincing some players to live outside the United States would be major obstacles.
There is also a practical problem. NFL travel parties for international games can approach 200 people. As Florio pointed out, Boom's Overture aircraft is projected to seat only 60 to 80 passengers.
For now, the league is focused on sprinkling up to 16 international games per season across several countries. Commissioner Roger Goodell has floated the idea of a four-team European division, with London likely landing two clubs and Germany, Spain or France filling in the rest.
Expansion would be the cleaner option, but it comes with one glaring issue. There are not enough high-end quarterbacks to populate 40 depth charts, Florio joked.
