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If the mayor of Dallas has it his way, a future NFL expansion team would head to Texas and be a crosstown rival to the Dallas Cowboys.
Since 1960, the Cowboys have represented the Dallas and Fort Worth area. With five Super Bowl rings and a 1990s dynasty, Dallas has watched its national fan base expand exponentially, but the team has always had its roots in “D-Town.”
Mayor Eric Johnson turned heads on May 5 when he tweeted his desire for a second NFL team to play in the area, stating that DFW is economically ready and has a culture that cares about football.
“The answer is Dallas. Why? We are about to pass the Chicago metro and become the #3 metro in the US, which would make us the largest US metro WITHOUT 2 teams,” Johnson tweeted. “Football is king here. Dallas needs an expansion team and we would be able to sustain 2 @NFL teams better than LA or NY… We need an AFC team that plays in Southern Dallas. It would never want for a fan base or attendance or support from the City of Dallas. Who wouldn’t want to see a Dallas versus Dallas Super Bowl in the City of Dallas?”
Johnson then mentioned the Los Angeles Chargers or Jacksonville Jaguars as teams that could move and be Dallas’ AFC team.
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Mayor Speaks on Cowboys Owner
Calling for adding a competitor to the local market doesn’t exactly come off as a message of support for the Cowboys, but Johnson tweeted that he insisted that owner Jerry Jones and his franchise have nothing to worry about.
Johnson referenced the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Yankees as teams that dominate financially despite being in two-team markets.
“Jerry Jones owns the crown jewel of the @NFL. I don’t think the @Lakers or @Yankees are bothered one bit by the existence of the @LAClippers or @Mets,” Johnson posted on May 6. “Cowboys are a stronger brand with a more global fan base than either of these two. You’re underestimating Jerry Jones AND DALLAS!”
Will Jones respond? Johnson claimed he’s “spent time” with Jones, saying the idea that Jones would be “scared” of a second franchise is an “insult” to him.
Jaguars or Chargers in Dallas?
When Johnson initially tweeted about his desire for an expansion team, he named the Chargers or Jaguars as teams that could move. While neither team is famous for its fan base or its attendance, could either realistically move in the near future?
The answer: not really.
The Chargers are locked into a 20-year lease at their $1 billion new home in SoFi Stadium, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. It’s a convoluted deal that also involves the Los Angeles Rams, so breaking away before the end of their lease would be very difficult.
As for the Jaguars, the Florida franchise is currently building a new state-of-the-art practice facility next to TIAA Bank Field, and owner Shad Khan is redeveloping a nearby area in a project that will cost $300 million of his own money, according to USA Today.
Basically, both teams have roots planted or things growing. If Dallas ever gets a second team, it most likely would have to be a new expansion franchise.
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