What the English Premier League can learn from the success of the NFL's London games

Currently, the NFL only hosts between two to four games in London each year, so it makes sense that a song-and-dance is made of each one.

There's live music, fireworks, and cheerleaders; t-shirt guns, DJs, and giant mascots on the tunnels.

Compared to an EPL match, where there is, at least very rarely, any of the above, it's a real treat as a spectator.

Though having such luxuries every week would be unrealistic, a bit tedious, and let's face it, very un-British – Chris, a Jaguars and Arsenal fan, thinks taking a leaf out of the NFL London Games' book wouldn't be a bad idea for the EPL.

"It's just such fun," he said. "It would be cool to see the Premier League make more of a show of matches, especially given how much tickets cost.

"You definitely get your value for money here."

In the EPL on Sunday, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was allowed to play on after a head collision with a teammate, only to later collapse on the ground and have to come off because he had, according to The Athletic, suffered a "delayed onset" reaction to the knock.

To replace the Argentine, Villa used a "concussion substitute," which allows teams to make an additional substitution if a player is diagnosed with a concussion.

The rule, however, has been criticized however by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), which suggests such changes should be temporary to allow for longer medical assessments of players who suffer head injuries and avoid rushed decisions over the fitness of players to return to the field.

The NFL's concussion protocol isn't perfect. In fact, it has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after the injury to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

That being said, the protocol is still clearer and more comprehensive than the EPL's.

Drinking alcohol in the stands at an EPL game has been banned since 1985 in an effort to stem hooliganism.

The NFL London Games are evidence that allowing UK sports fans to drink in the stands can be done safely and without trouble.

Hooliganism in UK soccer sadly still exists, but most EPL fans are just like those who would have attended the NFL London Games – sports enthusiasts out for a fun afternoon with their friends and family.

Even by the police's admission, allowing a drinking free-for-all at soccer matches would be a recipe for disaster. Introducing a drinks token system, however, to prevent binge drinking could be one way around the problem.

"I'd love to be able to drink in my seat at [soccer] matches," said Charlie, a Jaguars and Chelsea fan. "It's a shame that the minority that cause trouble are able to ruin it for everybody else."

The idea of hosting EPL matches abroad has been floated around for years but never come to fruition – with supporters of the idea often referring to the success of the NFL London Games as proof that it could work.

However, there is one big difference between the EPL and NFL which negates the need for EPL games abroad.

Between six to eight of the EPL's teams play abroad each season already in the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League, while almost every club spends preseason playing matches all over the world, including in the US.

"There is really no need," said United fan Aaran, when asked about the idea of the EPL hosting matches overseas. "I don't think many fans would pay all that money to go watch their team play another English team abroad."

Even outside of the EPL, soccer has the World Cup, the European Championships, and other international tournaments which present fans of the sport plenty of opportunity to travel.

The NFL, aside from its yearly trip to London and its upcoming matches in Mexico and Germany, still exists within its own US microcosm.