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NFL franchises in talks with London Mayor Boris Johnson over Olympic Stadium

National Football League franchises are in talks with London Mayor Boris Johnson’s office over becoming the anchor tenant of the Olympic Stadium, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

The discussions began during the NFL regular-season games at the weekend, which brought four gridiron teams to Wembley. Johnson is chairman of the company operating the stadium, the London Legacy Development Corporation. His negotiations could cast a significant shadow over the prospects of West Ham United or Leyton Orient taking over the venue.

A spokesman for the mayor, who recently signed a deal doubling the number of regular-season match days the NFL spends in the city to two, said: “Given the ever-growing popularity of gridiron this side of the Atlantic the mayor and his team have held a number of meetings with senior executives in the last few days to explore further opportunities for NFL in London.

"The talks were exploratory and we are at an early stage but the signs are encouraging.”

The news emerges after Telegraph Sport revealed the Treasury’s refusal to hand over cash from the £337 million Olympic-contingency underspend to contribute to the installation of retractable seating under the stadium’s athletics track.

That could cost up to £200 million. Although there are not yet any reliable estimates, there is a clear desire within City Hall for the future tenant to make a significant capital contribution.