NFL Europa

[Moose]

That's it. NFL Europa is history. Thanks Mr. Goddell. :angryno:

NFL Europa to cease operations

NFL.com wire reports


FRANKFURT, Germany (June 29, 2007) -- The NFL folded its development league in Europe, calling the decision a sound business move that will allow for a stronger international focus on regular-season games outside the United States.

The announcement came less than a week after the Hamburg Sea Devils beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28 in the World Bowl title game in Frankfurt before a crowd of 48,125. Five of the NFL Europa's six teams are based in Germany, with the other in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

A statement on the German-language edition of the NFL's Web site said the NFL decided to concentrate its "strategies and resources" on regular-season games outside the United States in an effort to reach as many people as possible.

"We thank our fans for the great support in the past years," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was quoted as saying.

Goodell said it was time to develop a new international strategy, terming the move to fold NFL Europa the "best business decision." The league reportedly was losing about $30 million a season.

"From now on we will focus on regular-season games and use new technologies to make NFL more popular worldwide," he said.

NFL team owners decided in October to play up to two regular-season games outside the United States. The first such game will be Oct. 28 in London between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants.

The league began in 1991 as the World League of American Football, with 10 teams from the United States and Europe. After closing for two seasons in 1993 and 1994, the league returned with six European teams and retained the same format until the end.

The league was used by NFL teams to test young talent and produced players such as quarterback Kurt Warner, who led the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl XXXIV title and won two NFL Most Valuable Player awards; Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme; and star Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.

NFL Europa managing director Uwe Bergheim said the league had succeeded in establishing a fan base for football in important European markets.

"Despite the great support of fans, business partners and the cities where we were active, we decided that it was time to change the strategy," Bergheim said.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

 

[Achozen]

Ehh...

At least the NFL still around.

 

[Seven]

The camera work stunk. The announcers were atrocious, worse last year, and the crowd noise was so amplified it sounded mono. They didn't even try to make this thing successful. How it lasted as long as it did is beyond me. You couldn't expect americans to belly up. We're spoiled. We did our waiting for what we have now.

Oh yeah......did any of these teams play when the sun was shining?

 

[Moose]

Oh yeah......did any of these teams play when the sun was shining?

Yes they did. The NFL kicked a Fanbase of 750.000 in the ***. Imagine the NFL said: Cowboys don't need them just cancel them !...how would you feel??

 

[silverbear]

Yes they did. The NFL kicked a Fanbase of 750.000 in the ***. Imagine the NFL said: Cowboys don't need them just cancel them !...how would you feel??

What, you expect the NFL to continue losing 30 million a year, just to cater fo a fanbase of 750k??

Especially when the majority of that fanbase are Americans stationed in Germany... the Europeans weren't exactly flocking to the stadiums...

 

[Cajuncowboy]

What they should have done is left it alone when it was the World Football League. Most of the teams were in the USA and it would have worked out better if they would have touted it as a developmental league in the smaller cities.

I would even bet they would have drawn more fans than they did at any of the Europa league games.

 

[Chicago]

What, you expect the NFL to continue losing 30 million a year, just to cater fo a fanbase of 750k??

Especially when the majority of that fanbase are Americans stationed in Germany... the Europeans weren't exactly flocking to the stadiums...

Sorry, but this isn´t true. The so called fan base in its majority was German. Frankfurt and Rhine Fire have an attendance average 25.000 plus over the years and Hamburg was on a very good way. But it still was a second class product. I would like some NFL-franchises in Europe, an NFL Europe Division.

Here some suggestions:

Provence Knights

Burgund Pinot Noir

Cologne Praetorians (Bye the way, they have the best soccer club in the world, nearly as unsucsessful like the Commanders )

London Butchers

Rom Gladiators

 

[burmafrd]

There are a lot of problems with playing teams in the US. And with teams going there. Especially west coast teams. Not going to happen.

 

[Chicago]

There are a lot of problems with playing teams in the US. And with teams going there. Especially west coast teams. Not going to happen.

Why not? Let´s assume a European Division with 4 franchises. That means only 5 away Games in the US. Each team can play 2 away games from sunday to sunday, so you have only 3 trips to the US. For American Teams it´s the same. Play 2 games on following sundays in Europe and you only travel once a year. Normaly you will play the other divisions on a 3 to 4 year basis. So travelling for each team will be reduced to a minimum. NBA franchises have much more miles to fly.

And the argument, American players won´t like to play for an European team. How many players stay in the offseason in New Orleans or Buffallo?

NFL franchises in good old Europe would be the ultimative kick for me and a lot of football fans across Europe. And with proper marketing, which the NFL has failed to do in the last 15 years, because the don´t understand the differences in the cultures, this would be a profitable story right from the start.

 

[Crown Royal]

Why not? Let´s assume a European Division with 4 franchises. That means only 5 away Games in the US. Each team can play 2 away games from sunday to sunday, so you have only 3 trips to the US. For American Teams it´s the same. Play 2 games on following sundays in Europe and you only travel once a year. Normaly you will play the other divisions on a 3 to 4 year basis. So travelling for each team will be reduced to a minimum. NBA franchises have much more miles to fly.

And the argument, American players won´t like to play for an European team. How many players stay in the offseason in New Orleans or Buffallo?

NFL franchises in good old Europe would be the ultimative kick for me and a lot of football fans across Europe. And with proper marketing, which the NFL has failed to do in the last 15 years, because the don´t understand the differences in the cultures, this would be a profitable story right from the start.

Are you German, military or Expat?

 

[Chicago]

Are you German, military or Expat?

A German, and my tribe are the Cheruskers, very famous for manslaughter the Roman legions 2000 years ago.

Moose is a German too and we both usually trash talking twice a year when our teams play. He is one of the nicest cowboy fans I ever met.