PFT: NFL Europa officially gone

[WoodysGirl]

POSTED 9:47 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:40 a.m. EDT, June 29, 2007
NFL EUROPA SAYS FAREWELL

As we reported on Thursday, NFL Europa on Friday has announced its demise.
Now we can exhale.

We were nervous because Thursday quotes from Chiefs G.M. Carl Peterson indicated that nothing was imminent. And since he's never wrong, we thought that maybe our information was flawed.

But, for a change, it wasn't. NFL Europa is no more. ​

 

[WoodysGirl]

NFL Europa to cease operations


NFL.com wire reports



FRANKFURT, Germany (June 29, 2007) -- The NFL's development league in Europe has ended with immediate effect, spokesman Maik Matischak said.

The decision came less than a week after the Hamburg Sea Devils beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28 in World Bowl XV in Frankfurt, attended by 48,125.

The league, most recently known as NFL Europa, began in 1991.

In the league's final three seasons, five of its six teams were based in Germany, with the Amsterdam Admirals completing the field.

A statement posted on the German-language edition of the NFL's Web site said the National Football League 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 in the statement.

By scheduling regular-season NFL games outside the United States, it was time to develop a new international strategy, Goodell said, adding that folding NFL Europa was the "best business decision."

"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.

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.

The league began in 1991 as WLAF, or the World League of American Football, with 10 teams from the United States and Europe.

After closing down for two seasons in 1993 and 1994, the league returned with six European teams, spreading from Great Britain to Spain, 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 championship and won two NFL Most Valuable Player awards; Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme; and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, a two-time Pro Bowl pick.

But the league was reportedly losing about $30 million a season.

 

[bobtheflob]

So I guess this is step one towards having a real minor league.

 

[Kilyin]

And we all know how financially strapped the NFL is. The Mannings gotta feed their families. The league simply can't afford to lose the equivalent of 1/3 of Michael Vick's salary.

On a serious note, I'd be all for a minor league of some sort to take its place.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

What did I say? It's not worth it finacially, they're better off with a minor league system here in the U.S.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Did not see this coming......

 

[AtlCB]

Did not see this coming......

I didn't either.

 

[flashback]

I don't have anything against the Europans, but I would LOVE to see an NFL minor league.

Hey, maybe LA can finally get a team!

 

[aikemirv]

It is a terrible idea to have NFL regular season games overseas. I feel for those teams that have to go over there. It is a bog disadvantage. I hope they have bye weeks before or after their trip.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

It is a terrible idea to have NFL regular season games overseas. I feel for those teams that have to go over there. It is a bog disadvantage. I hope they have bye weeks before or after their trip.

Yeah I don't like the idea of playing regular season games overseas, it's unfair to the fans that hold season tickets...

 

[dargonking999]

I get the point. Why have a minor league essentially, that is played overseas costing more money, when we can just make our own, during the season

 

[Doomsday101]

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

Copyright 2007, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

 

[Stash]

One point for ProFootballTalk. Those guys said this was gonna happen today. They got this one right. And hopefully they get it right about a minor league NFL syatem!

ray:

 

[Yeagermeister]

No shocker

The NFL needs to setup a minor league system.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Calling it Europa makes me sick. Jupiter's moon should not be disrespected that way. :angryno:

 

[Rackat]

The only thing I don't like about the system is that they are talking about playing at the same time as the NFL. At least with NFLE we had some football in the spring/summer.

 

[joseephuss]

The NFL has a minor league system. It is called college football.

I don't see a major financial benefit of a paid minor league system. It may help develop 5 to 6 players per team if lucky. If each team has a minor league team, they have to foot the cost of a whole squad to get only a handful of players worth making it to the big team. If teams share minor league teams, how do you monitor or dictate the development of your players. It just does not seem worth the investment.

Minor leagues in baseball have a tremendous history and contribute much more to MLB than college teams do. It is well established. I just can't see football getting to that level. Especially when college football is getting better. More and more college teams are using pro style schemes on both sides of the ball and dramatically improving their workouts. College football is a free minor league system.

 

[dargonking999]

The NFL has a minor league system. It is called college football.

I don't see a major financial benefit of a paid minor league system. It may help develop 5 to 6 players per team if lucky. If each team has a minor league team, they have to foot the cost of a whole squad to get only a handful of players worth making it to the big team. If teams share minor league teams, how do you monitor or dictate the development of your players. It just does not seem worth the investment.

Minor leagues in baseball have a tremendous history and contribute much more to MLB than college teams do. It is well established. I just can't see football getting to that level. Especially when college football is getting better. More and more college teams are using pro style schemes on both sides of the ball and dramatically improving their workouts. College football is a free minor league system.

The problem with that, is that it stops after 2-4 years when they go pro. too many times they sit on the bench for 3 and 4 years, waiting on someone to get hurt, just to get practice time. With the Minor league, it gives certain players, who maybe just need practice, to get that practice without the expense of the starting players.

And don't bring up the money, NFL has plenty of money to foot a minor league. That is the least of their worries

 

[Stash]

The NFL has a minor league system. It is called college football.

I don't see a major financial benefit of a paid minor league system. It may help develop 5 to 6 players per team if lucky. If each team has a minor league team, they have to foot the cost of a whole squad to get only a handful of players worth making it to the big team. If teams share minor league teams, how do you monitor or dictate the development of your players. It just does not seem worth the investment.

I would disagree. A minor league team could share exisitng facilities with their pro counterparts, minimizing additional costs. They would also pay a minor league player much less than a pro makes, minimizing player costs as well.

My suggestion would be for each team to have its' own minor league team that practices and plays at the same facility.

Minor leagues in baseball have a tremendous history and contribute much more to MLB than college teams do. It is well established. I just can't see football getting to that level. Especially when college football is getting better. More and more college teams are using pro style schemes on both sides of the ball and dramatically improving their workouts. College football is a free minor league system.

The advantage would be that NFL teams could monitor player development much better than they ever could at the college level. And since it would be their own team, running their playbooks on both offense and defense, any players 'brought up' would already have the benefit of knowing that system.

NFL teams are constantly griping that they can't develop players - especially quarterbacks - like they would hope to. A minor league system would allow them to do that.

 

[tomson75]

please delete. I oopsed.