Pats’ Robert Kraft wants NFL team in London: “We’re starting to tap out in the U.S.”

Crusader · 06-29-2012, 08:51 AM

Actually you guys are kinda wrong about the interest in europe. The NFL has a massive fanbase over here but the interest in the local teams are not that great. NFL Europe however was a different story, the quiality of the product was so high that interest was high too. It was not a mere attraction but had a big and devoted following. The last year of th leauges existance they set attendence records in all 5 German cities. Frankfurt had an average attendance of over 30,000 in 2007. Average attendance that year for the whole leauge was 20,020. The last World Bowl played in 2007 had 48,125 people in the stands.

NFL Europa/Cessation of operations
The league's final logoOn 11 September 2006, NFL Europe officially re-branded itself as NFL Europa to reflect the name used for Europe in most European languages. Informally, the name "NFL Europe" continued to be used in the United States, including for the league's English-language Web site, nfleurope.com.

On 29 June 2007, NFL officials announced that the league would be disbanded effective immediately,[1] 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 World Bowl XV in Frankfurt in front of a crowd of 48,125.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell thanked the fans for their support but 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.

The biggest problem the leauge had was spending. It would have been wiser to cut costs and increase revenue instead of folding the leauge.

I played the Europan championships in 2010. They were held in Frankfurt, Germany, and 3 years after the leauge folded the most common jersey in the stands were not one of the national teams there competing but Frankfurt Galaxys purple one. A lot of the German fans I talked to are still longing to get "their" team back. For the Galaxy to disappear for them was as bad as if the Saints would be relocated to LA for example. They are just as passionate.

Like I said, the best thing NFL could do would be to start the leauge again and really focus on getting european players on the field, that would help to fuel the interest and there are many european players playing D1 ball right now so finding them players is not a problem.

06-29-2012, 08:51 AM	#18
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,031	Actually you guys are kinda wrong about the interest in europe. The NFL has a massive fanbase over here but the interest in the local teams are not that great. NFL Europe however was a different story, the quiality of the product was so high that interest was high too. It was not a mere attraction but had a big and devoted following. The last year of th leauges existance they set attendence records in all 5 German cities. Frankfurt had an average attendance of over 30,000 in 2007. Average attendance that year for the whole leauge was 20,020. The last World Bowl played in 2007 had 48,125 people in the stands. NFL Europa/Cessation of operations The league's final logoOn 11 September 2006, NFL Europe officially re-branded itself as NFL Europa to reflect the name used for Europe in most European languages. Informally, the name "NFL Europe" continued to be used in the United States, including for the league's English-language Web site, nfleurope.com. On 29 June 2007, NFL officials announced that the league would be disbanded effective immediately,[1] 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 World Bowl XV in Frankfurt in front of a crowd of 48,125. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell thanked the fans for their support but 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. The biggest problem the leauge had was spending. It would have been wiser to cut costs and increase revenue instead of folding the leauge. I played the Europan championships in 2010. They were held in Frankfurt, Germany, and 3 years after the leauge folded the most common jersey in the stands were not one of the national teams there competing but Frankfurt Galaxys purple one. A lot of the German fans I talked to are still longing to get "their" team back. For the Galaxy to disappear for them was as bad as if the Saints would be relocated to LA for example. They are just as passionate. Like I said, the best thing NFL could do would be to start the leauge again and really focus on getting european players on the field, that would help to fuel the interest and there are many european players playing D1 ball right now so finding them players is not a problem.
	W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.