[CBFF] NFL Europe axed after 16 seasons

[Jan van der Laan]

I was away for a weekendtrip and got this news yesterday through sms-message from a friend.
To say I was stunned is an understatement.
WTF is the NFL thinking? Such a huge fanbase for the sport itself abroad, a great opportunity for 2nd tier players to get attention from their NFL-teams.
This is a huge suckfest (excuse the language).

But then again: nothing i say or do will change a bit. So let's move on and focus on the upcoming Bears season which is going to be a great one again.

And yes Vic you are more then welcome (and of course anyone else) if Da Bears play a game in Amsterdam or somewhere in Germany (i've got lot's of space for my fellow fans to sleep).

Jan

----- Original Message ----
From: Victor Waldron <victor19 at gmail.com>
To: CBFF <post at chicagobearsfanforum.com>
Sent: Saturday, 30 June, 2007 3:50:57 PM
Subject: [CBFF] NFL Europe axed after 16 seasons


Can't say I'm crying over this but NFLE was a nice summer distraction
while waiting for the main event to begin.

Anyone willing to guess when the Bears will play their first "home"
game abroad? Jan, I'll fly over if they play in Amsterdam.

V
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRANKFURT, Germany -- The NFL folded its development league in Europe
after 16 years on Friday, 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 league'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.

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.

"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 is Oct. 28 in
London between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants.

The league said it is looking toward other regular-season games in
Germany, Mexico and Canada, with Germany a strong candidate for 2008.

"NFL Europa has created thousands of passionate fans who have
supported that league and our sport for many years," said Mark Waller,
senior vice president of NFL International. "And we look forward to
building on this foundation as we begin this new phase of our
international development."

The league began in 1991 as the World League of American Football,
with 10 teams from the United States and Europe, spreading from
Scotland to Spain. 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 2000 Super Bowl championship 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.

_______________________________________________
Check out the CBFF Blog:
blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
CBFF Homepage:
www.chicagobearsfanforum.com


		
___________________________________________________________ 
All New Yahoo! Mail – Tired of unwanted email come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html