Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue always wanted American football to be a popular sport overseas. And toward that end, he thought the establishment of the World League of American Football, which later changed its name to NFL Europe and is now called NFL Europa, would be a major part of his legacy.But American football has never taken off in Europe the way Tagliabue envisioned, and now the NFL is considering putting NFL Europa out of its misery. John Clayton reports:
While the league is enjoying high attendance this season, the word going around in NFL circles these days is that World Bowl XV might be it. Consultants were brought in earlier this year to look at the whole value of the league. Created to promote America's top sport internationally, the league has shrunk to become almost just a German league, with five teams in Germany (Hamburg, Rhein, Frankfurt, Cologne and Berlin) and one in the Netherlands (Amsterdam). Gone are franchises in London, Barcelona and Scotland.The NFL has a vested interest in promoting its brand overseas and is serious enough about it to consider adding a 17th regular season game in an effort to play games outside of the United States. While that debate is for a later discussion, the internal debate within the league is what to do with NFL Europa right now. My guess is the NFL is probably going to pull the plug.
That sounds like the right idea. In theory, having an American football league in Europe is great. In practice, it hasn't worked. The NFL should stop throwing money down the NFL Europa sinkhole.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-11-2007 @ 9:41PM
J.P. Perkins said...
The NFL would be wiser to invest they're money in
small market cities in the US who would welcome the
opportunity to support what in essence is an NFL
farm club.Cities like Birmingham,Little Rock,Des
Moines,or Charleston would be good fit's & more apt
to support a team than a European city.Not to mention
it would generate more interest here in the states,&
easier for NFL teams to get first hand talent evaluations.
Reply
6-11-2007 @ 11:00PM
Jim said...
Good idea J.P. I would support an NFL farm team in my area, just as I do a MLB farm team. I love going to St. Lucie Mets games. How about the Ft. Pierce Bills? lol
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6-12-2007 @ 12:22AM
Don said...
NFL already has a farm club, it's called the NCAA.
NFL Europe can't succeed when you consider that the teams are entirely populated by practice squads and fourth stringers from the actual league. What possible reason would they have to bond and cheer for substandard teams, where any actual stars you develop this year could be 'promoted' to the real league the next? Want to make the NFL popular in Europe? Eat the travel costs, put a real NFL team in Germany, and see what happens.
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6-12-2007 @ 2:56AM
Paul J said...
People talk about a farm league in the US. When the WLAF first started there were several teams in the US, one in Montreal. Attendances in some cities werent bad but overall the US didnt seem to be happy with the league so thats why the NFL suspended operations in 1992 and came back in 1995 with an all europe format.
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6-12-2007 @ 3:00AM
Paul J said...
The US and Birmingham had their chance when the league started in 1991. The Birmingham Fire attendance in their first season wasnt bad, second season not so good. The US didnt take to the league so thats why after two seasons the NFL suspended operations and came back a few years later in 1995 with an all europe format.
The problem is NFL teams dont use the league properly. Kansas City do and have done very well out of the league, a lot of teams sign FA's the day before allocation and send over nobodies.
When used well (KC) the league has done excellent. Many Superbowl QB's have played in NFLE, Brad Johnson, Jake Delhomme, Kurt Warner. Theres been some very good players in the league but lately for teams who send total nobodies dont expect much back.
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6-12-2007 @ 5:11AM
Gfran said...
This is a take from the perspective of a european football (not soccer) former player and currently coach: NFL Europa has always drawn mixed feelings in the eurpean football community. From one side it was for a while great to have the chance to watch pro-football games live, on the other hand the NFLE has been fishing in the same relatively small pond of the rest of the football movement, which can be qualified as semi-pro, at best.
If the NFL wants to toss some money to europe, in order to promote the pro-football product, they would be much better off by funding some local leagues, at least those that offer solid guarantees, and maybe even allocate a few NFL prospects to those leagues like, three or four per team.
In this way, the NFL brand would be promoted anyway, the local football would grow without having to compete with the big-bucks (but little else) teams from NFL europa for exposure, sponsoring and personnel.
also the public could grow more attached and loyal to local teams featuring a majority of local kids, plus the occasional NFL-bound star.
Anyway, reagrdless my opinion, I don;t know what to do with these rumors; any year we hear that the NFLE is going to hang it up but it never happens.
So what will it be this time around?
Greets,
Gfran.
Reply
6-12-2007 @ 5:11AM
Gfran said...
This is a take from the perspective of a european football (not soccer) former player and currently coach: NFL Europa has always drawn mixed feelings in the eurpean football community. From one side it was for a while great to have the chance to watch pro-football games live, on the other hand the NFLE has been fishing in the same relatively small pond of the rest of the football movement, which can be qualified as semi-pro, at best.
If the NFL wants to toss some money to europe, in order to promote the pro-football product, they would be much better off by funding some local leagues, at least those that offer solid guarantees, and maybe even allocate a few NFL prospects to those leagues like, three or four per team.
In this way, the NFL brand would be promoted anyway, the local football would grow without having to compete with the big-bucks (but little else) teams from NFL europa for exposure, sponsoring and personnel.
also the public could grow more attached and loyal to local teams featuring a majority of local kids, plus the occasional NFL-bound star.
Anyway, reagrdless my opinion, I don;t know what to do with these rumors; any year we hear that the NFLE is going to hang it up but it never happens.
So what will it be this time around?
Greets,
Gfran.
Reply
6-12-2007 @ 2:50PM
Lex said...
It's a cultural thing that takes place over years...same reason, we could care little for their soccer. We tried, but you are also dealing with the people ( players...) who couldn't make it here in the states, talent wise... Hey, you can't force into a hole that doesn't fit...
Who hasn't heard the screams to stop ! 'Wrong hole !
Reply
6-12-2007 @ 5:10PM
Luke said...
This is would be similar to the Champions League trying to branch off into the States; just not enough people would be interested. Same thing here with "NFL Europa." American football jut is not what Europe is about. Maybe the NFL should try to cut down on commercials rather than worry about Europe.
Reply
6-21-2007 @ 10:25AM
MFrau said...
Maybe best to pull the plug and play regular season games over there as the NFL will be doing. And cooperate more and more all the time with the Canadian Football League (I'm Canadian and season ticket holder for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats) to promote North American gridiron pro football. I love both the NFL and CFL and would love to see some co-promotion activity between the 2 leagues.
Reply