Good-bye NFL Europe
(July 2, 2007)
On June 29, 2007, after fifteen seasons, the National Football League announced the end of NFL Europe. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, "A foundation of American football fans in key European markets has been created and the time is right to shift our strategy." Since the league was losing an estimated $30- million each year, Goodell also called it was the "best business decision." The impact to the Tampa Bay economy will the loss of the league's month long training camp.
The NFL's experiment with the international developmental league had mixed
success. There are the stories of Kurt Warner, Brad Johnson, Jon Kitna, Jake
Delhomme and Adam Vinatieri coming from the ranks of NFL Europe. As time went
on, there were also fewer and fewer players making that leap. Some felt that
players were actually hurt by missing the NFL teams off-season workouts.
The league dates back to 1991, then known as the World League of American Football (WLAF). It begin as a ten-team league with six teams in the United States, three in Europe and one in Canada. After two seasons of lackluster attendance and support, play was suspended. Two years later, play resumed as the World League with six European teams. A format that would survive until the end. The league would become NFL Europe in 1997 and finally NFL Europa for the 2007 season. In all sixteen teams played in league history with the Frankfurt Galaxy the only team to play every season. The Galaxy also won the championship game, dubbed the World Bowl, a record four times.
There were millions of dollars infused into the local economy by NFL Europe holding its training camp in the Tampa Bay area the last seven years. The month long camp generated close 10,000 hotel room stays, along with meals, rental cars and other associated expenses. There was also international publicity for the area.
Unless you were a die-hard that attended training camp, there will be little impact to the local football fan. At least there used to be NFL Europe games on television. Fox, along with its affiliates FX and Fox Sports Network, showed games until a couple of years ago. The NFL Network, not available on local cable systems, has been the exclusive broadcast source of games since then.
Past World Bowls |
Date | Result | Location |
June 23, 2007 | Hamburg 37, Frankfurt 28 | Frankfurt |
May 27, 2006 | Frankfurt 22, Amsterdam 7 | Dusseldorf |
June 11, 2005 | Amsterdam 27, Berlin 21 | Dusseldorf |
June 12, 2004 | Berlin 30, Frankfurt 24 | Gelsenkirchen |
June 14, 2003 | Frankfurt 25, Rhein 16 | Glasgow |
June 22, 2002 | Berlin 26, Rhein 20 | Dusseldorf |
June 30, 2001 | Berlin 24, Barcelona 17 | Amsterdam |
June 25, 2000 | Rhein 13, Scottish 10 | Frankfurt |
June 27, 1999 | Frankfurt 38, Barcelona 24 | Dusseldorf |
June 14, 1998 | Rhein 34, Frankfurt 10 | Frankfurt |
June 22, 1997 | Barcelona 38, Rhein 24 | Barcelona |
June 23, 1996 | Scottish 32, Frankfurt 27 | Edinburgh |
June 17, 1995 | Frankfurt 26, Amsterdam 22 | Amsterdam |
June 6, 1992 | Sacramento 21, Orlando 17 | Montreal |
June 6, 1991 | London 21, Barcelona 0 | London |
Past NFL Europe Teams |
Teams | Years |
Amsterdam Admirals | 1995-2007 |
Barcelona Dragons | 1991-2003 |
Berlin Thunder | 1999-2007 |
Birmingham Fire | 1991-1992 |
Cologne Centurions | 2004-2007 |
Frankfurt Galaxy | 1991-2007 |
Hamburg Sea Devils | 2005-2007 |
London Monarchs | 1991-1998 |
Montreal Machine | 1991-1992 |
New York/New Jersey Knights | 1991-1992 |
Ohio Glory | 1992 |
Orlando Thunder | 1991-1992 |
Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks | 1991 |
Rhein Fire | 1995-2007 |
Sacramento Surge | 1991-1992 |
San Antonio Riders | 1991-1992 |
Scottish Claymores | 1995-2004 |