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
DateResultLocation
June 23, 2007Hamburg 37, Frankfurt 28 Frankfurt
May 27, 2006 Frankfurt 22, Amsterdam 7 Dusseldorf
June 11, 2005Amsterdam 27, Berlin 21 Dusseldorf
June 12, 2004Berlin 30, Frankfurt 24 Gelsenkirchen
June 14, 2003Frankfurt 25, Rhein 16 Glasgow
June 22, 2002Berlin 26, Rhein 20 Dusseldorf
June 30, 2001Berlin 24, Barcelona 17 Amsterdam
June 25, 2000Rhein 13, Scottish 10 Frankfurt
June 27, 1999Frankfurt 38, Barcelona 24Dusseldorf
June 14, 1998Rhein 34, Frankfurt 10 Frankfurt
June 22, 1997Barcelona 38, Rhein 24 Barcelona
June 23, 1996Scottish 32, Frankfurt 27 Edinburgh
June 17, 1995Frankfurt 26, Amsterdam 22Amsterdam
June 6, 1992 Sacramento 21, Orlando 17 Montreal
June 6, 1991 London 21, Barcelona 0 London


Past NFL Europe Teams
TeamsYears
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 Knights1991-1992
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


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