[vincesanity82]

Roger Goodell who is now the NFL head honcho reminds me a lot more of Rozelle, than Tagliabue. I have not yet had the opportunity to interview the new Commissioner, but from what I have seen in televised sessions, in print and from talking with fellow reporters who have met him, this man’s tenure will most probably be very pro-active quite like Rozelle was. And that is why I believe, that the demise of NFL Europa, formerly the WLAF or we laugh is just the first of a series of moves that could eventually put at least one if not more NFL Franchises in Europe.


Goodell strikes me as some body who feels most comfortable going forward not backward, that’s why I believe this retreat from the European Market is only a temporary one. And I believe that he already has visions of a Phoenix risng from the ashes, of what was really always a second class operation. Let’s face it, NFL Europa was on par with Arena League Football, a minor league inferior product to the parent league. That is why it came down to a handful of teams playing in Germany, making up the League, Europeans were no more willing to settle for a weak imitation than we in the USA.


Goodell just a few weeks back made overtures about a SuperBowl being held in a non US city. In that same press conference, he alluded to someday eventually having a franchise based in a non US city. To me this was the first step in making that a reality. Other than Los Angeles, which does not seem hot to trot to get back their own team, where in the US can you expand to. the only large market that quickly comes to mind is Vegas, and we all know that can never happen because of all the Sports Books located there. So in order to find new markets, there is a real possibility that you will have to travel at least out of the country (say Toronto, or Mexico City) or even off the continent.


Will there be obstacles to conquer? Yes but they can easily be overcome. Let’s say the NFL puts two teams in Europe, London and Berlin, for East Coast teams the air travel really would not be that different from flying to the West Coast. And for other teams you just make sure their trip to Europe would be before a By week, or possibly schedule the two European teams on consecutive weeks, and have the visitors do their training in Europe in the week between games. As for the time difference, it is five hours earlier in London than in New York, if you schedule the game for 6:00pm there it would be 1:00pm on the East Coast.


This situation makes sense, you explore an untapped market and bring it a quality product, fans will come. Even while there own teams are going through the growing pains that every expansion franchise does, they can still see Reggie Bush, L.T. and Peyton up close and personal. As the voice said in the movie “Field Of Dreams” “Build it and they will come.
Could The End Of NFL Europe Be The Start Of The NFL In Europe? » NFL GridIron Gab

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I don't think it's the time or place for NFL Europe...the trip along would be a killer...a team would rise in Hawaii before one does in Europe.

[vincesanity82]

Im not a fan either, I would like to see it stay in the states..

[alex83]

i can see more games being played in Europe, this season its one but by next season there might be 2 or 3 if not more, i can understand the thinking behind it becuase what better way to attract more fans than by bringing the game to them...the problem is the people who will go to the games are the people that know the sport already, i dont think people are going to think "well an NFL game is being played here soon im going to get into it" becuase when the tickets went on sale in London almost every single ticket was snapped up within an hour, meaning any wannabe fans would not have been able to get tickets.

i think developing an NFL franchise out of the US is still a few years off but if they want to get people into the game over sea's scrap the idea of playing games and think hard about developing a franchise and i dont see that there is to much of a problem with the games i mean every team has a bye week in the season so just work the schedule so each team plays the out of country team the week before their bye

[kenman923]

It would make more sense if the NFL were to expand teams to Mexico, Canada, and South America. I don't see them going to Europe, the jet lag would really get to them.

[simple simon]

i dont see this happening ..... but seems the best way i could see it work is if they just start an EFL (European Football League) that has 10 or more teams then their champion meets the NFL champion for a World Bowl or something

[Bette]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i dont see this happening ..... but seems the best way i could see it work is if they just start an EFL (European Football League) that has 10 or more teams then their champion meets the NFL champion for a World Bowl or something

I like this idea best. Basically, its not that I am sure that it cant happen(NFL to Europe) but that I dont want it to happen.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i dont see this happening ..... but seems the best way i could see it work is if they just start an EFL (European Football League) that has 10 or more teams then their champion meets the NFL champion for a World Bowl or something

We would crush them all I tell you...until the ex East German coaches created a super team of players with undetectable new wonder drugs...

[Gman84]

I feel sorry for the German fans who had really taken the league to their heart but the fact it was losing money and hosting regular season games will be more profitable and probably attract more spectator interest means it wasn't a surprise the league folded.

I wish everyone here understood the mission of NFL E. The fans in Europe - be they Dutch, German, Hungarian, etc. understand the game and the strategy of the game better than many people here amd their passion is unrivaled. Put a team in South America? I can tell you that there is no interest for American football anywhere in South America and to get to Rio or Brasilia takes 8 1/2 hours, longer than it does to Frankfurt (6 1/2 hours from JFK in NYC).

I wish you all could have been in Frankfurt two weeks ago to see the World Bowl and realize what a great event it was. There was as much electricity as in any NFL stadium durong playoff time. And I have to believe that either Hamburg or Frankfurt could beat any CFL team on any night.

The problem is that Roger Goodell lied about the league and to the fans of NFL Europa. For that, I will never go back to the NFL until the league is reestablished in Europe.

from a big fan of NFL AND NFLE in germany:

I wonder if you think so.....

The NFL said, that the NFLE will be save until 2010 !
They made contracts with Europe and with the NFLE-teams until 2010!

Now they cancelled all these agreements.
I call this a breach of contract!

How will the NFL be a future serious partner for football in europe?
The NFL has destroy his reputation and his credibillity in europe!

We are shocked about this management policity.