NFL Europe

[BlackJackRob22]

Now that it seems to be basing itself in Germany, what are the chances of expanding? They have seemed to have found what works, so how many big cities are there in Germany have they left to move to. What are also the most likely possibilities for future teams.

[Andy]

Don’t think the NFLE will soon expand. I would say the league is still fighting for it's survival. The new team in Hamburg seems to be the last sheet-anchor. If the total attendance doesn’t rise next season (or in the next two seasons - depending on how much time the NFL owners will give) it could mean the end.

But I still have the hope that the attendance will go up in 2005. Rhein Fire returns to Duesseldorf into the new build LTU Arena, so more people should attend. Also Frankfurts stadium is nearly completed (It’s already roofed). So the Galaxy won’t have to stage the homegames on a uncomfortable construction site. Guess that cost many spectators in the last two seasons. The numbers in Cologne should improve in their second season. Hamburg has already a established football fan base and the city is known for it’s general enthusiasm for sports. Think a average attendance of 15,000 to 20,000 could be possible for the Sea Devils. Altogether the league’s average should move over the 20,000 mark for the first time since 1992.

If the league will consolidate next season and the NFL extends the continuity I think that a expansion would be possible earliest by 2007 or 2008. The Soccer World Cup will take place 2006 in Germany.

This year Gelsenkirchen and Kaiserslautern were bidding for a team. Both are very small cities. It would be very unwise if the league expands to these cities. I would say they should rather try Stuttgart or Munich. Also I would like to see that they would consider Paris, Prague, Vienna or some cities in Italy. The greater Paris area has over nine million inhabitants. As far as I know the AFL draw around 10,000 for it’s ‘preseason’ game in the early nineties. I'm aware that the relationship between French and the US is currently not the best, but who knows what will be in a few years.