NFLE Team in Hamburg?

[Andy]

Recently german newspapers reported that the NFLE might be interested in installing a franchise in Hamburg. Rumors say that the Scottish Claymores could be moved to either Hamburg or Gelsenkirchen, where the Rhein Fire played the last two seasons. For a team in Gelsenkirchen the league already seems to have a name - the Miners.

Now I would like to ask how you would name the Hamburg franchise. Here are my favorites:

Hamburg Skyhawks, Hamburg Hurricane or Hamburg Hurricanes.

Also Hamburg Blue Devils could be in the mix because there is already a well-known amateur team with this name in Hamburg and NFLE could buy the name rights. Let me know which of those names you would favour. Which name would fit best into NFLE? Maybe you also have any suggestions.

[Geoff]

How about the Hamburg The NFLEL needs to expand to places other than in Germany. Don't get me wrong, I take pride in my German roots but this the NFL EUROPE League not the NFL GERMANY League.

[Andy]

How about the Hamburg The NFLEL needs to expand to places other than in Germany. Don't get me wrong, I take pride in my German roots but this the NFL EUROPE League not the NFL GERMANY League.

Well Geoff, I’m not shure if you are aware of the current situation of the NFLE. They are losing lots of money - especially the non-german teams. Some of the NFL owners are very dissatisfied about that fact and would like to close the whole league. So the NFLE has to change something to stay alive. Currently it seems the best to concentrate on the german market to keep the league alive. I don’t think that it is the goal of the NFL to transform the NFLE into a NFLG on longterm. I rather think that they are trying to stabilize the league on short-team. I’m shure that they will expand to other european markets when they have made the league more profitable with the help of the german teams.

[Herk]

NFLE relocating a team to germany for next year i think is a good idea for the league viability in future. By placing virtually all teams in germany they can turn the league into a more regional bus league similar to minor league baseball.

[Magnum357]

Ya, that is actually one good thing if NFLE focuses most of its teams in Germany. The NIFL is having success because most of its teams (at least the Pacific Conference) are located within regional Areas that can use Bus Travel for cheaper transportation. I've never been too Europe, but I would have too imagine that using a Bus System might be more cost effiecent then using Air Planes. The Germans seem too be the only Europeans at this moment that really like American Football. That may change later, but for now its all the NFL has got. The only thing I have too ask, will NFLE still be avialable for TV purposes? I can understand the NFL Network could carry games, but what about other networks? I have a feeling the NFL is trying too make NFLE able too stay afloat just on Ticket sales like the NIFL and IFL do so that NFL owners don't have too pump as much money into the NFLE too keep it alive. Personally, if this is true, I'm all for it because having NFLE self suffiecent is a priority.

[maddawg1967]

I mean no offense to Germany or to Germans for that matter, but I have to second the idea of the NFLE being more evenly distributed throughout europe than just Germany. I think all the clubs, the NFL, the NFLE and everyone else involved needs to sacrifice just a little bit for the good of the league and the sport, or else we could face the possible discontinuation of the NFLE and the growth of American Football in general.

[Panther]

It seems like the NFL could do a better job in Europe. The London Monarchs drew good enough crowds and could have remained viable. The Scots loved their team from what I've heard.

I'm wondering why there aren't teams in places like Dublin, where it is very popular and other bigger cities.

[Shootmaster_44]

It seems like the NFL could do a better job in Europe. The London Monarchs drew good enough crowds and could have remained viable. The Scots loved their team from what I've heard.

I'm wondering why there aren't teams in places like Dublin, where it is very popular and other bigger cities.

I think part of the reason the teams in the UK didn't work was travel costs. Apparently most of the teams in Germany travel by train. Obviously, its alot harder to do that going to London, Scotland and the like. Dublin is even a worse problem as there is no direct land route to it from continental Europe. However, I do think a team in Dublin playing at Croke Park would be a good idea in theory. They seem to have large crowds for the Gaelic Football and the International Rules Series the AFL and GAA put on each year.

[Andy]

It seems like the NFL could do a better job in Europe. The London Monarchs drew good enough crowds and could have remained viable. The Scots loved their team from what I've heard.

I'm wondering why there aren't teams in places like Dublin, where it is very popular and other bigger cities.

Sorry, but I’ve got to disagree. The Monarchs attendance was high in the orginial WL years (1991-92). They draw up to 50,000 if I’m not wrong. But when the League returned in 1995 after a two year hiatus the numbers were absoltuelty terrible. In 1995 they draw around 8,000. In the last year (1998) they got 4,000 to 6,000. Wouldn’t call that viable.

Regarding Dublin: In 1997 the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers played in the American Bowl staged at the Croke Park. It was the first NFL game to be played in Ireland. They draw a attendance of around 30,000. As far as I know the Croke Park fits far more people.

[Geoff]

Unis and helmet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/geoff_der_idiot/seadevils.jpg

[Andy]

The Sea Devil logo still needs getting used to, but I like Hamburg’s uniform. Especially the teal helmet. It’s not a common colour in pro football. Suppose the Memphis Maniax of the XFL used the same colour.

BTW: Geoff, Do you have also pics of the other five teams uniforms from the Pre Super Bowl week?