A crowd of 47,546 watched the Rhein Fire defeat the
Frankfurt Galaxy in yesterday's NFL Europe World Bowl at
Frankfurt's Waldstadion, according to Tom Pedulla of USA
TODAY. During the regular season, Frankfurt averaged 34,202
fans per game, while the Rhein averaged 25,448, and Pedulla
writes that the German audience "has become so dependable"
for NFL Europe that the league plans a Berlin franchise for
next season (USA TODAY, 6/15). It was the largest crowd of
the season for NFL Europe (AP/HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/15).
STATE OF THE LEAGUE: In Sunday's N.Y. TIMES, Edmund
Andrews profiled NFL Europe and wrote that while the German
teams "are making a profit" and "draw heavy attention from
local radio and newspapers," the league's "other teams ...
have had more trouble." However, NFL Europe President
Oliver Luck said that there "has been progress," with league
revenues climbing "about" 70% this year to $20M. That
number is "still in the red," and Luck said that he "did not
expect" NFL Europe to make a profit "for another three or
four years" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/14). In Denver, Sam Adams wrote
that NFL Europe "has become a reliable tool for NFL player
development" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 6/14).
