Editing NFL Europe (section)

===NFL Europe/Europa (1995–2007)===
[[File:NFL Europe Logo.svg|thumb|right|The final logo of the league, introduced upon its name change to NFL Europa in 2006.]]

Although the league was "wildly popular" in Europe, with attendance averaging 45,000 for the London Monarchs, it was "ignored" in the United States. The World League suspended play for the 1993 and 1994 season before returning in [[1995 WLAF season|1995]] as a six-team, exclusively European league. All three of the original European teams returned, along with the Birmingham Fire, who were rebooted as the [[Düsseldorf]]-based [[Rhein Fire (NFL Europe)|Rhein Fire]], and two additional new teams (the [[Amsterdam Admirals]] and [[Scottish Claymores]]). Each team was required to have seven "local" players on their 40-man roster.<ref name="Retooled">{{cite web |last1=Cress |first1=Doug |title=The New World League: Retooled, and Ready to Start Saturday |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/04/sports/IHT-the-new-world-leagueretooled-and-ready-to-start-saturday.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=August 10, 2019 |date=April 4, 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811004937/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/04/sports/IHT-the-new-world-leagueretooled-and-ready-to-start-saturday.html |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] became a co-owner of the WLAF and a major financial contributor in return for broadcasting rights.<ref name=Ind260395>{{cite news|last=O'Hagan|first=Simon|title=Monarchs seek to rule the world|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/monarchs-seek-to-rule-the-world-1612828.html|access-date=May 27, 2014|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=March 26, 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527230038/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/monarchs-seek-to-rule-the-world-1612828.html|archive-date=May 27, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The league was renamed the NFL Europe League (NFLEL) in 1998, and the London Monarchs were renamed the England Monarchs in an attempt to spur attendance, which had fallen below 10,000 per game.<ref name=Ind131296>{{cite news|first=Nick|last=Halling|title=London Monarchs to play World League matches at Stamford Bridge|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/american-football-london-monarchs-to-play-world-league-matches-at-stamford-bridge-1314380.html|access-date=May 27, 2014|newspaper=The Independent|date=December 13, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122173730/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/american-football-london-monarchs-to-play-world-league-matches-at-stamford-bridge-1314380.html|archive-date=November 22, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The Monarchs would fold the following season and were replaced by the [[Berlin Thunder]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Paul |title=British Dolphin pursues long journey to top |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/oct/25/ussport |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=August 11, 2019 |date=October 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811234032/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/oct/25/ussport |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

NFL Europe commemorated its 10th season in [[2002 NFL Europe season|2002]], but still remained far from being profitable. The league announced a three-year with the soccer club [[FC Barcelona]] to jointly promote American football in Europe and soccer in the United States; the Barcelona Dragons franchise was renamed FC Barcelona Dragons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wade |first1=Stephen |title=NFL Europe Begins 10th Season |url=https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/NFL-Europe-Begins-10th-Season-7133007.php |website=[[Midland Daily News]] |access-date=August 12, 2019 |date=April 10, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812015545/https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/NFL-Europe-Begins-10th-Season-7133007.php |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The collaboration with FC Barcelona would prove to be unsuccessful, however, and the Barcelona Dragons would fold after the 2003 season due to declining attendance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bicknell joins Claymores |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/us_sport/3220881.stm |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=August 12, 2019 |date=October 28, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812015548/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/us_sport/3220881.stm |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The team's attendance had fallen to under 7,000 per game, a 50% decline since the [[1997 Barcelona Dragons season|1997 season]], when the team had won the [[World Bowl '97|World Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Barcelona disbands NFL Europe franchise |url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/10/28/Barcelona-disbands-NFL-Europe-franchise/21391067365479/ |publisher=[[United Press International]] |access-date=August 12, 2019 |date=October 28, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812015543/https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/10/28/Barcelona-disbands-NFL-Europe-franchise/21391067365479/ |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Dragons were replaced by the [[Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe)|Cologne Centurions]] in 2004, and the following year the Scottish Claymores folded; although the team boasted the largest following of any Scottish sports team outside the [[Old Firm]], averaging 10,799 per game, the league had determined an additional German team could bring in 30,000 per game.<ref name="Claymores" />

The Claymores were replaced the following year by the [[Hamburg Sea Devils (NFL Europe)|Hamburg Sea Devils]], which left the Amsterdam Admirals as the only team in the league not to be based in Germany. This was part of a strategic pivot to Germany, which had been the most receptive country to the league and the sport in general.<ref name="Deutsche Welle">{{cite web |last1=Tzortzis |first1=Andreas |title=Germany Embraces the 'Other' Football |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-embraces-the-other-football/a-1423336 |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=August 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812021533/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-embraces-the-other-football/a-1423336 |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Accordingly, the league changed its name to NFL Europa in 2006, ahead of the league's [[2007 NFL Europa season|15th season]], to reflect the league's focus on Germany and the Netherlands.<ref name="Europa">{{cite web |title=Welcome to NFL Europa |date=November 10, 2006|url=http://www.nfleurope.com/news/story/9802525 |publisher=NFL Europe|access-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115123821/http://www.nfleurope.com/news/story/9802525 |archive-date=November 15, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>