Editing NFL Europe (section)

===Closure and legacy===
[[File:KurtWarnerSuperBowlXXXIV.jpg|thumb|[[Quarterback]] [[Kurt Warner]] was allocated to the [[Amsterdam Admirals]] in [[1998 Amsterdam Admirals season|1998]]. The following year, Warner led the [[Los Angeles Rams|St. Louis Rams]] to victory in [[Super Bowl XXXIV]].<ref name="Seifert" />]]
On July 29, 2007, less than a week after [[World Bowl XV]], the NFL announced the closure of NFL Europa. The league had been losing a reported US$30 million a year, and the NFL had decided to shift their strategy in marketing football abroad towards holding NFL regular-season games [[List of National Football League games played outside the United States|outside the United States]].<ref name="NFL Europa folds">{{cite web |title=Passport expires: NFL Europa folds after 16 years |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2920738 |work=[[ESPN.com]] |access-date=August 7, 2019 |language=en |date=June 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016035437/http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2920738 |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The NFL owners who funded the league were reportedly dissatisfied with NFL Europa's lack of revenue as well as its decreasing success in player development.<ref name="Pasquarelli">{{cite web|last=Pasquarelli|first=Len|title=NFL Europa failed to produce players, profits|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?id=2920635|access-date=May 24, 2014|work=[[ESPN.com]]|date=June 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525213529/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=2920635|archive-date=May 25, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The league had nearly folded in 2003, when eight of the 32 NFL owners voted against funding it, one short of the nine votes needed to end the league, and its gradual progression into a German-dominated league had run counter to the NFL's goals of selling merchandise throughout the European continent.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bouchette |first1=Ed |title=Will NFL Europe survive? It's a developing situation |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2005/05/16/Will-NFL-Europe-survive-It-s-a-developing-situation/stories/200505160189 |website=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |access-date=August 12, 2019 |date=May 16, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808233956/https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2005/05/16/Will-NFL-Europe-survive-It-s-a-developing-situation/stories/200505160189 |archive-date=August 8, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The league's inability to garner a live television contract with local media markets also played a role in its demise, as the potential revenue from a deal could have helped the league financially.<ref name="Sandomir" />

Andrei S. Markovits and Lars Rensmann described the league as an "abysmal failure", noting its poor quality of play, frequent name changes, and franchise relocations as well as the accessibility of regular NFL games in Europe as reasons for its collapse.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Markovits |first1=Andrei S. |last2=Rensmann |first2=Lars |title=Gaming the World: How Sports Are Reshaping Global Politics and Culture |date=2013 |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=9780691162034 |pages=97–98 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=umqYDwAAQBAJ&q=world+league+of+american+football+surprisingly+popular+in%25&pg=PA97 |access-date=2019-08-12 |archive-date=2022-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926203628/https://books.google.com/books?id=umqYDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97&dq=world+league+of+american+football+surprisingly+popular+in+europe&source=bl&ots=K9i-YOiV90&sig=ACfU3U2UmfKIqz-jOYCFUcVlKPIHdIunbQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj8lt7lyfjjAhWug-AKHZHpCTkQ6AEwD3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=world%20league%20of%20american%20football%20surprisingly%20popular%20in% |url-status=live }}</ref> Len Pasquarelli of [[ESPN.com]] noted that the league had strayed from its original goal, with the allocation system of players gradually being abused to amass training camp exemptions rather than to develop players.<ref name="Pasquarelli" /> [[John Mara]], the co-owner of the [[New York Giants]], said that the league "had some useful purpose in developing players" and that it helped the NFL determine that there was an interest in American football in Europe.<ref name="Sandomir">{{cite web |last1=Sandomir |first1=Richard |title=N.F.L. Pulls the Plug on Its League in Europe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/sports/football/30nfl.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=August 13, 2019 |date=June 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716164854/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/sports/football/30nfl.html |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Looking back on NFL Europe in 2017, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com noted its strong record in developing [[quarterback]]s: [[Kurt Warner]] (a [[Super Bowl]] champion and two-time [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]]), [[Brad Johnson (American football)|Brad Johnson]] (who won a Super Bowl in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), [[Jake Delhomme]] (who led the [[Carolina Panthers]] to an NFC championship in [[2003 Carolina Panthers season|2003]]), and journeyman quarterback [[Jon Kitna]] all spent time in NFL Europe.<ref name="Seifert">{{cite web |last1=Seifert |first1=Kevin |title=Ranking QBs who benefited from NFL Europe |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19706757/ranking-quarterbacks-benefited-nfl-europe-kurt-warner-brad-johnson-jon-kitna-jake-delhomme |work=[[ESPN.com]] |access-date=August 12, 2019 |date=June 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203180130/http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19706757/ranking-quarterbacks-benefited-nfl-europe-kurt-warner-brad-johnson-jon-kitna-jake-delhomme |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Two NFL Europe alumni (kicker [[Adam Vinatieri]] and return specialist [[Dante Hall]]) were included on the NFL's [[National Football League 2000s All-Decade Team|2000s All-Decade Team]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gold |first1=Jon |title=10 years after NFL Europe's demise, alumni remember league fondly |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19638357/oral-history-10-years-nfl-europe-demise-alumni-such-kurt-warner-remember-developmental-league-fondly |work=[[ESPN.com]] |access-date=August 12, 2019 |date=June 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413043633/http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19638357/oral-history-10-years-nfl-europe-demise-alumni-such-kurt-warner-remember-developmental-league-fondly |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The league also provided an opportunity for the NFL to experiment with rules and to develop [[Official (American football)|officials]] and coaches. Some NFL coaches and executives have suggested reviving the concept of a developmental league,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keeler |first1=Sean |title='You didn't play to get rich': what killed NFL Europe? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/23/you-didnt-play-to-get-rich-what-killed-nfl-europe |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=August 12, 2019 |date=June 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724025334/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/23/you-didnt-play-to-get-rich-what-killed-nfl-europe |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and several independent leagues have been created to fill the need, but with little success.<ref name="Seifert" /> At a press conference before [[Super Bowl LI]], league commissioner [[Roger Goodell]] said the NFL had been "actively considering" creating a new developmental league.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McClymont |first1=Michael |title=6 takeaways from Goodell's state of the league press conference |date=February 2017 |url=https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/1222224-6-takeaways-from-goodell-s-state-of-the-league-press-conference |publisher=[[theScore Inc.|theScore.com]] |access-date=August 13, 2019 }}</ref>

Since the closure of NFL Europa, the NFL has held regular-season games annually in London<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barrabi |first1=Thomas |title=NFL 'nearer than ever' to permanent London team, exec says |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/nfl-nearer-than-ever-to-permanent-london-team-exec-says |publisher=[[Fox Business Network|Fox Business]] |access-date=August 13, 2019 |date=October 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813030433/https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/nfl-nearer-than-ever-to-permanent-london-team-exec-says |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and has also hosted regular-season games in [[Mexico City]] and [[Toronto]].<ref name="Margolis">{{cite web |last1=Margolis |first1=Jason |title=Many international fans of American football are 'born' on Super Bowl Sunday |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-01/many-international-fans-american-football-are-born-super-bowl-sunday |publisher=[[Public Radio International]] |access-date=August 13, 2019 |language=en |date=February 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813030436/https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-01/many-international-fans-american-football-are-born-super-bowl-sunday |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The league is pursuing the goal of a [[Potential London NFL franchise|franchise in London]], as well as potential regular-season games in [[China]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Breer |first1=Albert |title=Game Plan: London is ready for NFL team; 2022 a target |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/09/21/nfl-london-team-international-series-europe-football |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |access-date=August 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331033910/https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/09/21/nfl-london-team-international-series-europe-football |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, the NFL announced it was looking for partners to host a regular-season game in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL requesting proposals for future regular-season games in Germany |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-requesting-proposals-for-future-regular-season-games-in-germany |website=NFL |access-date=September 26, 2022 |date=June 9, 2021 |archive-date=August 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810192810/https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-requesting-proposals-for-future-regular-season-games-in-germany |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, the league announced four regular-season games would be held in Germany, the first set for November 13, 2022 between the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] and [[Seattle Seahawks]] to be played at [[Munich]]'s [[Allianz Arena]]. NFL.com writer Judy Battista noted Germany was the "fastest-growing international community" for the league, and attributed this in part to the popularity of the former NFL Europe's German teams, but argued the large number of expats as well as the American military presence were greater factors.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Battista |first1=Judy |title=Tom Brady will take international stage in NFL's regular-season debut in Germany |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/tom-brady-will-take-international-stage-in-nfl-s-regular-season-debut-in-germany |website=NFL.com |access-date=September 26, 2022 |date=May 4, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924111804/https://www.nfl.com/news/tom-brady-will-take-international-stage-in-nfl-s-regular-season-debut-in-germany |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2007, fans and former members of the Frankfurt Galaxy – the most successful of NFL Europe's teams on the field and in crowd attendance – created the [[Frankfurt Universe]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Frankfurt Galaxy vor Auferstehung |url=http://www.hr-online.de/website/rubriken/sport/index.jsp?rubrik=6068&key=standard_document_52878439 |website=[[Hessischer Rundfunk]] |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=de |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150427145213/http://www.hr-online.de/website/rubriken/sport/index.jsp?rubrik=6068&key=standard_document_52878439 |archive-date=April 27, 2015}}</ref> The new team was promoted to the [[German Football League 2]] in 2011, and won promotion to the [[German Football League]] (GFL) in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chronik Frankfurt Universe |url=http://www.frankfurt-universe.de/index.php/verein/chronik |website=Frankfurt Universe |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=de |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318004623/http://www.frankfurt-universe.de/index.php/verein/chronik |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[European League of Football]] (ELF), a pan-European league that began play in 2021,<ref name=Hamburger>{{cite web |title=Neues Hamburger Footballteam spielt im Stadion Hoheluft |url=https://www.abendblatt.de/sport/article231587759/Neues-Hamburger-Footballteam-spielt-im-Stadion-Hoheluft.html |website=[[Hamburger Abendblatt]] |access-date=17 February 2021 |language=German |date=17 February 2021 |archive-date=17 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217163437/https://www.abendblatt.de/sport/article231587759/Neues-Hamburger-Footballteam-spielt-im-Stadion-Hoheluft.html |url-status=live }}</ref> signed an agreement with the NFL allowing them to utilize the branding of the former teams of NFL Europe.<ref name="ELF">{{cite magazine |last1=Leinweber |first1=Lorenz |title=European League of Football agrees to cooperation with the NFL |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/european-league-of-football-agrees-to-cooperation-with-the-nfl |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |access-date=September 23, 2022 |language=en |date=March 9, 2021 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923141056/https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/european-league-of-football-agrees-to-cooperation-with-the-nfl |url-status=live }}</ref> The ELF's [[Barcelona Dragons (ELF)|Barcelona Dragons]], [[Berlin Thunder (ELF)|Berlin Thunder]], [[Cologne Centurions (ELF)|Cologne Centurions]], [[Hamburg Sea Devils (ELF)|Hamburg Sea Devils]], [[Frankfurt Galaxy (ELF)|Frankfurt Galaxy]], and [[Rhein Fire (ELF)|Rhein Fire]] all share the names and imagery of their NFL Europe predecessors.<ref name="Why the NFL playing games in Germany makes too much sense for the league">{{cite web |last1=D'Andrea |first1=Christian |title=Why the NFL playing games in Germany makes too much sense for the league |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/02/nfl-germany-world-league-frankfurt-galaxy-about-damn-time |website=[[USA Today]] |access-date=September 26, 2022 |date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215203351/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/02/nfl-germany-world-league-frankfurt-galaxy-about-damn-time |url-status=live }}</ref>