NFL talks about pulling plug on NFL Europa

[SmootSmack]

It's 8 players per side in AFL. Field is 50 yards long. As opposed to 12 and 110 for CFL. Either way, I think AFL is a lot of fun to watch. Several NFL players have come from the AFL and I consider it real.

[TheGuyFromOverThere]

Well, as a German Football player myself I think I can say some things about marketing and standing of NFL/NFLE here in Germany.

Many players I know, and myself too, weren´t too interested in NFLE. This had several reasons.
Most say and said, that if they wanted to see really high quality football, they watch NFL.
If they want to see football of lower quality, but with players they were able to identify with and that played without the real big money (well, mostly for no money) they watch the regular German Leagues like GFL or lower.
Many people just watched NFLE for the show, not the game itself.

Another problem was the chance to watch it on TV. Last year, NFLE and even NFL (except the Superbowl and the Championship Games) were not to be seen in free-tv but only in pay-tv. And not in our biggest pay-tv-channel but in a small one that only about 100.000 people here have. So it is clear, that that was a major problem in aquiring new fans or interested people.

Best thing NFL could do imho would be to support GFL a bit (not much money needed there in the big view what you´re spending in your home country) with marketing experts and a little bit sponsoring and that will make football much more interesting and before all known over here, which also will increase the number of people buying stuff from NFL-Teams or watching them on TV etc.

Grüzze,
TGfoT

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by TheGuyFromOverThere

Well, as a German Football player myself I think I can say some things about marketing and standing of NFL/NFLE here in Germany.

Many players I know, and myself too, weren´t too interested in NFLE. This had several reasons.
Most say and said, that if they wanted to see really high quality football, they watch NFL.
If they want to see football of lower quality, but with players they were able to identify with and that played without the real big money (well, mostly for no money) they watch the regular German Leagues like GFL or lower.
Many people just watched NFLE for the show, not the game itself.

Another problem was the chance to watch it on TV. Last year, NFLE and even NFL (except the Superbowl and the Championship Games) were not to be seen in free-tv but only in pay-tv. And not in our biggest pay-tv-channel but in a small one that only about 100.000 people here have. So it is clear, that that was a major problem in aquiring new fans or interested people.

Best thing NFL could do imho would be to support GFL a bit (not much money needed there in the big view what you´re spending in your home country) with marketing experts and a little bit sponsoring and that will make football much more interesting and before all known over here, which also will increase the number of people buying stuff from NFL-Teams or watching them on TV etc.

Grüzze,
TGfoT

Were you able to watch any SKINS games via pay-per-view. Or even free at a local pub or somewhere free by any chance?

[TheGuyFromOverThere]

Only way for me to watch all Skins games was by the (in my opinion) very expensive Yahoo-streaming-channel. Even with the pay-tv channel there were only the thursday game, two at sunday and monday night, so not even all games were available.

Well, so I decided for the streaming from yahoo. Not the best solution, but the only chance for me to watch all the Skins games.

At pubs or bars you only can watch soccer (German Bundesliga or English Premier League) or sometimes a World Championship in Handball, Basketball and such.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by TheGuyFromOverThere

Only way for me to watch all Skins games was by the (in my opinion) very expensive Yahoo-streaming-channel. Even with the pay-tv channel there were only the thursday game, two at sunday and monday night, so not even all games were available.

Well, so I decided for the streaming from yahoo. Not the best solution, but the only chance for me to watch all the Skins games.

At pubs or bars you only can watch soccer (German Bundesliga or English Premier League) or sometimes a World Championship in Handball, Basketball and such.

Good for you man! Glad you at least got to catch the games, even if it wasn't the best case scenario. Way to support the team! WELL DONE!

[TheGuyFromOverThere]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

Good for you man! Glad you at least got to catch the games, even if it wasn't the best case scenario. Way to support the team! WELL DONE!

Yeah, that´s good for me, but it doesn´t help to get new fans or people interested in the sport.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

It's 8 players per side in AFL. Field is 50 yards long. As opposed to 12 and 110 for CFL. Either way, I think AFL is a lot of fun to watch. Several NFL players have come from the AFL and I consider it real.

Personally I prefer the CFL to the AFL. The problem with the AFL is there is pretty much no defense involved at all. The element of defense, which I enjoy the most, is not present. No false start, only 10 yards for a set of downs, along with a small field makes the games way too high scoring.

I know the CFL allows you to get a running start and 3 downs also increase the passing, the games seem to involve more defense. In the AFL you can just have a good offense and that is good enough to win. I would not, however, like to see CFL rules used in the NFL. If anything I think the NFL should return to its old rules on defense which ease up towards pass interference calls, which are made way too often.

This is a side note that doesn't really deal with the issue, but I really hate how leagues try to get more viewers by making it high scoring. If anything it just ruins the sport for the true fans. And the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL(well they kinda had to because their league tanked, but still) have made rule changes or interpretations recently which allow for higher scoring. I guess I personally just like defense in games, and that is why I am also a huge soccer fan. I really do appreciate defense in any game, and at times I am more satisfied with a good 0-0 soccer game to 49-7 football game. And before you haters jump on soccer, I do know they(FIFA) started calling more touch fouls to make it higher scoring, and I am opposed of that as well.

Ok, end rant.

[redskinsredskins]

no thats horrible!