Atlantica - 01.03.2004, Blaðsíða 17

really hard to compare these two sports. We have 17 home games
in soccer and five home games in football for each team. In
Frankfurt, our average attendance at football games is higher than
at the soccer games of Eintracht Frankfurt. But would it be like this
with 17 home games? I don't think so."
And would the Galaxy out-draw Eintracht per game if the soccer
team wasn't at the bottom of the Bundesleague standings?
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
NFLEL is entertainment for the entire family, and this selling point
is reflected in Frankfurt's fan base, 45 per cent women (additional-
ly, 25 per cent bring their kids). Ehry points out that in Germany,
soccer fans are roughly 80 per cent male.
Still, even in Germany, where the league has been widely popu-
lar, soccer reigns supreme. Take the 2006 World Cup. Although
qualifying matches haven't started, the Cup already affects NFLEL
attendance. How is this possible? Right now all across Germany sta-
diums are undergoing facelifts, including Frankfurt's home stadium,
Waldstadion. The stadium - once a venue for an Ali fight - holds
roughly 60,000 fans. At the moment, however, portions of the sta-
dium are cordoned off for repairs, cutting attendance by half.
Despite soccer's influence, the league is slowly building its fan
base. The German teams are the most successful, which is why
after the Barcelona Dragons folded, a new team started in Cologne,
the Centurions. Now, four of the six NFLEL teams make their home
in Germany; the other teams are the Scotland Claymores and the
Amsterdam Admirals. But competing in Germany doesn't guaran-
tee success. The Berlin Thunder has struggled, averaging about
10,000 to 15,000 spectators per game last season. To increase atten-
dance, the team has moved into historic Olympic Stadium.
AMERICAN STYLE
Americans have a strong cultural influence in Germany. From the
military bases to the historical presence the US has developed since
WWII, the American way of life curdles through the country. Part of
that cultural sway is American sports. The Admirals and the
Claymores might disagree, but NFLEL could just as easily be called
NFL German League.
"A lot of things in Germany are handled American style. We get
their movies, food and drinks, music, clothing, everything," says
Kleinmann.
If the league is to survive, and thrive, on a continent where soc-
cer is more important than life itself, the German teams must lead
the way by building a loyal following.
And that's exactly what the Galaxy is doing.
As a kick-off to the start of its own season, the Galaxy hosted one
of the largest Super Bowl parties in the world on Super Bowl
Sunday, with over 2,000 fans showing up to watch the game on a
monster screen, 12 metres by eight metres in size. Because the
Super Bowl was played in Houston, Texas, the party's theme was
'Space City, USA'. The Galaxy even had a flight simulator at the
party and some creative fans dressed up in Star Trek outfits.
"The game is as much entertainment as it is sports. The promos
are the way to get fans to go, and over time they develop a sense
for the game, and then they come for the game," says Ehry.
However, until fans start filling stadiums for the poetry of football,
bring on the cheerleaders, and let's not forget Lt Uhura.
Edward Weinman is a staff writer.
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