FRANKFURT, Germany -- The NFL folded its development league

in Europe after 16 years on Friday, calling the decision a sound

business move that will allow for a stronger international focus on

regular-season games outside the United States.

The announcement came less than a week after the Hamburg Sea

Devils beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28 in the World Bowl title game

in Frankfurt before a crowd of 48,125. Five of the league's six

teams are based in Germany, with the other in Amsterdam,

Netherlands.

A statement on the German-language edition of the NFL's Web site

said the NFL decided to concentrate its "strategies and

resources" on regular-season games outside the United States in an

effort to reach as many people as possible.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell thanked the fans for their

support but said it was time to develop a new international

strategy, terming the move to fold NFL Europa the ``best business

decision.'' The league reportedly was losing about $30 million a

season.

"From now on we will focus on regular-season games and use new

technologies to make NFL more popular worldwide," he said.

NFL team owners decided in October to play up to two

regular-season games outside the United States. The first such game

is Oct. 28 in London between the Miami Dolphins and the New York

Giants.

The league said it is looking toward other regular-season games

in Germany, Mexico and Canada, with Germany a strong candidate for

2008.

"NFL Europa has created thousands of passionate fans who have

supported that league and our sport for many years," said Mark

Waller, senior vice president of NFL International. "And we look

forward to building on this foundation as we begin this new phase

of our international development."

The league began in 1991 as the World League of American

Football, with 10 teams from the United States and Europe,

spreading from Scotland to Spain. After closing for two seasons in

1993 and 1994, the league returned with six European teams and

retained the same format until the end.

The league was used by NFL teams to test young talent and

produced players such as quarterback Kurt Warner, who led the St.

Louis Rams to the 2000 Super Bowl championship and won two NFL Most

Valuable Player awards; Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake

Delhomme; and star Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.

NFL Europa managing director Uwe Bergheim said the league had

succeeded in establishing a fan base for football in important

European markets.

"Despite the great support of fans, business partners and the

cities where we were active, we decided that it was time to change

the strategy," Bergheim said.