THE Rhein Fire is coming home. The two-time World Bowl champion and one of the NFL Europe League’s most successful teams will be back in Düsseldorf when the 2005 season kicks off next April.
Fire general manager SAMMY SCHMALE today announced the agreement with the newly-built LTU Arena, returning the team to its original home. The Fire played in the old Düsseldorf Rheinstadion for eight seasons, regularly drawing crowds in excess of 40,000, before spending the last two seasons at the Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen.
Since playing its first game in 1995, the Rhein Fire has become established as one of Düsseldorf’s most successful and innovative sports organisations. Schmale continued: ‘The Fire belongs to Düsseldorf. We are thrilled about being back in our home town with our many great fans and we can’t wait for our first home game. We believe that we can create an unrivalled atmosphere in the LTU Arena and celebrate real festivals of football and entertainment.’
NFL Europe Managing Director JIM CONNELLY added: ‘We have established a great relationship with the city of Düsseldorf over the past decade and we look forward to developing that partnership to achieve long-term success for the team and the continued growth of our sport.’
Düsseldorf Lord Mayor JOACHIM ERWIN said: ‘Welcome home, Rhein Fire. We are pleased that the efforts and negotiations have worked out. The Rhein Fire belongs to Düsseldorf as much as Altbier and carnival.’
MANFRED KIRSCHENSTEIN, General Manager of the LTU Arena operating company, added: ‘We are very pleased that Rhein Fire found their way back into the LTU arena after a two-year absence.’
Season tickets for the new season, which kicks off on the weekend of April 2-3 will begin in January 2005 following the announcement of the 2005 schedule. Fire fans are already able to register for season tickets at LTU Arena via the team’s Internet site, www.rhein-fire.de.
The 2005 season, the 13th in NFLEL history, will see the World Bowl champion Berlin Thunder defend its crown against the Amsterdam Admirals, Cologne Centurions, Frankfurt Galaxy, Rhein Fire and the Hamburg Sea Devils, the league’s newest team.
For more details contact:
David Tossell
Director of Public Relations
NFL Europe
44-207-225-3070