The German newspaper "[link=http://welt.de]Die Welt[/link]" reported in its Sunday edition that the [link=http://www.handball-bundesliga.de/]German Handball League HBL[/link] is planning to expand its scope beyond Germany. Emboldened by the tremendous success of the World Championships with more than 20 million viewers for the final alone, the "[i]strongest league in the world[/i]" (slogan) is even considering marketing efforts in the USA:
[blockquote]"For me, team handball is a sport with all the attributes of an American sport. It's a full-contact sport and team handball is fast and full of action – exactly what US-Fans want to watch."
"Introducing the trademark HBL in the US is possible within the next year or two.[/blockquote]"
[link=http://www.welt.de/wams_print/article810252/Handball-Liga_will_in_die_USA.html]Says[/link] HBL general manager Frank Bohmann. Bohmann also suggested to host the All-Star game or the "Final Four" Cup tournament in the US: "We don't use the slogan '[i]the strongest league in the world[/i]' for nothing. We mean it and now is the perfect time to expand world-wide." Bohmann also cites recent lucrative proposals by several sponsors, including TV stations, after the successful WC as the motivation behind the new strategy.