Around three months before the kick-off on June 20, those responsible for the European League of Football are making the hearts of many fans beat faster: With Berlin Thunder and the Cologne Centurions, two other teams from the former NFL Europe are returning to the big stage. In addition, the Leipzig Kings will compete in the premiere season. Hanover and Ingolstadt, on the other hand, will not be there in 2021.
The line-up of the new league with eight teams from three nations is now fixed: In addition to the franchises from the capital with new, strong shareholders, the Rhine metropolis and Saxony, two fan favorites are the Hamburg Sea Devils and Frankfurt Galaxy NFL Europe times at the start. There are also the Stuttgart Scorpions as well as the Panthers Wroclaw from Poland and the Barcelona Gladiators from Spain.
“After we reached an agreement with the National Football League and an agreement on the use of the team names, the way was paved for Thunder. We are proud to have Berlin as the location of our league right from the start, ”says Zeljko Karajica, CEO of the European League of Football and managing partner of SEH Sports & Entertainment Holding.
With the participation of the Centurions and the Kings, two wishes come true. “It’s no secret that we had Cologne and Leipzig on our list right from the start of the planning. We have worked intensively on it over the past few weeks, we have had trusting discussions and are very happy to be able to present the Centurions and Kings in the European League of Football, ”says Karajica.
For Patrick Esume, the league’s commissioner, Thunder and Centurions bring back fond memories of his own time in NFL Europe. “When I was on the line at the Sea Devils, we had some tough duels. Berlin and Cologne are cities with a long football history and of course with large fan groups who have waited 14 years for this moment – and I also see great potential in Leipzig. “
“Coach” Esume is already looking forward to the start of the first season in the European League of Football in June. “The anticipation is huge. We will give the best sport in the world the stage it deserves in Europe too. With Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Barcelona and Wroclaw, we offer a very attractive field of participants. I expect all teams to play at a high level and expect exciting duels at eye level, ”the commissioner looks ahead.
Football fans will be able to see this for themselves in the stadiums and at home in front of the screens. With Pro Sieben MAXX, the European League of Football has a strong TV partner at its side: 13 games will be broadcast live, including of course the bowl on September 26th, when the first champion is determined. More games and highlights can be seen in the stream on ran.de.
The German Knights 1367 Niedersachsen from Hanover and the Ingolstadt Praetorians will not be there at the start of the new league as originally planned, but the Cologne Centurions and the Leipzig Kings will move into the line-up in 2021.
A declaration by the German Knights 1367 Lower Saxony states: “SEH Sport Beteiligungs-GmbH, Hamburg, and American Sport Sale and Management GmbH, Hildesheim, are negotiating the conclusion of a (bilateral) franchise agreement for a professional American football league Europe a. This means that the European League of Football, which starts in June 2021, will take place without the German Knights team from Hanover. Both companies express their appreciation and regret the failure of the negotiations. No further explanations are given regarding the reasons. “
In a statement by the Ingolstadt Praetorians it says: “The season of the European League of Football, which starts in June 2021, will take place without the Ingolstadt Praetorians team. SEH Sport Beteiligungs GmbH, Hamburg and IN-Herofactory Sportainment GmbH, Ingolstadt were unable to reach an agreement for the planned 2021 season and are currently terminating negotiations. Both companies regret this, but would like to clearly emphasize that the Ingolstadt location is important for American football and the European League of Football and that talks for the 2022 season will resume at a later date. No further explanations are given. “
Those: ELF
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