The new ELF season casts its shadows ahead. The European League of Football welcomes Nordic Storm as a new team for the upcoming season, the Milano Seamen are taking a one-year break to build up the franchise more sustainably, and the Barcelona Dragons are leaving the league. "Of course, it's nothing nice when a team leaves us. But Barcelona's leave is indeed final", says ELF Commissioner Patrick Esume in an interview with German TV station "ProSiebenSat.1". And in regards of the Italian franchise, he adds: "This separation is only temporary. We had first-class talks with Milan."

"It was clear to us that not all teams would grow equally"

Change is something that is usual for a sports league, especially such a young one. "Only very, very few of the founding teams of the NFL are still in the league", says Esume, "we knew when we started this league that not all teams would develop in the same way." He explains: "They are their own companies, their own general managers, their own coaches, and they have their own focus."

"It was clear to us that not all teams would grow equally. Milan needs a year's break and in other cases you have to part ways if it doesn't work out", says the Commissioner.

ELF Commissioner Patrick Esume. ©Tom von Below

Step on the way to further progress

Esume is looking forward to the league's fifth season. "There will certainly be new match-ups that have never been seen before. I'm really looking forward to it because it will make the league even more exciting."

The downsizing of the number of teams also plays a role in this. Esume sees this as an opportunity: "We didn't expand further last year, but stayed at 17, and are now going down to 16. We are sharpening our profile. This is the right way to go."

Furthermore, the exact number of 16 teams gives the match planners very good options: "This will make this league even more attractive. We owe that to the fans, our franchises and also to ourselves."

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