The Stuttgart Surge have been one of the league’s top title contenders the past few seasons, however they have fallen just short, losing the title game in 2023 and in the semifinals in2024. 

This year however, the ELF Championship will take place at MHP Arena near Stuttgart on September 7th, giving the surge a chance to write one of the best stories in league history rising from worst to first and potentially hoisting the trophy in front of their home fans. 

Pressure or Motivation?

Surge coach Jordan Neumann spoke at the ELF Championship press conference this week on the chance to be a team of destiny this season.

“I would think it's definitely motivation and not pressure, because as a football coach you always put the pressure on yourself. You want to get to the championship game? If it's in your own city, it's more of a motivation to actually accomplish something historic here in front of a very, very big backdrop at home.”

The Surge have been knocking at the championship door the last two seasons and hope to knock it down this September. Just three seasons ago, the team was winless, and now they are one of the favorites for the title this September.

“It would then be the first championship for Stuttgart's American football team for the time in European football. Of course that would be huge, that's motivation. I don't think it's pressure.”

Watch the ELF 2025 Championship Press Conference

Stuttgart the football town

The City of Stuttgart has begun to embrace American football and the ELF, they look forward to hosting tens of thousands of ELF fans this September. 

Rouven Kasper, the Director of Marketing and Sales for VfB Stuttgart, is thrilled to see the growth of American football in Stuttgart.

"I think the city of Stuttgart and our arena, has already shown several times that we can host major events as well as finals", says a delighted Kasper. The goal is clear to him, to express the city's enthusiasm for sport.

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