After the ELF has already welcomed thousands of fans to its own Championship Games in the last three years, another highlight will follow in 2024: the final in the VELTINS Arena on Schalke.

ELF brings Europe's fan scene together

Just this September, the two best football teams in Europe met in Duisburg in front of 31,500 spectators, also shown live on ProSieben and other TV channels. While Rhein Fire, the team of former San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Tomsula, won the game in the end, the game had everything you could’ve wished for. Even before the game, thousands of fans gathered for tailgating, dressed in their favorite team-colors from all over Europe and the world.

Rhein Fire coach Jim Tomsula (rt.) with the trophy next to Pauline Kao, US Consul General. © Rhein Fire

More ELF teams are signing NFL coaches

While the Tirol Raiders from Austria were the next team to win over a former Super Bowl-winning coach in Jim Herrmann, a clear trend is emerging: more and more NFL coaches are supporting ELF teams in Europe. Munich Ravens also got down to business. Without further ado, Joe Thomas, Hall of Fame offensive lineman of the Cleveleand Browns, was made offensive line coach, bringing his whole family with him to Munich for next June. In coach Scherer, the Madrid Bravos made another former NFL coach their first head coach in franchise history.

Joe Thomas (lt.) and TV host Icke Dommisch (rt.) at the Munich Ravens. © ran Sport

Stepping stone for talents

On the one hand, Sandro Platzgummer, former New York Giants, and Moritz Böhringer, Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings draft pick, showed their skills in the last ELF season. On the other hand, two talented players made it across the Atlantic in their very first year in the ELF. Marcel Dabo (now Indianapolis Colts) and Adedayo Odeleye (now Houston Texans) earned spots on the practice squad of an NFL team. And the best is yet to come.

Sandro Platzgummer for the Giants and Raiders. © IMAGO ICON SPORTSWIRE / Svenja Sabatini

Who will be the Champion?

Which teams will come out on top in the Regular Season and in the playoffs is completely up in the air. In June next year, 17 franchises will try to earn a ring: Berlin Thunder, Cologne Centurions, Frankfurt Galaxy, Hamburg Sea Devils, Munich Ravens, Rhein Fire, Stuttgart Surge (all Germany), Barcelona Dragons, Madrid Bravos (both Spain), Fehérvár Enthroners (Hungary), Helvetic Guards (Switzerland), Milano Seamen (Italy), Wrocław Panthers (Poland), Paris Musketeers (France), Prague Lions (Czech Republic), Tirol Raiders and Vienna Vikings (both Austria).