The 2023 ELF season was the third season of the European League of Football, a professional American football league based in Europe. Seventeen teams from nine countries participated. The season started on June 3, 2024, and concluded with the ELF Championship Game at Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena Duisburg, Germany on September 24, 2023. Rhein Fire won the title, beating Stuttgart Surge 53-34.
Format The teams are divided into three conferences of 5 or 6 teams. Each team plays 12 games during the regular season. The winner of each conference, as well as the next best 3 teams, regardless of conference, qualify for the playoffs.
Teams 11 of the 12 teams from the 2022 season are competing in 2023, and are joined by 6 new expansion teams: Fehérvár Enthroners, Helvetic Guards, Milano Seamen, Munich Ravens, Paris Musketeers and Prague Lions. The only team not returning for the new season is the Istanbul Rams.
The Leipzig Kings were removed from the league after week 6. This came after a two week saga, which included the Kings suggesting they will "most likely have to stop competing in the European League of Football" after their loan requested was denied by the league and cancelling the week 6 home match with Prague Lions. The Kings would later announce their withdrawal from the league on July 11, 2023. A day later the ELF announced that the Kings will be taken out of the league for the remainder of the 2023 season and their license to participate in the European League of Football was "withdrawn", but would like to accept the team back for the 2024 season, if a suitable new owners will be found.
TeamCityConferenceStadiumCapacityHead coachBarcelona Dragons Barcelona/TerrassaCentralEstadi Olímpic de Terrassa11,500 Gabriel SánchezBerlin Thunder BerlinEasternFriedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark19,708 Johnny SchmuckCologne Centurions CologneWesternSüdstadion11,748 Christos LambropoulosSportpark Höhenberg8,343Fehérvár Enthroners SzékesfehérvárEasternFirst Field3,500 Jaime HillFrankfurt Galaxy Frankfurt am MainWesternPSD Bank Arena12,542 Thomas KöslingHamburg Sea Devils HamburgWesternStadion Hoheluft11,000 Charles "Yogi" JonesVolksparkstadion57,000Helvetic Guards Zurich/WilCentralLidl Arena Wil6,048 Norm ChowMilano Seamen MilanCentralVelodromo Maspes-Vigorelli7,500 Stefan PokornyMunich Ravens Munich/UnterhachingCentralAlpenbauer Sportpark15,053 John ShoopLeipzig Kings LeipzigEasternBruno-Plache-Stadion12,321 John BookerPanthers Wrocław WrocławEasternStadion Olimpijski11,000 Dave ChristensenParis Musketeers ParisWesternStade Jean-Bouin20,000 Marc MattioliPrague Lions PragueEasternStadion FK Viktoria Žižkov5,037 Dan DischSportovní centrum Hostivař3,000Atletický stadion Slavia Praha3,000Raiders Tirol InnsbruckCentralTivoli Stadion Tirol16,008 Kevin HerronRhein Fire Düsseldorf/DuisburgWesternSchauinsland-Reisen-Arena31,514 Jim TomsulaStuttgart Surge StuttgartCentralGazi-Stadion auf der Waldau11,408 Jordan NeumanVienna Vikings ViennaEasternHohe Warte Stadium5,500 Chris CalaycayGenerali Arena17,500Football-Zentrum Ravelin1,200
Rosters Like last season, there is a limit of 4 non-European foreign players per roster, and two on the field at the same time. Players who are dual citizens of the U.S. and an EU-member country are not counted towards that limit in keeping with the Bosman ruling. There is also a limit of 6 European foreigners per roster, down from 8 the previous season. Brazilian players do not count towards the import quota. For the 2023 season, the active rosters consist of 53 players, the gameday rosters of 46 players, while the practice squad was increased to 12 players.
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Notes Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment SourceCologne Centurions Frank Roser Resigned September 7, 2022 Kahlil Carter October 11, 2022Barcelona Dragons Andrew Weidinger Mutual agreement Signed with Rhein Fire as OC September 13, 2022 Gabriel Sánchez September 15, 2022Panthers Wrocław Jakub Samel Resigned Stayed with team as sports director September 20, 2022 Dave Christensen November 18, 2022Leipzig Kings Fred Armstrong Fired September 21, 2022 John Booker September 28, 2022Cologne Centurions Kahlil Carter Resigned March 17, 2023 Christos Lambropoulos (interim) March 17, 2023Prague Lions Zach Harrod Resigned July 27, 2023 Dan Disch July 29, 2023
Regular season Schedule The schedule for the 2023 season was released on January 27, 2023 without any specific times and venues. In Week 10, all teams are on bye due to the 2023 European Championship of American football.
Week 1 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 3. June Eastern Berlin Thunder 36 – 3 Féhervár Enthroners First Field 1,800 Network4, More Than Sports TV Central Helvetic Guards 17 – 29 Barcelona Dragons Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa 1,428 Western Paris Musketeers 24 – 17 Cologne Centurions Südstadion 2,560 IC Hamburg Sea Devils 25 – 34 Panthers Wrocław Stadion Olimpijski 2,850 Polsat, ran.de Sun, 4. June Western Frankfurt Galaxy 9 – 33 Rhein Fire Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena 12,665 ProSieben Maxx 2.8% (P7 Maxx) Eastern Leipzig Kings 18 – 15 Prague Lions Stadion FK Viktoria Žižkov 1,347 O2 Central Raiders Tirol 59 – 38 Munich Ravens Alpenbauer Sportpark 6,283 ProSieben Maxx 2% (P7 Maxx) Bye Milano Seamen, Stuttgart Surge, Vienna Vikings
Week 2 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 10. June17:00/18:00 Central Barcelona Dragons 41 – 33 Milano Seamen Velodromo Maspes-Vigorelli 1,700 More Than Sports TV IC Stuttgart Surge 29 – 20 Paris Musketeers Stade Jean-Bouin 4,200 ran.de Frankfurt Galaxy 48 – 13 Féhervár Enthroners First Field 1,400 Network4 Cologne Centurions 23 – 14 Prague Lions Stadion FK Viktoria Žižkov 1,047 O2 Sun, 11. June13:00/16:25 Eastern Vienna Vikings 27 – 24 Berlin Thunder Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark 4,814 ProSieben Maxx Panthers Wrocław 31 – 6 Leipzig Kings Bruno-Plache-Stadion 2,148 Polsat Central Raiders Tirol 22 – 7 Helvetic Guards Lidl Arena Wil 2,300 Western Rhein Fire 27 – 22 Hamburg Sea Devils Volksparkstadion 32,500 ProSieben Maxx Bye Munich Ravens
Week 3 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 17. June/17:00, 18:00 Western Hamburg Sea Devils34 – 17 Cologne Centurions Sportpark Höhenberg 2,246 More Than Sports TV Central Barcelona Dragons13 – 29 Raiders Tirol Tivoli Stadion Tirol 4,285 Eastern Fehérvár Enthroners24 – 47 Leipzig Kings Bruno-Plache-Stadion 1,423 Network4, ran.de Prague Lions21 – 69 Vienna Vikings Generali Arena 6,854 O2 Sun, 18. June/13:00, 16:25 Western Paris Musketeers28 – 58 Rhein Fire Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena 7,271 ProSieben Maxx Central Milano Seamen26 – 40 Stuttgart Surge Gazi-Stadion auf der Waldau 3,112 ProSieben Maxx Munich Ravens 39 – 10 Helvetic Guards Lidl Arena Wil 2,050 Eastern Panthers Wrocław27 – 36 Berlin Thunder Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark 4,049 Polsat ByeFrankfurt Galaxy
Week 4 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 24. June/17:00, 18:00, 19:00 Western Paris Musketeers 13 – 30 Frankfurt Galaxy PSD Bank Arena 7,207 Central Munich Ravens 39 – 15 Barcelona Dragons Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa 1,128 ran.de Eastern Fehérvár Enthroners 33 – 63 Panthers Wrocław Stadion Olimpijski 2,350 Polsat, Network4, More Than Sports TV Leipzig Kings 14 – 47 Vienna Vikings Hohe Warte Stadium 3,493 Sun, 25. June/13:00, 16:25 Western Rhein Fire 42 – 0 Cologne Centurions Sportpark Höhenberg 4,460 Central Raiders Tirol 3 – 6 Stuttgart Surge Gazi-Stadion auf der Waldau 3,447 ProSieben Maxx Helvetic Guards 0 – 32 Milano Seamen Velodromo Maspes-Vigorelli 1,000 IC Berlin Thunder 17 – 37 Hamburg Sea Devils Stadion Hoheluft 3,872 ProSieben Maxx ByePrague Lions
Week 5 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 1. July/14:30, 16:00 Western Hamburg Sea Devils 23 – 27 Paris Musketeers Stade Jean-Bouin 3,256 ran.de Cologne Centurions 22 – 33 Frankfurt Galaxy PSD Bank Arena 5,833 IC Helvetic Guards 0 – 51 Rhein Fire Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena 8,113 Sun, 2. July/14:30, 16:25 Central Stuttgart Surge 28 – 9 Munich Ravens Alpenbauer Sportpark 5,184 ProSieben MAXX Milano Seamen 13 – 38 Raiders Tirol Tivoli Stadion Tirol 4,180 Eastern Vienna Vikings 41 – 12 Fehérvár Enthroners First Field 1,800 Network4+ Berlin Thunder 39 – 14 Leipzig Kings Bruno-Plache-Stadion 2,598 Prague Lions 23 – 29 Panthers Wrocław Stadion Olimpijski 2,400 PolSat Sport Bye Barcelona Dragons
Week 6 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 8. July/19:00 Eastern Prague Lions 35 – 0 Leipzig Kings canceled IC Frankfurt Galaxy 40 – 33 Milano Seamen Velodromo Maspes-Vigorelli 1,500 ran.de Sun, 9. July/13:00, 16:25 Central Barcelona Dragons 19 – 22 (2OT) Helvetic Guards Lidl Arena 1,750 Eastern Fehérvár Enthroners 6 – 60 Berlin Thunder Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark 3,978 Network4 IC Panthers Wrocław 10 – 17 Hamburg Sea Devils Stadion Hoheluft 3,140 ProSieben Maxx,Polsat Sport 4.1% (P7 Maxx) Vienna Vikings 34 – 13 Raiders Tirol Tivoli Stadion Tirol 4,375 Paris Musketeers 6 – 14 Stuttgart Surge Gazi-Stadion auf der Waldau 4,001 Munich Ravens 25 – 39 Rhein Fire Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena 7,562 ProSieben Maxx ByeCologne Centurions
Week 7 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 15. July/18:00, 19:00 Central Raiders Tirol 17 – 3 Barcelona Dragons Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa 1,158 Eastern Panthers Wrocław 21 – 24 Vienna Vikings Hohe Warte Stadium 3,937 Polsat Sport IC Leipzig Kings 16 – 16 Cologne Centurions canceled Sun, 16. July Western Hamburg Sea Devils 14 – 17 Frankfurt Galaxy PSD Bank Arena 6,500 P7 Maxx Rhein Fire 37 – 25 Paris Musketeers Stade Jean-Bouin 4,500 Central Stuttgart Surge 13 – 31 Helvetic Guards Lidl Arena 2,000 TV24 Milano Seamen 37 – 56 Munich Ravens Alpenbauer Sportpark 4,028 P7 Maxx Eastern Berlin Thunder 43 – 6 Prague Lions Stadion FK Viktoria Žižkov 970 O2 TV ByeFehérvár Enthroners
Week 8 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 22. July/18:00 Central Munich Ravens 24 – 25 Raiders Tirol Alpenbauer Sportpark 3,447 ran.de Eastern Berlin Thunder 9 – 16 Vienna Vikings Hohe Warte Stadium 4,325 Sun, 23. July/13:00, 16:25 Western Frankfurt Galaxy 23 – 21 Paris Musketeers Stade Jean-Bouin 4,000 Cologne Centurions 3 – 62 Rhein Fire Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena 10,056 ProSieben Maxx Central Barcelona Dragons 14 – 33 Stuttgart Surge Gazi-Stadion auf der Waldau 4,174 ProSieben Maxx Milano Seamen 24 – 31 Helvetic Guards Lidl Arena 2,400 Eastern Leipzig Kings 6 – 31 Panthers Wrocław canceled Prague Lions 0 – 35 Fehérvár Enthroners canceledByeHamburg Sea Devils
Week 9 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref Sat, 29. July Central Stuttgart Surge 78 – 27 Milano Seamen Velodromo Maspes-Vigorelli 1,200 ran.de Eastern Panthers Wrocław73 – 13 Prague Lions Sportovní centrum Hostivař 370 O2, Polsat Sport IC Paris Musketeers37 – 6 Barcelona Dragons Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa 1,543 Sun, 30. July Western Cologne Centurions 14 – 18 Hamburg Sea Devils Stadion Hoheluft 3,200 ProSieben MAXX Central Helvetic Guards 6 – 35 Munich Ravens Alpenbauer Sportparkerhaching 4,345 TV24 Eastern Vienna Vikings 47 – 14 Leipzig Kings canceled IC Fehérvár Enthroners 0 – 46 Frankfurt Galaxy PSD Bank Arena 5,113 ProSieben MAXX, Network4 Bye Rhein Fire, Raiders Tirol, Berlin Thunder
Week 10 Date/Time (CEST) Conf. Away team Result Home team Venue Attendance Free TV Ref5./6. AugustAll teams on bye
Week 11