The Austrian Football League, AFL, has announced a six team format for the 2021 season, down from eight in 2019.
Due to the pandemic, the 2020 season consisted of a simple best-of-five series between the Dacia Vienna Vikings and Projekt Spielberg Graz Giants which Vienna won 3-0.
The 2021 season will be slightly shorter commencing March 27 and finishing with the Austrian Bowl on July 31.
Along with the Dacia Vienna Vikings, the Projekt Spielberg Graz Giants, Swarco Raiders Tirol, SsangYong Dragons, Mödling Rangers and Prague Black Panthers will compete in Austria’s top division in the coming season. The Atrium Steelsharks Traun and the Cineplexx Blue Devils from Hohenems, bot of whom played in the AFL in 2019, will compete in the 12 team Division 1 this year.
The full schedule has not yet been announced
The top division will expand to 10 teams for 2022. According to the Austrian American Football Federation, AFBÖ, this expansion in Austria’s top division is another important step to help the development of American football and the domestic leagues. The aim is to strengthen the league in the long term and to make promotion from the lower leagues up to the AFL attractive.
Game Days planned for safety
Game Days will be scheduled in such a way as to offer alternative options for postponements and also for ensuring that game-day operations will be as safe as possible. The plan is for COVID-19 tests to be carried out regularly. The COVID-19 situation makes it difficult to be more specific and as a result, the AFBÖ and the teams cannot provide more information about details such as the number of spectators allowed.
Austrian Bowl XXXVI take place again in the NV Arena in St. Pölten in 2021.
AFBÖ President Michael Eschlböck:
“The plan to increase the Austrian Football League to ten teams has been pushed forward in AFBÖ for some time and in constant dialogue with the teams. It is all the more gratifying that it will be a season in 2022. This step is extremely important for the development of the Austrian Football League. This applies both to the competition and to the marketing of the league. But first we are looking forward to the coming season, which is sure to have one or two surprises to offer. We are definitely well prepared and look forward to Spring with confidence. “