European League of Football announces Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena as location for 2023 Championship Game

| American Football | 11/25/2022

The European League of Football (ELF) has announced that the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena (MSV–Arena) in Duisburg, Germany, will host the third ELF Championship Game on September 24, 2023.

MSV Arena is currently home to the Rhein Fire who saw up to 12,000 fans in attendance towards the end of the season, dwarfing that of any other stadium in the league. After narrowly missing out on the playoffs last year, Head Coach Jim Tomsula has dominated this off-season and will be in good stead to make the Championship Game next season.

ELF’s Managing Director Zeljko Karajica was under no false pretense as to the decision for MSV Arena being named the 2023 location:

“With this, the place to be for all teams is fixed. We are pleased that we were able to provide clarity at an early stage and have the certainty that the next final will also take place in an outstanding setting. It is a beautiful stadium and offers the right infrastructure for a great football party, which we will celebrate with the fans around the Championship Game. The games of Rhein Fire, who are at home in Duisburg, have shown how great the enthusiasm is.”

The popularity of the ELF in North Rhine was made abundantly clear in early September with the Fire’s home game against the Frankfurt Galaxy which not only boasted record breaking attendance for a league game but also captured 6% of the German market television share.

This year, the ELF has grown to 18 teams with additions of teams in the Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Munich, Hungary, and Paris. This growth and inclusion of countries outside of Germany shows the desire for a higher level of football outside the pan-European league’s base.

However, the crowds remain the largest in Germany which the Fire showed this year, and after last year’s slightly bewildering choice of location for the final, ELF fans and investors will be licking their chops at the prospect of filling the 31,000-capacity stadium for what is now the biggest European football sporting event.

Daniel Mackenzie is a Press Association graduate who works in journalism and communications in the third sector. Daniel began playing football for the London Warriors and Team Great Britain and has since played across Europe.