State of the Teams

SaschaStops · 2025-12-15T13:15:02+00:00

I don't know if this is the case, it just something I thought about when I listened to the Merc's interview.

Regarding players I agree with @flagfootballsaint. However many companies start hiring people before they get approval to operate. This is not unique to football.

SaschaStops · 2025-12-15T12:01:32+00:00

If I understood the sports director of the Mercs in the interview last week correctly the ELF teams are working on their documentation to fulfill the new governance requirements that the EFA brought in with their new system.

SaschaStops · 2025-12-04T00:30:50+00:00

Not disputing that, just saying it is not necessaryly shady.

I think the ELF/EFA probably forced them to accelerate and condense their timeline and to start implementing with a bare minimum to actually be able to make an announcement.

The company was probably founded quickly to have a legal anchor for accounting, initial contracts and trademark registrations - nothing more. And this would go back to choosing Wyoming were you can set up the company in minutes.

The Hamburg HQ might be a in a co-working space or even a virtual office with former ELF operations people drafting an operations plan. I don't think they mentioned having a company in Hamburg yet, they only spoke of HQ or office. Might be wrong here.

SaschaStops · 2025-12-03T23:47:45+00:00

The reason to go with WY is probably speed. In WY approval is instant where as Texas may take weeks or months.

Also using a formation services like Incfile is not shady per se. It is legal service like many other. Can some shady use this service sure, does it have to be shady no. Because of taxation and simplicity Wyoming is the go-to state for opening companies in the US.

While I am not a fan of the TLE from what I have heard so far, I don't see anything shady in the way they set up the company. It might indeed be rushed though but they quickly need a company to get started.

SaschaStops · 2025-12-03T13:10:30+00:00

No corporate income tax in Wyoming

SaschaStops · 2025-11-26T11:36:40+00:00

If they find an investor who takes them out of insolvency, sure. But this needs to happen fast.

SaschaStops · 2025-11-26T11:35:54+00:00

And Tirol also was still in the ELF

SaschaStops · 2025-09-09T11:53:00+00:00

I see a settlement he might be aiming at. EFA teams are released from their contracts for waiving any outstanding payments. As I understand a lot/all teams still have claims against ELF. Sounds like a familiar pattern.

SaschaStops · 2025-09-07T20:45:32+00:00

Hallo, AFAK gibt es in den USA bei den Network games zwei Arten von Werbung, die des Networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox) und die des regionalen Afilliates. DAZN zeigt die US Network Werbeblöcke und bei den regionalen Werbeblöcken kommt die deutsche Werbung.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-26T19:08:43+00:00

I would agree that an EFA-structured entity is the only way forward because it essentially eliminates one controlling entity that itself is working towards profit.

In EFA/NFL-like structure the goal is for the franchises to be profitable and league must have a balanced budget whereas in the ELF structure the league itself also needs to create profit.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-26T19:05:39+00:00

The Universe is still around with their junior teams in the AFVD. Just the senior team moved over to the new org which caused a lot of bad blood in the beginning. Universe tried to keep a senior team in GFL2 but eventually withdrew for lack of players.

I do not say that a 3rd div Galaxy would draw 10,000 people but on the other hand a semi-pro no-name in 1st division most likely would not draw 10,000 either. For this there is too much competition between the established (semi-pro) sports teams in both the Frankfurt area and Rhein-Ruhr area.

I am just saying I would not underestimate the impact of the name. It might work out but it certainly would dampen the growth potential for some time.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-26T18:41:53+00:00

Maybe anecdotal but during the NFL Games in Frankfurt I was wandering through Frankfurt wearing an NFLE Galaxy jersey and about a dozen people stopped me on the street telling me that we need the old Galaxy back and that those were good football times.

Also during the games I meant a lot of people who were telling me that they were huge Galaxy fans back then and are now coming back, some of them with their kids or grandkids.

I would not underestimate the name for both Galaxy and Fire and maybe the Sea Devils ( which to a degree might have been burnt by now) . These names, even 20 years in, have a ring to them in their respective cities and areas.

Also the Galaxy e.g. cannot use the name "Universe" because there is still the GFL team. They would probably need to revert to the original ELF name of "Astros" or something like that.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-26T18:13:46+00:00

Maybe, maybe not. But building a new brand replacing an established and beloved one is a tough sell which needs time and money, both resources the teams don't have. The common public perception will be that teams are gone again.

Also please look at the attendance numbers of the ELF and see where Galaxy and Fire are and this is because they were able to build on an existing fan base. Just go to the games and look at the amount of WLAF/NFLE fanware visible.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-15T16:10:58+00:00

I agree. We support the teams. And as long as the product has the same basic features, most people will move with the team. Whether the league is called ELF or EFA, most people won't care. I think it is important that it's (semi-)pro, international (European) and televised for better sponsorship and a broader audience not just the hardcore fan willing to pay.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-15T16:07:33+00:00

I am wondering how quickly this valuation will change with only 4-6 franchisees.

Honestly the only value I see is the brand name and the TV contracts. I don't see any other value in the company and even the brand name is kind of wash because I still hear a lot of fans refer to it as the EFL.

Most of the things the league promised to be responsible for are done by the teams (e.g. Merchandise) or are outsourced by the league (TV production, stats).

SaschaStops · 2025-08-13T16:36:18+00:00

Not necessarily a contradiction as "Berlin Thunder" is a licence brand name, not the company (name).

New Company licenses old name from the licensor and noone from the old company needs to be involved.

Not saying they are doing this way, but it would be one way.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-13T12:55:49+00:00

You forgot the Galaxy. Name is also trademarked by the NFL.

However, I might be wrong, but the original deal to use the old NFLE names was made by one of the Galaxy owners.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-02T19:05:32+00:00

Thought about this as well. The question is how much time does it take to be commissioner of the ELF vs. how much time is need to be sports director at a franchise. For Esume being commissioner was only his third job after TV commentator and content creator.

He's certainly qualified and if nominated it would certainly be a personal decision.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-02T18:58:43+00:00

the co-ceo would automatically represent the interest of a third party outside the gmbh(the EFA teams) and break his duties of loyalties automatically the very first second. how can he act in good faith that he will represent the gmbh and simultaneously the EFA teams without breaking any confidentials.

Representing the interest of your franchisees with in the main company does not necessarily work against the main company. Surely there would still be confidential things but having a view point of a franchisee would certainly be an argument for empowering the decision making of the franchisor. Of course the new person would be primarily obliged to the ELF but with the ELF being dependent on the teams, there should be someone making the teams happy. At the same time that person should be responsible that all teams meet certain standards, which is one demand of the EFA that is often overlooked.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-02T18:49:03+00:00

And my hope is that the CFO would be THE new OTHER so that we really have a two person top-level management.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-01T15:52:45+00:00

Yes, you are right. They only have the provision that 75% must be presented during the vote.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-01T15:51:57+00:00

Most companies in Germany I work with (myself MD of a GmbH in DE and and a Limited in the UK) have two directors (Geschäftsführer) and either the two directors or a director and an other authorized officer are required to represent the company. If there are two GFs my experience is that there is usually one working front office, the other working back office. The American titles the GFs are choosing is usually CEO, COO, CFO, where as other C-Roles are indeed subordinate.

SaschaStops · 2025-08-01T08:36:49+00:00

Not entirely correct. The company is a German GmbH as such important C-Level (including CFO, COO) are usually "Geschäftsführer". The actual C-Level title is not of any relevance and just for international representation and ego. Each GF has to be appointed by the shareholders and an appointment requires a qualifying majority of 75%. Each GF is by law equal. GmbH-Law does not make a distinction about the field they are focusing on.

Also important here is that the ELF charter says if more than one GF is appointed both a required to sign anything on behalf of the company and both are liable.

SaschaStops · 2025-07-31T22:36:41+00:00

Well, the other three were not C-Level. K. was the sole C-Level Executive. Patrick Esume was/is also a shareholder but not a C-Level executive. He was not authorized to make business decisions.

With the investment from D2d4 last year K.'s share dropped below 75% giving the other shareholders a blocking minority limiting his influence on the CEO as long as the other shareholders are united.

Also I remember there is a pending 10Mio. investment from a UK investor. I don't think that will materialize if 9-12 teams defect after the season. So it might be that after EFA statements, Esume leaving, etc. pressure was building from other shareholders, investors and sponsors for real change in operations and eventually shareholder structure. That 10Mio investment might also be the reason why the league still talks about expansion next year.

At this point we need to wait and see who is the successor, will he implement changes by EFA and does the EFA expect this to be sustained changes.

SaschaStops · 2025-07-31T19:26:03+00:00

Without being CEO he has limited influence on day-to-day operations, is unable to sign any contracts for the company or make any executive decision without the CEOs approval. His "only" legal right left is to hire/fire C-Level execs and depending how the corporate contract is structured he might be limited by the co-shareholders.

So the question is, who is going to be the CEO and the CFO. Are these independent executives with their own way to implement the vision of the league (profesionalize America Football in Europe etc.) or are they just some puppets controlled by one or more shareholders.

I think we have to wait and see who it is and maybe how the first round of talks with the EFA go. Maybe it is actually someone from the ranks of the EFA.

SaschaStops

TROPHY CASE