Stuttgart celebrates the American Football for a weekend: Surge and the Vienna Vikings play for the championship title, the Fantastischen Four in the Halftime Show.
The team’s tension and anticipation are noticeable, also for coach Jordan Neuman: “We are all very excited.” Because on Sunday, September 7th, his Stuttgart Surge will meet the Vienna Vikings in the MHP-Arena. On the Waldau – in addition to the actual home venue of the Swabians – he wants to give his boys the finishing touches.
Stuttgart Surge in training before the Championship Game
The final of the eleven
The Championship Game is the grand finale of the European League of Football (Elf). With eight teams, the eleven started for the first time in 2021. Stuttgart Surge was there from the start, but it wasn’t enough for a title. Last year they lost the final clearly against Düsseldorf Rhein Fire. Last year they also failed against the Düsseldorfers in the playoffs. The Vienna Vikings were able to gain a foothold in the league in 2022 – with great success. The Viennese were able to bring the title directly home. They were stopped by the surf in the semi -finals next season. The current season was almost perfect for the two finalists. The Vienna Vikings moved into the grand finale with just one defeat. But the Stuttgarters could also shine with twelve wins and only two defeats.
Lasse Engel: “Of course the expectations are extremely high”
In the MHP-Arena, the Stuttgarters hope for the home advantage against a large backdrop-so far, more than 30,000 cards have been sold. “The joy is incredibly great,” says defensive player Lasse Engel. The 27-year-old grew up in Stuttgart and comes to an interview in the VfB shirt. The championship game in the living room of VfB Stuttgart is special for him: “If I had been told 15 years ago that you could play American football in the stadium at some point. Nobody would have bought it. It is really indescribable.” When taking the second final participation in Stuttgart, the trophy should now remain in the country. “The pressure is definitely high,” says Engel. “I think we ourselves take the highest expectations.”
The strength of the surge
Lasse Engel describes Stuttgart Surge as a family. The close friendships in the team are a special feature compared to the country of origin of the American football: “Everything is more commercial in the USA. We play more out of passion and love for sport and you can definitely see that from the team feeling.”
Coach Jordan Neuman also emphasizes this culture and the close relationship as the strengths of his team. The American native took over the team in 2023. At the beginning of the 2000, he himself played as a quarterback on college in the USA. He was able to observe and help shape the development of the German and European football as a long head coach of the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns. “The talent on the field rises,” he says, which is particularly noticeable by the increasing number of spectators.
Stuttgart celebrate football
However, the football hype in Stuttgart is not new. As early as the 1990s, several Euro Bowl finals took place in the MHP Arena. The program for the fans will start on Saturday, with a Family Experience Day on the site of the Mercedes-Benz Museum on Saturday. On Sunday, from 10 a.m., the organizer promises a “power party” with music and stage program. Kick-off of the championship game is at 3 p.m. The Fantastic Vier bravers the halftime show. Tickets for the football event are currently still available online.
Prize on Sunday, 7.9.2025 7:45 p.m., SWR Aktuell Baden-Württemberg, SWR BW
