Chuck Hobbs, Author at The Italian Bowl

IFL KICKS OFF: THE SPECTACLE OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN ITALY!

Posted on February 14, 2025February 20, 2025 by Chuck Hobbs

The Italian Football League (IFL), Italy’s top-tier American football championship, will kick off tomorrow with plenty of new features and an exciting season ahead. Fans can enjoy free, live broadcasts of all Week 1 games on FIDAF TV, with the Game of the Week airing throughout the season in the United States on BCSN. The chase for the Italian title and championship ring begins, with the Parma Panthers looking to defend their crown.

Just a week after the NFL season wrapped up with Super Bowl LVIII and the Philadelphia Eagles crowned champions, American football fans in Italy can shift their attention to the teams and athletes hitting the field nationwide. The IFL, Italy’s “Serie A” of American football, is kicking off earlier than usual this year, returning to a 12-team format after several seasons.

Returning to the top division are the Lions Bergamo, a team with a rich history of championships in Italy. Meanwhile, the Aquile Ferrara and Pirates 1984 Albisola S. make their first-ever appearances in the league, while the Warriors Bologna secure their spot once again. The tournament format has also changed: teams are now split into two groups, playing home and away matchups for a total of 10 regular-season games per team.

Week 1 Schedule: A Weekend Packed with Action

The season begins this weekend, with all teams taking the field.

The action kicks off on Saturday afternoon as last season’s runners-up, the Guelfi Firenze, host the debuting Pirates 1984 Albisola S. at 3:00 PM CET. The game will be attended by FIDAF’s American partners from RGP Northwestern Ohio, which remains the league’s Title Sponsor this year.
Later that evening, at 6:00 PM CET, the Frogs Legnano will reignite the lights of Stadio Mari in Legnano, a historic venue for the team, as they face the Dolphins Ancona.

On Sunday, four matchups complete the first week:

At 2:00 PM CET, the Rhinos Milano will take on the Warriors Bologna at Vigorelli Stadium in Milan, while at the same time in Bergamo, the Lions will make their return to the top division against the defending champions, the Panthers Parma, in what promises to be an intense “feline” derby.
At 2:30 PM CET, the Skorpions Varese will make their home debut at Franco Ossola Stadium, testing the Aquile Ferrara in the Game of the Week.
Meanwhile, in Beinasco (Turin), also at 2:30 PM CET, the Giaguari Torino will battle the Lazio Marines.

A Season Full of Surprises and an Exciting Road to the Italian Bowl

With months of preparation behind the scenes, anticipation is high to see how teams stack up in a league that grows more competitive each year. Italian rosters feature many new faces, but also several returning stars, with the international player market still in motion.

The ultimate goal? The prestigious Italian Bowl #44, set for June 28 at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio. Preparations in Toledo are well underway, with exciting surprises in store for fans.

Where to Watch

In addition to attending games in person, fans can watch all Week 1 matchups live and free on FIDAF TV, the league’s official YouTube channel. This setup ensures that IFL fans worldwide—and the families of international players—can follow the action closely.
Details on DAZN broadcasts will be announced soon.

Lastly, the IFL will continue to enjoy major exposure in the U.S., as BCSN will broadcast the Game of the Week every week.

Official Week 1 Schedule:

Saturday, February 15

🏈 3:00 PM CET – Guelfi Firenze vs. Pirates 1984 Albisola S.
🏈 6:00 PM CET – Frogs Legnano vs. Dolphins Ancona

Sunday, February 16

🏈 2:00 PM CET – Rhinos Milano vs. Warriors Bologna
🏈 2:00 PM CET – Lions Bergamo vs. Panthers Parma
🏈 2:30 PM CET – Skorpions Varese vs. Aquile Ferrara (Game of the Week)
🏈 2:30 PM CET – Giaguari Torino vs. Lazio Marines

Stay Updated

📊 Live scores and streaming links available on the federation’s GAMEDAY web app: https://gameday.fidaf.org/
📢 For more details, visit the IFL website: https://1divisione.fidaf.org/
📍 Stadium locations and full season schedule: https://www.fidaf.org/campionati/giornate.asp?id=215

Per informazioni:

Barbara Allaria
Press & Communication Officer
0331-770343 / 338-6541305
press@fidaf.org

FIDAF – Italian Federation of American Football

c/o CONI – Palazzo H – Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15 00135 Rome (RM)
+39 06 3272 3221 | ufficiostampa@fidaf.org | http://www.fidaf.org

2025 Italian Bowl USA Press Conference

Posted on January 7, 2025January 21, 2025 by Chuck Hobbs

Watch the 2024 IFL Draft

Posted on November 21, 2024January 13, 2025 by Chuck Hobbs

IFL: A COMBINE AND DRAFT TO SEAL THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ROME CITY INSTITUTE

Posted on November 12, 2024November 12, 2024 by Chuck Hobbs

It was announced a year ago during a press conference, and now the partnership with Rome City Institute takes another leap forward with the direct involvement of its student-athletes in the Italian Football League (IFL), the top-tier Italian tackle football league. On November 15, a Combine will evaluate players, followed by a live-streamed Draft on November 22, during which the 12 IFL teams will select their preferred athletes in true American style.

On December 15 of last year, during a press conference at the prestigious College Life Italia – Rome City Institute headquarters at Link Campus University in Rome, the FIDAF revealed details of a partnership with the Roman institution of higher academic learning. The partnership aims to engage both Italian and American student-athletes in a program that combines top-level sports with education. The agreement is designed to create an educational program for international students who wish to study in Italy while also playing American football and/or flag football. It also aims to offer an alternative educational path for Italian student-athletes and to develop a strategy to promote and enhance visibility in the United States of FIDAF-organized activities in Italy.

From theory to practice, last weekend a team from Rome City Institute made its official debut in the Italian Flag Football Cup. In the next two weeks, two significant events will mark the start of the IFL season, Italy’s premier tackle football league. On November 15, starting at 12:00 PM at the Rome City Center on Via di Santa Maria Mediatrice in Rome, a Combine will be held in the presence of managers and coaches from the 12 IFL teams competing in the 2025 season. Selected American student-athletes from the Institute will participate. On November 22, a hybrid event in true American style (with live streaming) will host the Draft, following classic NFL rules: the last-ranked IFL team will pick first, with selections proceeding in reverse order of ranking. All selected athletes, trained in the American system, will be added to the IFL rosters alongside the three international players allowed by league regulations.

In the coming weeks, all participating players will be introduced on social media with dedicated profiles, and fans will be able to attend the Combine, which will take place according to the schedule and format to be announced.

“There is a lot of excitement within our Federation,” commented FIDAF President Leoluca Orlando. “We are all driven by a strong desire to continue growing and to offer our members opportunities that extend beyond playing sports. This partnership aligns with that mission, and the chance to interact with the academic world and organizations like College Life and Rome City Institute is highly motivating for all of us. We intend to make the most of this opportunity.”

“We are thrilled to take the field as a partner of the Italian Federation of American Football, a sport followed by millions of fans across Europe and the world, a discipline rooted in merit and tactical vision,” explains Stefano Radio, President of Rome City Institute and College Life Italia. “Our group shares the same values, enabling American student-athletes to experience Italy and compete with our sports federations, while also helping Italian students access American colleges. It’s a bridge connecting two continents with the philosophy of prioritizing young people and supporting cultural internationalization to reach broader sporting horizons.”

Per informazioni:
Barbara Allaria
Press & Communication Officer
0331-770343 / 338-6541305
press@fidaf.org

FIDAF – Italian Federation of American Football
c/o CONI – Palazzo H – Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15 00135 Rome (RM)
+39 06 3272 3221 | ufficiostampa@fidaf.org | http://www.fidaf.org

Italian Bowl XLIV is Coming Back to Toledo in 2025

Posted on September 30, 2024September 30, 2024 by Chuck Hobbs

Press Conference – Ravenna – June 27, 2024

Posted on June 13, 2024June 13, 2024 by Chuck Hobbs

PRESS CONFERENCE – RAVENNA, JUNE 27

On June 27th at 11:30 AM, a Press Conference will be held in the Sala Preconsiliare of the Municipality of Ravenna to present the finals of the Italian Senior Tackle Championships, all scheduled at the B. Benelli Stadium in Ravenna on the following dates:

XLIII ITALIAN BOWL – Saturday, June 29
XXIV NINE BOWL – Friday, July 5
XXX SILVER BOWL – Saturday, July 6

The conference will also be an opportunity to present the second Fidaf-IFL Business Forum, scheduled for Friday, June 28 in Bologna, under the patronage of the Municipality of Bologna, Unioncamere Emilia-Romagna, and the Chambers of Commerce of Bologna, Ferrara, and Ravenna, in collaboration with RGP Northwest Ohio.

Italian Bowl features (American) football, international cuisine and more

Posted on May 9, 2023June 3, 2024 by Chuck Hobbs

US Consulate Press Conference

Posted on April 24, 2023June 3, 2024 by Chuck Hobbs

XLII Italian Bowl is coming to Toledo!

Posted on April 19, 2023June 3, 2024 by Chuck Hobbs

The Italian Football League Championship Is Coming To America For The First Time

Posted on April 13, 2023June 3, 2024 by Chuck Hobbs

ATLANTA, GA – A historic event for Italian and European American football will take place this summer as the University of Toledo’s Glass Bowl Stadium will host the XLII Italian Bowl. The 42^nd installment of the Italian Football League (IFL) championship will be played in the United States for the first time ever on July 1, 2023.

“Taking the IFL final to Toledo in the United States, where the game originated, has the hallmarks of an epic adventure for Italian American football,” said FIDAF Deputy Vice President Fabio Tortosa. “We are grateful to have this extraordinary opportunity for growth as it will positively impact the entire Federation as well as the two teams in the final.”

The week leading up to the championship game will be packed with Italian-themed events, including the Taste of Italy Restaurant Week, Toledo Night Market and Festival, Youth Football Camps, and more. There will also be a Mayor’s Cup, featuring a football skills competition between several mayors in northwest Ohio and Michigan, including Toledo mayor, Wade Kapszukiewicz.

“The IFL final, and all that comes with it, will facilitate more exchanges and greater understanding between different cultures, further cooperation, and more positive interactions for thousands of people.” said Kapsukiewicz.

Award-winning sport marketing firm, The Aspire Group (Aspire), is managing all digital and social media marketing for the XLII Italian Bowl, defining, creating, and executing across all platforms. Aspire will also drive ticket sales through direct email marketing.

“Aspire is excited to help bring such an exciting event to Toledo.” said Aspire Strategy and Marketing Manager, Jake Martin. “Our company has strong ties to the University of Toledo, and we are eager to utilize our expertise in email and social media marketing to drive enthusiastic fans from around the world to this unique championship game.”

All tickets on sale now at theitalianbowlusa.com/tickets. Tickets start at just $15 for general admission and $30 for reserved seating at the University of Toledo’s Glass Bowl Stadium. Club level tickets, which offer premium indoor seating and a buffet, start at $50.

A limited number of private suites are also available. Please utilize the Visitor Interest form for all suite inquiries.

About The Aspire Group

The Aspire Group is an award winning sports and entertainment marketing firm, named as a top employer in the industry by both Forbes and Front Office Sports. Globally recognized for innovative consulting, ticket sales, and partnership services, Aspire created the outsourced ticket sales niche, revolutionizing with its first Fan Relationship Management Center (FRMC) at Georgia Tech in 2009. Over the past 15 years, more than 300 collegiate and professional sports properties have trusted Aspire to drive revenue, attendance, and enterprise-value growth through the combination of strategic consulting and research, sales and service training, and best-in-industry fan relationship management.