Prague Lions kick off new season with fan-focused game day experiences

In a country where football typically means a round ball and a fierce devotion to clubs like Slavia and Sparta, the Prague Lions are working to carve out space for a very different kind of game.

As summer approaches, the city’s premier American football team is kicking off a new season—not only with on-field ambition, but also with the promise of music, drinks, food, and family-friendly fan zones aimed squarely at Czech fans and the city’s international community.

Part of the expanding European League of Football (ELF), the Lions will host six of their 12 games this season at the Viktoria Žižkov stadium, a short walk from Prague’s main train station. The first match is set for May 18, and the season runs through Aug. 17.

At a pre-season press conference earlier this week, team owner Mason Parker laid out the game plan for summer 2025. “We’ll have a pre-game party before every match,” he told Expats.cz. “It’ll be very family friendly, with music, drinks, food, face paint, and so on.”

Parker, an American investor who took over the Lions in 2023 and has pumped money into the club following its financial difficulties, also announced a free-to-enter pre-game fan zone that starts at 11 a.m. With games not starting until around mid- to late afternoon, those who come will have several hours to enjoy the warm weather and soak up the sun before watching the main event.

Parker added: “The games also don’t take as long as they do in the U.S.—they last about 2.5 hours. It’s a nice way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.” He also noted the Lions’ price point will be low, at around CZK 400 for an adult, further encouraging people to visit. 

The Lions, which joined the ELF in 2023, have seen seismic growth since their 1991 inception, and have big hopes for the future. Hoping to sell out their games at the Viktoria Žižkov stadium, Parker tells Expats.cz that playing at other stadiums isn’t out of the question.

The overall quality of American football in Czechia has increased since Parker’s arrival in Czechia, he tells us. “Future increased integration between the ELF and America’s National Football League (NFL) should increase the league’s profile and revenue,” Parker said at the press conference. 

A new partnership with the Czech Association of American Football (ČAAF) also bodes well for the club’s future growth. “Partnering with ČAAF is very significant. Our goal is not only to represent Czechia in the European arena, but also to play our part in supporting and growing American Football here at home—helping young athletes, coaches, and fans become part of a larger and more successful Czech football family,” Parker said.

The Lions’ recent acquisition of football coach Dave Warner, who has over three decades of experience coaching in the U.S., as well as Pat Ruel (who similarly holds over 35 years of experience in college and NFL football) puts the Lions in good stead for a strong performance this season.

Darqueze Dennard, a former NFL cornerback, adds to the team’s list of big names. “Bringing in coach Warner and the rest of this world-class staff marks a major milestone for the Lions,” Parker said.

Indeed, it is the team’s international makeup that strikes a chord with expats and foreigners in Prague. Offensive lineman Ben Burghes, who is from the UK and recently joined the Lions, told Expats.cz: “The work that Mason and the team have done on and off the field has put us in the best position to succeed. With the addition of the new coaches, I have no doubts that this will be a special year for Czech football.”

Louis Burghes, also a British offensive lineman, told us: “Mason and Coach Warner have established a winning culture that all the players and staff have bought into.”

Speaking with Expats.cz, Warner said the Lions would be recruiting for the 2026 season with a Scouting Combine (a type of trial), which the club had also held in December last year. 

As he summarized: “I’m happy that we can continue promoting American football in Czechia. A big part is on us to produce a good product out on the field. We’ll gain momentum and get more people interested—that’s all it takes.”