The LDFL Partners with DFI
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 8, 2021) -- Two of the most respected American football developmental organizations sent shockwaves through the sport today with the announcement of a Southern California joint-venture partnership for the 2022 season – which both sides believe is an ‘audition’ for even bigger things to come.
Palm Springs-based Developmental Football International (DFI) has partnered with the LaBelle Developmental Football League (LDFL) – California’s long-respected and oldest league, with teams set for play in San Diego, Los Angeles, Downey, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, and greater Palm Springs.
DFI is the nation’s first turn-key American developmental football franchise platform. The DFI model fosters self-sufficient teams and wide-spread community impact through its award-winning character education programs, quality-assurance processes, and performance-driven criteria.
For communities, investors, sponsors and advertisers, the landmark DFI-LDFL arrangement is a breath of fresh air – and may well represent the future of this level of the sport.
No other American developmental football platform delivers the processes, protocols and policies as the DFI-LDFL relationship, which replicates the successful business models of established developmental club and pro soccer such as the United Soccer League (USL).
Terms were not disclosed. Nationally, both DFI and the LDFL have been participants in the Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) since 2019.
Officials from both leagues expressed the joint-venture will instantly increase franchise values and demand for its selected 2022 participating teams.
“This partnership strengthens opportunities across the football landscape for our developing players, coaches and executives – and improves communities everywhere we play football throughout Southern California,” said LDFL president Tony Reid.
The two leagues represent two of the most popular, successful, and iconic brands and franchises.
In 2014, NFL executives named the six-time champion SoCal Coyotes ‘America’s #1 Developmental Pro Football Program.’ In 2021, the Coyotes were named ‘California Nonprofit of the Year’ by State Senator Melissa Melendez.
The success of the nine-time champion Inglewood Blackhawks – and former national champions – spans two decades.
The teams are 4-4 in head-to-head play, 1-1 in championship games.
“The consolidation of American developmental football, with the standards and success that is now the norm that pro soccer currently enjoys, must remain the goal of any teams or leagues who expect to be taken seriously by a national fanbase, or national sponsors,” said J David Miller, chairman of Coachella Sports & Entertainment Stadium Authority.
DFI is owned and operated by Coachella Sports & Entertainment Stadium Authority (CSESA), which is currently in development of The Shield at 1 Coyote Way, a $400M, multi-purpose sports, medical and entertainment campus in Cathedral City, Calif.
The Shield will be the first stadium of its kind for American developmental football.
-DFI SVP Ron DiGrandi (ron@CSEStadiumAuthority.com)
-LDFL SVP John Colca (john@ldflfootball.com)
