Former NFLer Kurt Warner and actor Mark Wahlberg are the latest investors in the Elite Football League of India (EFLI). The league plans to make the announcement by tomorrow. The league begins play in November with eight teams, marking the first effort at bringing American football to the subcontinent. Mike Ditka and Ron Jaworski are among some of the early investors in the league. “I am extremely excited about the possibilities of the EFLI," Warner said in a statement. "I became a partner for two primary reasons. First, to expand the reach of what I believe is the greatest team sport in the world. Second, I believe the success of EFLI will present us with some amazing opportunities to impact their communities from a charitable perspective.”
While EFLI did not disclose how much the two new investors are putting in, $50,000 of Warner’s money will go toward the purchase and distribution of Warner Family footballs to schools and the underprivileged throughout India. Wahlberg in a statement said, “I hope to bring my family to India for the opening game and to witness this miracle that is the EFLI." They are investing in the league, not teams. The league hopes to auction the franchises if they are successful, similar to the model deployed by cricket's Indian Premier League.
