ECNL JOINS FORCES WITH PIONEERING WOMEN’S FOOTBALL COMPANY, ATA FOOTBALL, TO INCREASE ACCESS TO GAMES IN SUPPORT OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
RICHMOND, VA and MIAMI, FL (July 15, 2021) – The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), the premier youth soccer league in the United States, and Atalanta Media, a women’s football company dedicated to building a global consumer hub, announced today a partnership for the 2021-2022 season. The ECNL is the first youth partner for Ata Football.
This new partnership supports a shared mission to unite, inspire and engage the next generation of female players worldwide. The announcement follows Ata Football’s first successful season facilitating unprecedented premium broadcast distribution and coverage of the Barclays FA WSL, Division 1 Arkema, and the Flyeralarm Frauen-Bundesliga.
“This partnership with The ECNL, the premier youth league in the country, aligns with Ata Football’s mission to motivate the next generation of players by providing them with incredible player development opportunities to learn from the best in the world,” said Esmeralda Negron, Ata Football Co-Founder and GM. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with the ECNL this coming season and can’t wait to bring more offerings and exciting new features to our community.”
This historic partnership will support both Ata Football and ECNL focus to create joint initiatives that offer unique, player-centered programming and youth development tools for players in the US and globally. Ata Football and the ECNL will offer exclusive viewing and engagement opportunities to galvanize younger generations to watch and learn from the world’s best.
“We are excited to partner with Ata Football for the 2021-2022 season,” commented Jen Winnagle, ECNL Girls Commissioner. “The ECNL was founded to fill a void in female youth soccer and raise standards of quality and experience in the game. More than a dozen years later, ECNL Girls has transformed American youth female soccer, while also having an incredible impact on collegiate and professional women’s soccer in the United States as well. Ata Football is forging a similar path for broadcasting female professional soccer, and this relationship supports our efforts to promote the best in female soccer. With Ata, our players will now be able to watch the best women’s players in multiple leagues across the world, including many that will be ECNL alumni.”
The partnership will involve a series of collaborations including on-site event support with Ata Football lounges at ECNL national events, Ata subscriptions for coaches, discounts for players, as well as player and alumni engagement opportunities throughout the year. Select ECNL Girls National events will also be broadcasted on Ata platforms.
In its effort to unlock value for fans and young players this summer, Ata Football launched its Virtual Events, giving young players, coaches and fans free on-demand access to immersive interviews with elite players. This Friday, July 16, fans can enjoy access to Ata Football’s second event, featuring Olympique Lyonnais superstar, Eugenie Le Sommer, currently on loan with OL Reign in the NWSL.
Coming Soon on Ata Football:
Virtual Events:
- Available on-demand: FC Barcelona captain, Vicky Losada, reveals her extraordinary time with Barca, their dominant season and UWCL win.
- Available Friday, July 16: Tune in to Eugenie Le Sommer to discuss her season with Lyon and her latest move to the NWSL with OL Reign. Also available on-demand at https://www.atafootball.com
Player Challenges:
- Starting Monday, July 19th: Ata and Techne will launch their exclusive six-week virtual skills challenge available for free to registrants on https://www.atafootball.com
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About Ata Football:
Ata Football launched the new home for women’s soccer, Ata Football, one year ago with the radical mission to put the women’s game center stage. Led by former professional player and sports marketer Esmeralda Negron and ex-Sky executive Hannah Brown, Ata Football is shifting media rights distribution and building community through a global consumer hub, www.atafootball.com. Today, Ata Football provides unprecedented access to the best in women’s football for fans, broadcasters, sponsors, and publishers alike – creating a virtuous cycle of investment that enables women’s football to shine its brightest. For more information, visit www.atafootball.com.
About the ECNL:
The ECNL is the nation’s leading youth soccer development platform. The ECNL respects and celebrates the unique individuality of every youth soccer player and club, supporting and enabling them to unleash their unfettered passion and fierce tenacity in striving to achieve their potential.
The ECNL mission to Raise the Game is a total commitment to create the best possible environment for players, coaches, referees and administrators, with a determination to constantly question convention and challenge the status quo in youth sports.
The ECNL is driven by their commitment:
We will lead, set our eyes on new horizons, and pursue them relentlessly. Born out of the belief in a better way. Continued in the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence.
Girls FB: /ECNLGirls | Girls IG: @ECNLGirls | Girls TW: @theECNL