The CoFL was in Milwaukee this week.

Wednesday afternoon at the Ambassador Hotel, Milwaukee Pro Football made it official — a Continental Football League team is coming to Milwaukee in 2027, the ownership group stood in front of the city and its media, and a community ballot opened to let Milwaukee itself pick the team name and preferred venue.

And after Milwaukee, the 2027 build isn't slowing down. The League Office is already on the road again.

2027 Expansion · From The Podium

Milwaukee Pro Football Is Official. Ahmed Hollowell Leads.

The Ambassador Hotel press conference, the ownership group, the community ballot, and the December 25 unveil.

CEO Manny Matsakis at the Ambassador Hotel podium in Milwaukee

From the podium.

Milwaukee · Sept. 16, 2026

CEO Manny Matsakis at the Ambassador Hotel podium alongside the Milwaukee Pro Football ownership group.

Wednesday afternoon inside the historic Ambassador Hotel on West Wisconsin Avenue, the podium held the CoFL's Founder & CEO Manny Matsakis alongside Ahmed Hollowell, Team President of Milwaukee Pro Football; Ameer Hollowell, the club's Founder and Chief Operating Officer; and community representative Makayla Butler. Milwaukee media was in the room, including TMJ4. The message was simple: Milwaukee has its team.

The Ownership Group

Ahmed Hollowell

Team President

Milwaukee Pro Football

Milwaukee Pro Football is the Hollowell family's football project for their city, built on a three-part structure — the team itself, a Milwaukee Football Development Corp. parent leading business development, and a Milwaukee Football Community Association handling public-facing priorities distinct from team sales and football operations. Ahmed leads the team as President. Ameer, his son, is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer. It is exactly the kind of family-anchored, community-project ownership the CoFL was built to work with.

“Milwaukee is a football town. Always has been. This is a city that shows up for the Bucks in the winter and the Brewers in the summer — and that shows up for the game of football at every level, in every neighborhood, all year long. The Continental Football League belongs in a city like this, and Milwaukee Pro Football is exactly the kind of ownership group we built the CoFL to work with.”

— Manny Matsakis, Founder & CEO, Continental Football League

“Plenty of people have sons, grandkids and friends who have performed at a high level. They leave Milwaukee and they don't come back because there is opportunity for them to participate at that level here. This team brings back local ties, it gives every football athlete at least an opportunity to be seen and heard. It's a community project.”

— Ameer Hollowell, Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Milwaukee Pro Football

Milwaukee Picks Its Team

Two decisions. One community.

Team Name

Community ballot open now. Every participant submits one original team-name idea.

Home Venue

Fans pick a preferred venue from four Milwaukee-area candidates:

American Family Field · Milwaukee Mile · Hart Park · Veterans Park

All venue options remain subject to availability, safety, cost, and required approvals.

Identity Unveil

Christmas Day, December 25, 2026.

The 2027 launch calendar.

Wed. Sept. 16, 2026

Team announced in Milwaukee ✓

Thu. Dec. 25, 2026

Team identity unveil — Christmas Day

Sun. Jan. 10, 2027

Player tryouts (tentative)

May – July 2027

Inaugural CoFL season — pilot slate of three home games

In the press: Milwaukee's announcement was covered by Urban Milwaukee, with reporter Lauren Hafeman on the story the day of the press conference.

Visit Milwaukee Pro Football →

2027 Expansion · Pipeline

After Milwaukee, the CEO Is Already on the Road.

The 2027 build doesn't stop for a press conference.

North

With Milwaukee, the North Division is set at three for 2027 — Indianapolis Capitols, Cincinnati Dukes, and Milwaukee Pro Football. As CEO, I am in active conversations with two separate ownership groups — one in Chicago, one in Detroit — to identify the best fourth Northern market and complete the North side of the 2027 map.

South

The South Division is coming together on its own timeline. Two additional markets are in vetting right now. Standard CoFL discipline applies — written commitments, deposits, and standards compliance before any market is announced. More when the work is done.

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