The American 7s Football League (A7FL®), pioneering no-helmets, no-pads, full-contact tackle-football, today announced a key addition to the league’s advisory board: Ken Lehner, a sports industry veteran with an impressive array of experience in professional athletics. Lehner joins A7FL leadership with insight gained from a variety of notable positions with teams including the Florida Marlins, the Miami Dolphins, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“As an accomplished leader in sports branding, broadcasting, and marketing, Ken will be an invaluable resource for the A7FL,” said Ultimate Fighting Championship® Co-Founder David Isaacs, Head of the A7FL’s Advisory Board. “In the near term, he’ll help expand our relationships with Minor League Baseball teams and stadiums as we introduce our no helmets no pads game to a wider audience.”
Lehner has significant experience in Minor League Baseball, having recently served as President for the Atlantic League’s High Point Rockers and the Can-Am League’s Rockland Boulders. “We are extremely excited about our new connection with Ken,” said A7FL Co-Founder and CEO Sener Korkusuz, “His addition will make an immediate impact as the A7FL launches our 2020 season on April 19 and continues to expand across the country.”
Ken Lehner joins David Isaacs, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, in a key league advisory position. Lehner will serve as a resource for league leadership and primarily concentrate efforts on overall league expansion.
“I’m thrilled that Ken Lehner has joined our advisory team,” says A7FL Co-Founder and President Ryan DePaul, “His extensive background in all aspects of professional sports will help make our vision for the A7FL become a reality.”
Lehner became familiar with the league in 2017 while serving as president for the Rockland Boulders, when the A7FL held their championship game at Palisades Credit Union Park, the team’s home venue. “After watching the A7FL live, I was immediately hooked by the action, physicality and speed,” says Lehner, “I see the parallels between independent baseball and the A7FL, as both sports offer opportunities for players to grow and extend their careers on the diamond and on the gridiron. I want to be a part of that because I believe in change for the better. Sports will continue to evolve and as a result the A7FL is the future of football in America.”
About A7FL: The American 7s Football League (A7FL®) was created to make full-contact tackle football safer while retaining the toughness and excitement that fans love. A7FL teams compete 7-on-7 without helmets or hard-shell pads — significantly reducing concussions and other repetitive head impacts — while demonstrating amazing athleticism and creating countless viral video highlights. Founded in 2014 by CEO Sener Korkusuz and President Ryan DePaul, the league has grown to 20 teams and over 500K social media followers and recently added UFC® Co-Founder David Isaacs to its ranks. The A7FL can be seen on Eleven Sports, Facebook® Watch and Twitch. For more information, call 561-877-0992, email info@a7fl.com or visit www.A7FL.com.
