The Calanda Broncos are an American football team from Landquart, Switzerland. The club, formed in 1991 as the Landquart Broncos, changed its name in late 2008 after the Calanda mountain to show the club's desire to represent a larger region of Graubünden then just the community of Landquart.[1] With the move to the stadium in nearby Chur the club was also able to draw larger crowds for its home matches.[2] The club is the best-supported American football club in Switzerland.[3]
The club plays at the highest level of American football in Switzerland, the Nationalliga A, and has won the national championship game, the Swiss Bowl, on eleven occasions, last in 2021.
The club was formed as the Landquart Broncos in 1991.[3] Originally, the club opted for the name Grison Broncos, Grison being the English name for Graubünden, but this was vetoed by the Swiss American Football Association.[1] After a slow start with 13 consecutive defeats the Broncos won their first game in 1993, followed by promotion to the Nationalliga A, the highest level of American football in Switzerland.[3]
The Broncos took another three seasons to make their first Swiss Bowl appearance, narrowly losing 14–13 to the Seaside Vipers St. Gallen in 1998. The team faced St. Gallen once more in the Swiss Bowl in 1999 but again lost, this time 16–7. The club came close to financial collapse after this, dropping down to the second tier but making a quick return to Nationalliga A by 2002.[3]
The 2003 season saw the club narrowly reach the play-offs with a 5–4 regional season record. In the semi finals of the play-offs the Broncos then defeated the defending champions Zurich Renegades 29–28, followed by a narrow 2-point Swiss Bowl victory over the Basel Gladiators.[3][4] What followed was another drop to Nationalliga B after the 2005 season, caused mainly by the loss of quality players. The Broncos played at this level for two seasons before returning to the top level for 2008.[3]
Unbeaten Streak Begins
Back at Nationalliga A in 2008, the Broncos made another Swiss Bowl appearance, losing 52–27 to the Zurich Renegades. It was to be the club's last game as Landquard Broncos, being renamed Calanda Broncos shortly after. With the new name the Broncos became much more successful, becoming the first club in Switzerland to win five consecutive Swiss Bowls, from 2009 to 2013. In the 2009 Swiss Bowl, the Broncos defeated the Zurich Renegades 35–23 while the following four finals were won against the Basel Gladiators on each occasion. The 2013 final was the closest of those four encounters, with the Broncos winning 46–41.[4] The dominance of the Broncos since 2009 manifests itself in the fact that the club has not lost a league or play-off game in Switzerland since 14 June 2009, when the Bern Grizzlies beat the Broncos 24–21 at Bern in the regular season. From that point, the Broncos went unbeaten in the Swiss league over the next four seasons. [3]
Eurobowl Champions
Apart from national league success the club also became the first ever Swiss side to win the EFAF Cup in 2010, and the European championship Eurobowl, when the Broncos defeated favorite from the Austrian Football League, the Vienna Vikings 27–14 in the 2012 final.[5]
In 2014, the club took part in a new European competition, the BIG6 European Football League, which consisted of three teams from Germany, two from Austria and one from Switzerland, the clubs being Berlin Adler, New Yorker Lions, Dresden Monarchs, Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna, Swarco Raiders Tirol and the Calanda Broncos. The two best teams of this competition advanced to the Eurobowl XXVIII.[6]
League Unbeaten Streak Ends
Calandas unbeaten run in Switzerland, ended on 21 April 2014 when the team lost to the Bern Grizzlies. The Grizzlies were also the last team to beat the Broncos before the streak began in June 2009. The club finished second in the 2014 Swiss league regular season but lost the Swiss Bowl to the Basel Gladiators.
The Broncos embarked on a new philosophy in 2015, reducing its reliance on import foreign players and focusing more on building on local players. Most of the league predicted a steep fall, but the Broncos surprised everyone in 2015 going 11-1 and dominating the Bern Grizzlies in the Swiss Bowl, 49-21.
The 2016 season saw another very strong season, as the Broncos scheduled two international friendly games on top of the Swiss season. The Broncos travelled to Poland to take on the Wroclaw Panthers, losing 35-27. The Panthers went on to win the Polish championship and the IFAF-Europe Champions League. Calanda also hosted GFL-playoff team Allgäu Comets, losing a 24–14 game that was tied at halftime. The Broncos again posted a 9-1 regular season in the Swiss League and reached the Swiss Bowl for a rematch with the Bern Grizzlies. The Grizzlies forced a last-minute turnover and won 42-35.
Return to Dominance
2017 saw a return to dominance as the Broncos continued to watch adult rookie players and young players developed in the youth program fill in their roster. The Broncos opened the season with a pre-season game against the GFL's Stuttgart Scorpions, leading 20–3 at halftime en route to a 26–24 victory. From there, the Broncos posted their 3rd straight 9–1 regular season and reached another Swiss Bowl. This time, the Basel Gladiators were the opponent, but it was no contest as the Broncos steamrolled Basel to win the Swiss Bowl 42–6. This Swiss Bowl was special as it was played in the Broncos home stadium of Ringstrasse for the 1st time since 1999. It marked the 8th Swiss Championship in club history, most of any team in Switzerland. The Broncos have also won the Swiss Champion title in 2018. 2019 and 2021 for a total of 11 times as league champion.
Won SF: Bern Grizzlies (42–0) Won SB: Zurich Renegades (35–23)
2010
1st
20–0
1.000
10
10
0
0
265
74
Won SF: Bern Grizzlies (30–7) Won SB: Basel Gladiators (49–7)
2011
1st
20–0
1.000
10
10
0
0
438
140
Won SF: Bern Grizzlies (43–6) Won SB: Basel Gladiators (65–33)
2012
1st
16–0
1.000
8
8
0
0
445
87
Won SF: Bern Grizzlies (50–0) Won SB: Basel Gladiators (56–14)
2013
1st
20–0
1.000
10
10
0
0
490
150
Won SF: Winterthur Warriors (54–7) Won SB: Basel Gladiators (46–41)
2014
2nd
16–4
0.800
10
8
0
2
394
211
Won SF: Bern Grizzlies (65–37) Lost SB: Basel Gladiators (35–47)
2015
1st
18–2
0.900
10
9
0
1
419
180
Won SF: Winterthur Warriors (45–6) Won SB: Bern Grizzlies (49–21)
2016
1st
18–2
0.900
10
9
0
1
442
262
Won SF: Winterthur Warriors (52–21) Lost SB: Bern Grizzlies
2017
1st
18–2
0.900
10
9
0
1
376
168
Won SF: Winterthur Warriors (49–15) Won SB: Basel Gladiators (42–6)
2018
1st
20–0
1.000
10
10
0
0
423
105
Won SF: Winterthur Warriors (55–6) Won SB: Geneva Seahwaks (44–12)
SF = Semi finals.
SB = Swiss Bowl.
References
^ abVon den Landquart Broncos zu den Calanda Broncos 2016-06-05 at the Wayback Machine(in German) football.sport-heute.ch, published: 14 December 2008, accessed: 5 December 2013
^The Game Is American, but the View, Alpine The New York Times, published: 14 April 2012, accessed: 6 December 2013
^ abcdefgTeam Vorstellung Calanda Broncos 2013-12-12 at the Wayback Machine(in German) Swiss Bowl website - Team history, accessed: 6 December 2013
^ abSchweiz - Swiss Bowl (in German) www.football-history.de: Swiss Bowls 1986 to present, accessed: 5 December 2013
^Broncos holen Europacup ins Calanda-Land (in German)Neue Zürcher Zeitung, published: 17 July 2010, accessed: 5 December 2013
^BIG6 European Football League starts 2014 www.eurobowl.com, published: 20 November 2013, accessed: 5 December 2013
^Nationalliga A 2008 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 5 December 2013
^Nationalliga A 2009 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 5 December 2013
^Nationalliga A 2010 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 5 December 2013
^Nationalliga A 2011 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 5 December 2013
^Nationalliga A 2012 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 5 December 2013
^Nationalliga A 2013 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 5 December 2013
External links
Official website (in German)
Football History (in German) Historic American football tables from Germany and Europe
January 31, 2023
calanda, broncos, american, football, team, from, landquart, switzerland, club, formed, 1991, landquart, broncos, changed, name, late, 2008, after, calanda, mountain, show, club, desire, represent, larger, region, graubünden, then, just, community, landquart, . The Calanda Broncos are an American football team from Landquart Switzerland The club formed in 1991 as the Landquart Broncos changed its name in late 2008 after the Calanda mountain to show the club s desire to represent a larger region of Graubunden then just the community of Landquart 1 With the move to the stadium in nearby Chur the club was also able to draw larger crowds for its home matches 2 The club is the best supported American football club in Switzerland 3 Calanda BroncosFounded1991LeagueNationalliga ATeam historyLandquart Broncos 1991 2008 Calanda Broncos 2009 present Based inLandquart SwitzerlandStadiumRingstrasse ChurColorsRed Blue and White ChampionshipsEurobowl 2012 EFAF Cup 2010 Swiss Bowl 2003 2009 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021Websitewww calandabroncos chThe club plays at the highest level of American football in Switzerland the Nationalliga A and has won the national championship game the Swiss Bowl on eleven occasions last in 2021 Contents 1 History 2 Unbeaten Streak Begins 3 Eurobowl Champions 4 League Unbeaten Streak Ends 5 Return to Dominance 6 Honours 7 Recent seasons 8 References 9 External linksHistory EditThe club was formed as the Landquart Broncos in 1991 3 Originally the club opted for the name Grison Broncos Grison being the English name for Graubunden but this was vetoed by the Swiss American Football Association 1 After a slow start with 13 consecutive defeats the Broncos won their first game in 1993 followed by promotion to the Nationalliga A the highest level of American football in Switzerland 3 The Broncos took another three seasons to make their first Swiss Bowl appearance narrowly losing 14 13 to the Seaside Vipers St Gallen in 1998 The team faced St Gallen once more in the Swiss Bowl in 1999 but again lost this time 16 7 The club came close to financial collapse after this dropping down to the second tier but making a quick return to Nationalliga A by 2002 3 The 2003 season saw the club narrowly reach the play offs with a 5 4 regional season record In the semi finals of the play offs the Broncos then defeated the defending champions Zurich Renegades 29 28 followed by a narrow 2 point Swiss Bowl victory over the Basel Gladiators 3 4 What followed was another drop to Nationalliga B after the 2005 season caused mainly by the loss of quality players The Broncos played at this level for two seasons before returning to the top level for 2008 3 Unbeaten Streak Begins EditBack at Nationalliga A in 2008 the Broncos made another Swiss Bowl appearance losing 52 27 to the Zurich Renegades It was to be the club s last game as Landquard Broncos being renamed Calanda Broncos shortly after With the new name the Broncos became much more successful becoming the first club in Switzerland to win five consecutive Swiss Bowls from 2009 to 2013 In the 2009 Swiss Bowl the Broncos defeated the Zurich Renegades 35 23 while the following four finals were won against the Basel Gladiators on each occasion The 2013 final was the closest of those four encounters with the Broncos winning 46 41 4 The dominance of the Broncos since 2009 manifests itself in the fact that the club has not lost a league or play off game in Switzerland since 14 June 2009 when the Bern Grizzlies beat the Broncos 24 21 at Bern in the regular season From that point the Broncos went unbeaten in the Swiss league over the next four seasons 3 Eurobowl Champions EditApart from national league success the club also became the first ever Swiss side to win the EFAF Cup in 2010 and the European championship Eurobowl when the Broncos defeated favorite from the Austrian Football League the Vienna Vikings 27 14 in the 2012 final 5 In 2014 the club took part in a new European competition the BIG6 European Football League which consisted of three teams from Germany two from Austria and one from Switzerland the clubs being Berlin Adler New Yorker Lions Dresden Monarchs Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna Swarco Raiders Tirol and the Calanda Broncos The two best teams of this competition advanced to the Eurobowl XXVIII 6 League Unbeaten Streak Ends EditCalandas unbeaten run in Switzerland ended on 21 April 2014 when the team lost to the Bern Grizzlies The Grizzlies were also the last team to beat the Broncos before the streak began in June 2009 The club finished second in the 2014 Swiss league regular season but lost the Swiss Bowl to the Basel Gladiators The Broncos embarked on a new philosophy in 2015 reducing its reliance on import foreign players and focusing more on building on local players Most of the league predicted a steep fall but the Broncos surprised everyone in 2015 going 11 1 and dominating the Bern Grizzlies in the Swiss Bowl 49 21 The 2016 season saw another very strong season as the Broncos scheduled two international friendly games on top of the Swiss season The Broncos travelled to Poland to take on the Wroclaw Panthers losing 35 27 The Panthers went on to win the Polish championship and the IFAF Europe Champions League Calanda also hosted GFL playoff team Allgau Comets losing a 24 14 game that was tied at halftime The Broncos again posted a 9 1 regular season in the Swiss League and reached the Swiss Bowl for a rematch with the Bern Grizzlies The Grizzlies forced a last minute turnover and won 42 35 Return to Dominance Edit2017 saw a return to dominance as the Broncos continued to watch adult rookie players and young players developed in the youth program fill in their roster The Broncos opened the season with a pre season game against the GFL s Stuttgart Scorpions leading 20 3 at halftime en route to a 26 24 victory From there the Broncos posted their 3rd straight 9 1 regular season and reached another Swiss Bowl This time the Basel Gladiators were the opponent but it was no contest as the Broncos steamrolled Basel to win the Swiss Bowl 42 6 This Swiss Bowl was special as it was played in the Broncos home stadium of Ringstrasse for the 1st time since 1999 It marked the 8th Swiss Championship in club history most of any team in Switzerland The Broncos have also won the Swiss Champion title in 2018 2019 and 2021 for a total of 11 times as league champion Honours EditEurobowl Champions 2012 EFAF Cup Champions 2010 Swiss Bowl Champions 11 2003 2009 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 Runners up 5 1998 1999 2008 2014 2016Recent seasons EditRecent seasons of the club 7 8 9 10 11 12 Year Division Finish Points Pct Games W D L PF PA Postseason2008 Nationalliga A 2nd 12 4 0 750 8 6 0 2 176 133 Lost SB Zurich Renegades 27 52 2009 1st 12 4 0 750 8 6 0 2 324 155 Won SF Bern Grizzlies 42 0 Won SB Zurich Renegades 35 23 2010 1st 20 0 1 000 10 10 0 0 265 74 Won SF Bern Grizzlies 30 7 Won SB Basel Gladiators 49 7 2011 1st 20 0 1 000 10 10 0 0 438 140 Won SF Bern Grizzlies 43 6 Won SB Basel Gladiators 65 33 2012 1st 16 0 1 000 8 8 0 0 445 87 Won SF Bern Grizzlies 50 0 Won SB Basel Gladiators 56 14 2013 1st 20 0 1 000 10 10 0 0 490 150 Won SF Winterthur Warriors 54 7 Won SB Basel Gladiators 46 41 2014 2nd 16 4 0 800 10 8 0 2 394 211 Won SF Bern Grizzlies 65 37 Lost SB Basel Gladiators 35 47 2015 1st 18 2 0 900 10 9 0 1 419 180 Won SF Winterthur Warriors 45 6 Won SB Bern Grizzlies 49 21 2016 1st 18 2 0 900 10 9 0 1 442 262 Won SF Winterthur Warriors 52 21 Lost SB Bern Grizzlies2017 1st 18 2 0 900 10 9 0 1 376 168 Won SF Winterthur Warriors 49 15 Won SB Basel Gladiators 42 6 2018 1st 20 0 1 000 10 10 0 0 423 105 Won SF Winterthur Warriors 55 6 Won SB Geneva Seahwaks 44 12 SF Semi finals SB Swiss Bowl References Edit a b Von den Landquart Broncos zu den Calanda Broncos Archived 2016 06 05 at the Wayback Machine in German football sport heute ch published 14 December 2008 accessed 5 December 2013 The Game Is American but the View Alpine The New York Times published 14 April 2012 accessed 6 December 2013 a b c d e f g Team Vorstellung Calanda Broncos Archived 2013 12 12 at the Wayback Machine in German Swiss Bowl website Team history accessed 6 December 2013 a b Schweiz Swiss Bowl in German www football history de Swiss Bowls 1986 to present accessed 5 December 2013 Broncos holen Europacup ins Calanda Land in German Neue Zurcher Zeitung published 17 July 2010 accessed 5 December 2013 BIG6 European Football League starts 2014 www eurobowl com published 20 November 2013 accessed 5 December 2013 Nationalliga A 2008 www football aktuell de accessed 5 December 2013 Nationalliga A 2009 www football aktuell de accessed 5 December 2013 Nationalliga A 2010 www football aktuell de accessed 5 December 2013 Nationalliga A 2011 www football aktuell de accessed 5 December 2013 Nationalliga A 2012 www football aktuell de accessed 5 December 2013 Nationalliga A 2013 www football aktuell de accessed 5 December 2013External links EditOfficial website in German Football History in German Historic American football tables from Germany and Europe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Calanda Broncos amp oldid 1136612662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
