Bristol Aztecs Secure Multi-Year Multiple Six-Figure Private Investment in the Organisation

The Bristol Aztecs, reigning National Champions and one of the most successful and recognisable teams in British American Football, have officially become a registered limited company — Bristol American Football Ltd — along with significant private investment, marking the beginning of a new era for the organisation and the sport in the UK.

Bristol Aztecs celebrate winning the 2025 Britbowl

This transformation introduces a formal ownership group consisting of Elliot Hoyte, Pete Jones, John Matthews, and Lydon Ward-Best, combining decades of experience across elite football, business leadership, and community development. The newly incorporated structure reflects a long-term commitment to professionalising operations, investing in growth, and creating a sustainable model that benefits the wider British game.

Elliot Hoyte, as Managing Director, is a former Bristol Aztecs Youth player who went on to play Top 25 NCAA Division I football at Boise State University, one of the most successful programs in college football history. After his football career, Elliot built a highly successful business career founding a marketing and real estate agency in the United States and is now re-investing his experience, resources, and leadership into the organisation that gave him his start.

“This is personal for me,” said Elliot Hoyte. “I started with the Aztecs Youth team, and that experience changed the trajectory of my life — it taught me resilience, accountability, and teamwork. My time at Boise State showed me how elite programs operate at every level — from culture and systems to marketing and fan engagement. Now I want to bring that standard home, not to separate ourselves from British football, but to help elevate it. It's about raising the standard for everyone. We want to show what’s possible when vision, investment, and accountability come together. Our goal isn’t just to win, but to build something that strengthens the sport across the country for generations to come.”

Adding to that shared vision, shareholder, Lydon Ward-Best, emphasised the broader purpose behind the investment.

“The potential in British American Football has always been high,” said Lydon Ward-Best. “It's really exciting to be part of a group of like-minded people that want to realise that. Football has changed my life, and having the opportunity to provide that same change for others is huge.”

Professional Standards, Grassroots Purpose

With the launch of Bristol American Football Ltd, the Aztecs and their subsidiaries are taking deliberate steps toward the goals outlined in their recently internally released document a “2028 Vivid Vision” — an articulated vision to establish the program as the benchmark for American football organisations in Europe. The plan emphasises sustainable commercialisation, world-class player experience, community engagement, and collaboration with other British teams to elevate the sport collectively.

The organisation’s leadership has also appointed Nigel Hoyte as Director of Operations, the program’s first-ever full-time role — a landmark step in British American Football. A BAFA inaugural class Hall of Famer and World Bowl champion with the London Monarchs, Nigel will oversee daily operations, project management, and major organisational initiatives across football, business, and community pillars.

“I’ve been involved in British football since its inception in the UK,” said Nigel Hoyte. “To see an organisation taking this level of structured, long-term approach is exciting for everyone who loves the game. What we’re building in Bristol is a model that offers other teams a blueprint for success and sustainability — and that’s good for the sport as a whole.”

Raising the Standard, Together

The Aztecs’ investment extends far beyond the field. Facility enhancements, expanded gameday experiences, youth development, and community programs are all being scaled under the new structure. The program’s leadership emphasises that success will be defined not only by results, but by the positive impact on the wider football community.

“Our off field focus is collaboration, not competition,” said Pete Jones, Head Coach of the Bristol Aztecs. “We want players and coaches from across the UK to see the Aztecs as a pathway to development — a place where people can grow, learn, and even take that experience to strengthen other programmes. If the sport grows, we all win. Our on field focus is to consistently deliver the best football team in the UK, and to challenge the current held view of UK American football across Europe by competing with the best football teams across the continent”.

John Matthews, General Manager, highlighted the organisation’s momentum and ambition following their national championship triumph.

“With this year's BritBowl win, the Bristol Aztecs made their mark in British American Football,” said John Matthews. “Now is the time for the organisation to push on. As a board, we are striving to take the Aztecs to the next level, and I’m proud and excited to be part of that board — to deliver the organisation’s vision and ambition.”

The Bristol Aztecs’ approach combines professionalism with community spirit, aiming to create a self-sustaining model that reinvests revenue into facilities, player experience, and long-term development. The organisation’s growth has already sparked interest from new sponsors, media partners, and players across Europe and the United States.

A Vision of Achievement by 2028

As part of their 2028 Vivid Vision, the Aztecs aim to:

• Deliver the premier gameday experience in British American Football, eclipsing European professional standards, and rival smaller NCAA programs.

• Expand community and youth initiatives that create clear pathways for players from grassroots to BUCS affiliated University programs and beyond.

• Continue building strategic partnerships, including with Dings Crusaders RFC and University of the West of England (“UWE”), to strengthen the city’s sporting ecosystem.

• Lead by example in governance, transparency, and collaboration across British football.

• Drive the commercialisation of the organisation and sport as a whole by building sustainable revenue streams through sponsorship, ticketing, and merchandise — ensuring self-sufficiency.

  
  

The Aztecs’ ambition is not to stand apart from the British game — but to stand for it.