Tippeligaen is the top division for football in Norway. Its official Norwegian name is Tippeligaen after its sponsor Norsk Tipping, the national lottery and bookmaking service. It is also colloquially known as Eliteserien ("The Elite Series"), although the name has never been official.
Between 1963 and 1990 the name of the league was 1. divisjon ("1st Division"), a name that has later been used for the second level league from 1991. (In 2005 the second level league was officially named Adeccoligaen after its sponsor Adecco.) From the fall of 1948 to 1962 the top division was called Hovedserien ("The Main League"), and between 1937 and the summer of 1948, it was called Norgesserien ("The League of Norway").
There are 14 clubs in the Norwegian Premier League, half of which are placed in or near the Oslofjord area. The Norwegian league is destinguished for having two teams north of the Arctic Circle: Tromsø IL and Bodø/Glimt. The league will be expanded to 16 for the 2009 season as Odd Grenland, Start and Sandefjord will join the league to replace Ham Kam who finished bottom in 2008.
The winners of the Norwegian Premier League enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, while the second and third placed teams enter the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. The fourth placed team may also qualify, depending on what happens in the Norwegian Cup. Normally the winners of the Cup receive the final spot (entering the UEFA Cup in the first round proper). If the winners have already qualified for Europe, the spot is transferred to the losing finalist. If the cup champions and runners-up both finish in the top three of the league, the spot goes to the fourth placed team. The highest placed team that has not qualified for the UEFA Cup is allowed the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. The top four teams in Norway also qualify for the Scandinavian Royal League, although this was not played in 2007 due to a dispute over the TV money.
Lyn - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo - Capacity - 25,572 - 9,846 average in 2008. Also home to Valerenga IF. Easy to reach from the city centre on buses 23 or 24 plus metro lines 3, 4, 5 and 6. Lyn are currently managed by Henning Berg, and have won the league on 4 occasions, and reached the Quarter Finals of the Cup Winners Cup in the 1960's. Disappointing 9th place finish last season.
Vålerenga - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo - Capacity 25,572 - 15,104 average in 2008. Five times winners of the Premier Legaue, the last being in 2005. Last season they finished 7th in the league. They used to play at the Bislett Stadium which hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics.
Rosenborg - Lerkendal stadionm, Trondheim - Capacity 21,850 - 19,450 average in 2008. The most famous Norwegian team due to their domination of the national game in the 1990's and 2000's. Have appeared in the Champions League groups stages frequently, often holding their own against the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Brann - Brann stadion, Brann Bergen - Capacity 17,967 - 17,447 average in 2008. One of the best supported teams in Norway, their Brann Stadion is currently 3/4 way through a complete redevelopment. They won the championship last season and will be in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League this year.
Viking - Viking Stadion, Stavanger - Capacity 16,600 - 15,683 average in 2008. Another very well supported club since moving into their new stadium in 2005. Knocked Chelsea out of the UEFA Cup in 2002, and finished last season in 3rd place.
Fredrikstad Nye - Fredrikstad stadion, Fredrikstad - Capacity 12,800 - 11,314 average in 2008. The new stadium, opened in 2007 and located in the old shipyard in the centre of town is easy to reach. They have won nine league titles and were one of the most successful teams of the 1950's.
Lillestrøm - Åråsen stadion, Lillestrøm - Capacity 11,637 - 9,096 in 2008. Five times champions although it has been nearly 20 years since the trophy came home. However they did win the Norwegian Cup in 2007.
Molde - Aker Stadion, Molde - Capacity 11,167 - 8,151 average in 2008. Stunning stadium overlooking the pretty town and the Fjords. The club won the 1st division last year to gain promotion. Never won the League Champions - the closest was 2nd in 2005.
Aalesund - Color Line Stadion, Alesund - Capacity 10,778 - 10,569 average in 2008. One of the success stories in Norwegian football, having gone from averaging just over 1,000 to 11,000 in three years thanks to a new stadium and success on the field.
Strømsgodset - Marienlyst stadion, Drammen - Capacity 8,500 - 6,384 average in 2008. Promoted to the top flight at the start of this season. They have one single League Championship victory to their name in 1970.
Tromsø - Alfheim stadion, Tromsø - Capacity 8,159 - 5,439 average in 2008. One of the most northerly clubs in world, playing in the Artic Circle. They last won the Norwegian league in 1956 and since have a couple of cup wins to their name. Ticket prices start from 120 Norwegian Kroners.
Bodø/Glimt - Aspmyra stadion, Bodø - Capacity 7,659 - 5,607 average in 2008. League champions three times but probably best known for the huge yellow toothbrushes the supporters bring to matches - don' ask! Promoted via the play offs last season.
HamKam - Briskeby gressbane, Hamar - Capacity 7,500 - 4,018 average in 2008. Another newly promoted team and due to move to a new stadium in 2009 which will hold 10,000 although due to relegation it will be hosting 2nd division football. Never won the league, although they did finish 2nd in 1970.
Stabæk - Nadderud stadion, Bekkestua - Capacity 6,950 - 5,865 average in 2008. Finished in 2nd place in 2007 and then went one better to be champions last season and currently building a new completely roofed stadium, due to be ready in 2009 just in time for Champions League football
Lyn - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo - Capacity - 25,572 - 9,846 average in 2008. Also home to Valerenga IF. Easy to reach from the city centre on buses 23 or 24 plus metro lines 3, 4, 5 and 6. Lyn are currently managed by Henning Berg, and have won the league on 4 occasions, and reached the Quarter Finals of the Cup Winners Cup in the 1960's. Disappointing 9th place finish last season.
Vålerenga - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo - Capacity 25,572 - 15,104 average in 2008. Five times winners of the Premier Legaue, the last being in 2005. Last season they finished 7th in the league. They used to play at the Bislett Stadium which hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics.
Rosenborg - Lerkendal stadionm, Trondheim - Capacity 21,850 - 19,450 average in 2008. The most famous Norwegian team due to their domination of the national game in the 1990's and 2000's. Have appeared in the Champions League groups stages frequently, often holding their own against the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Brann - Brann stadion, Brann Bergen - Capacity 17,967 - 17,447 average in 2008. One of the best supported teams in Norway, their Brann Stadion is currently 3/4 way through a complete redevelopment. They won the championship last season and will be in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League this year.
Viking - Viking Stadion, Stavanger - Capacity 16,600 - 15,683 average in 2008. Another very well supported club since moving into their new stadium in 2005. Knocked Chelsea out of the UEFA Cup in 2002, and finished last season in 3rd place. 
Fredrikstad Nye - Fredrikstad stadion, Fredrikstad - Capacity 12,800 - 11,314 average in 2008. The new stadium, opened in 2007 and located in the old shipyard in the centre of town is easy to reach. They have won nine league titles and were one of the most successful teams of the 1950's.
Lillestrøm - Åråsen stadion, Lillestrøm - Capacity 11,637 - 9,096 in 2008. Five times champions although it has been nearly 20 years since the trophy came home. However they did win the Norwegian Cup in 2007. 
Molde - Aker Stadion, Molde - Capacity 11,167 - 8,151 average in 2008. Stunning stadium overlooking the pretty town and the Fjords. The club won the 1st division last year to gain promotion. Never won the League Champions - the closest was 2nd in 2005.
Aalesund - Color Line Stadion, Alesund - Capacity 10,778 - 10,569 average in 2008. One of the success stories in Norwegian football, having gone from averaging just over 1,000 to 11,000 in three years thanks to a new stadium and success on the field. 
Strømsgodset - Marienlyst stadion, Drammen - Capacity 8,500 - 6,384 average in 2008. Promoted to the top flight at the start of this season. They have one single League Championship victory to their name in 1970.
Tromsø - Alfheim stadion, Tromsø - Capacity 8,159 - 5,439 average in 2008. One of the most northerly clubs in world, playing in the Artic Circle. They last won the Norwegian league in 1956 and since have a couple of cup wins to their name. Ticket prices start from 120 Norwegian Kroners.
Odd Grenland - Skargerak Arena, Skien - Capacity 13,550 
Sandefjord - Komplette Arena, Sandefjord - Capacity: 9,000
IK Start - Sor Arena, Kristiansand - Capacity: 14,300 Capacity