Arena Football is back!

[MK2V1GP]

Not much news about it. A few years ago, I was really into the AFL. I saw that the first games were this weekend after there was no season last year. BUT, this year brings MANY changes. There are new teams, teams from AFL 2 are now AFL teams. Very weird if you ever were into the "old" AFL from a few years ago.

South Division:
Alabama Vipers
Jacksonville Sharks
Tampa Bay Storm (longest tenured AFL franchise, 1987)
Orlando Predators (2nd longest tenured)

Southwest:
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
Dallas Vigilantes (not the Desperados anymore)
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (has to be the dumbest sports name ever)
Tulsa Talons

Midwest:
Chicago Rush
Cleveland Gladiators
Iowa Barnstormers
Milwaukee Iron

West:
Arizona Rattlers (3rd longest tenured AFL franchise, 1991 I think)
Spokane Shock
Utah Blaze


I used to go to a few Dallas Desperados games in the past. And I have family who lives in Shreveport, so I used to go to a couple of Battle Wings games too, but that was back when they were in the AFL 2 league.

I really got into the AFL b/c it was a nice break since there was no NFL, and it was also a nice change from the NFL b/c of its high scoring and the showmanship allowed without penatlies was fun too. Fans also were allowed to get more into the games. We'll see how the AFL goes this time around, hopefully well.

I don't have a favorite team (used to be Grand Rapids Rampage). I like a few teams, so I'll say: Go Storm, Sharks and Battle Wings

[Skywalker]

don't understand the appeal

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

no philly soul?

[crisoner]

no San Jose Saber Cats?

[knickballer]

I think they should make the Arena league a minor league of some sort for the NFL. It would be interesting.

[MK2V1GP]

Originally Posted by crisoner

no San Jose Saber Cats?

That franchise, along with the Grand Rapids Rampage, are the main ones I'm shocked aren't still around. The Sabercats were perennial contenders and were always in the playoffs. Its a shame, but I heard if the AFL does well this season, that the Sabercats might come back next year.

Originally Posted by knickballer

I think they should make the Arena league a minor league of some sort for the NFL. It would be interesting.

I hope you were kidding. If you weren't, then that's crazy. The AFL is almost entirely different from the NFL. Different rules, different sized field, different strategies, and maaaaany more differences.

[MK2V1GP]

You can watch EVERY AFL game online for free, too. Just go to the arena football's official website and download the AFL player. Click on Live Feed and then download the NiftyTV AFL Live player. Its free and very fast.

[iggy>]

lmao the soul are done? theyre the defending champs

[phoenix18]

This is some lame ass shit. Where are the Columbus Destroyers?

[MK2V1GP]

Well, there is a reason some of the previous AFL franchises like the Soul, Destroyers, Rampage and Sabre Cats aren't currently playing.

The current incarnation of the Arena Football League is an arena football league founded in 2009 to replace the original AFL, which collapsed following THAT league's 2008 season. The league, originally launched as Arena Football 1, was formed with 16 teams: existing teams from the original AFL and arenafootball2, an existing team from the American Indoor Football Association, and several new teams or markets. Though the current league was founded separately from the original Arena Football League, the current AFL bought all the properties of its predecessor in a bankruptcy auction in December 2009, allowing it to brand itself as a continuation of its predecessor.

It's basically a whole new franchise being run by totally different people. The only reason its still called the AFL is b/c it bought all the original AFL's properties. Its still weird though, having former AFL teams mixed in with afl2 teams and new franchises.

[DirtBag]

Glad the Rattlers are back

[Posterize246]

wasn't aware it left