2024_Arena_Football_League_season

2024 Arena Football League season

2024 Arena Football League season

Sports season


The 2024 Arena Football League season will be the 33rd in the history of the Arena Football League (AFL) and the first season as the rebooted version of the league, after it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the end of the 2019 season.

Quick Facts League, Sport ...
Firebirds
Firebirds
Soul
Soul
Myth
Myth
Kats
Kats
VooDoo
VooDoo
Predators
Predators
Desert Hawks
Desert Hawks
Force
Force
Liberty
Liberty
Storm
Storm
Regulators
Regulators
Rampage
Rampage
Outlaws
Outlaws
Wolfpack
Wolfpack
Marshals
Marshals
Blackbears
Blackbears
East, South, Central, West

Background

A year after its second shutdown, the Arena Football League trademarks and logo were bought out by Darren Arbet in 2020. Arbet is a former San Jose SaberCats head coach and was the head coach of the Indoor Football League's Bay Area Panthers. The trademark remained inactive until 2022, when a new website was set up.[1] The website was first noticed on December 12, 2022.[2] Two days later, a tweet from the league account was posted under a post from Tim Capper about the death of John Gregory (head coach of the Iowa Barnstormers), reading "Our thoughts and prayers have gone out to John's family." This tweet was later deleted, along with all the other tweets the Arena Football League Twitter account had up to that point. The new management assumed control of the Instagram account on around December 27 and deleted all posts on around January 6, and then took control of the Facebook account on January 16. On January 16, 2023, after a month of the first tweet, the Twitter account posted a picture of the league’s 2003-18 logo, with the caption #NewProfilePic.[3]

On February 1, 2023, the Arena Football League confirmed the rumors and announced its plans to return in 2024, over a year after the rights to the league were purchased by an investment group called F1 Sports & Entertainment.[4] The relaunched league, led by chairman Chris Chetty, president Anthony Rossi, president of operations Shan Singh, and commissioner Lee A. Hutton III, will feature 16 teams playing a 10-game season over the course of the summer months, followed by a postseason format that has yet to be determined. The league returned its logo to the one used from 2003 to 2018. The new iteration of the league will feature "streaming, betting, technology, (and) virtual reality" elements, per Rossi.

In a February 2023 interview with ArenaFan.com, the commissioner revealed that there had been discussions with potential ownership groups in New Orleans to relaunch the New Orleans VooDoo.[5] In an April interview, he revealed that they were looking to put teams in Philadelphia, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Jacksonville, while they also received offers to put a team in Mexico City.[6]

Teams

On July 18, 2023, TMZ Sports initially reported that the AFL had selected the following cities that would be receiving new teams: Austin, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Bakersfield, California; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; St. Paul, Minnesota; Lake Charles, Louisiana; Cincinnati, Ohio; Orlando, Florida; Salem, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; St. Louis, Missouri; Tallahassee, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Everett, Washington; and Odessa, Texas. [7] The league made the statement official on their Twitter page. Managers of Cincinnati's main indoor arena, the Heritage Bank Center, refuted the report, stating they had rejected the AFL's advances,[8] while the two college/university-owned arenas in the city both said they had not been approached and also would not be open to hosting the league.[9] Representatives with Lake Charles stated that their conversations with the league were still in preliminary phases (having advanced only to the point of informing the league what days their arena was available), and that although they were open to hosting the league, "it’s closer to not being true than being true at this time."[10] The city of Salem was also unaware of the AFL having discussions for placing a team in the city, but were open to hearing more about their plans.[11] In Everett, the manager of the city's only major arena, Angel of the Winds Arena, stated that he was only contacted by a potential ownership group several days after the announcement of teams. When reached for comment, Hutton stated he would only reveal information "on our time."[12] The league eventually secured an agreement with Angel of the Winds Arena in late September; the owners of the Everett franchise, led by the owner of the local semi-pro Everett Royals, noted that he had acquired the franchise after contacting the league after the announcement of cities in hopes of getting Royals players onto the squad, only to find that the league had not yet lined up an owner for the city's team at the time.[13]

On the same day as the TMZ report, the Orlando Predators and West Texas Warbirds (Odessa), who were both playing in the National Arena League, stated they were joining the new AFL, although the Warbirds later removed their Facebook post within the first week.[14][15] (The Warbirds later announced that they would be instead branding as the "Desert Hawks" for the 2024 season.[16]) In a statement to Philadelphia media, Hutton stated that the Philadelphia Soul was also expected to be revived, with Soul co-owner Ron Jaworski returning, if not as an owner then as a consultant.[17] Jaworski denied Hutton's claims.[18]

Among cities considered but ultimately not included, Atlantic City's financial terms were considered unrealistic,[17] Bossier City, Louisiana had too many schedule conflicts for 2024 but expressed interest in 2025,[19] while the Albany Empire expressed interest in returning, but was unable to accept because of the excessive cost of worker's compensation in the state.[20] (The worker's compensation issue was later resolved, and the league announced an Albany Firebirds franchise would join in 2024.) Neither Buffalo, nor Rochester, New York were considered, despite some interest from Bob Bartosiewicz, who previously owned the Rochester Raiders.[21]

In late 2023, three supposed expansion teams were announced as the "California Grizzlies", "Minnesota Myth", and "St. Louis Rampage". The teams were announced on their respective Instagram and X accounts.[22] [23] However, league commissioner Hutton released a statement regarding the addition of these new team names. He stated on his X account, "Any information that concerns the Arena Football League must be endorsed by me or our CEO otherwise it is not reliable. AFL team name announcements will be coming soon for all locations. It is an exciting time as we make our mark to be bigger and better."[24] The Rampage later admitted to being a hoax supported by fans of the St. Louis Battlehawks.[25] Defector Media traced the California Grizzlies to Tim Carbajal, who operates a semi-pro spring football team in the area. Carbajal confirmed the Grizzlies' existence—and confirmed that he, under an alias, had contacted Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield inquiring about using the facility—but otherwise stated he was not at liberty to discuss further details due to Hutton's gag order.[26] The Myth were later revealed as Hutton's own franchise, nominally owned by his wife Diana,[27] who is partner in the Hutton law firm with him.[28] Observers in Boise noticed that the owner of Idaho Central Arena had renewed the domain name for the Boise Burn, a former af2 franchise, weeks before the announcement, and that the AFL was not bringing on the Idaho Horsemen, who play in nearby Nampa.[29]

On August 29, 2023, the league officially announced that the Billings Outlaws, formerly of Champions Indoor Football, would be the inaugural members of the new version of the league.[30] On August 31, the West Texas Desert Hawks (formerly the Warbirds) were the second team confirmed.[31] The Orlando Predators were the third team announced on September 25; with the announcement of the Predators, the league announced its intent to instead have 20 teams in its 2024 season, as it planned on absorbing three additional teams from Champions Indoor Football.[32] On October 5, 2023, Hutton appeared with the owners of three remaining CIF teams—the ICT Regulators of the Wichita metropolitan area, Salina Liberty and Southwest Kansas Storm in Dodge City— and CIF commissioner Mike McCoy as they announced the remainder of that league was merging into the AFL, with McCoy being named AFL deputy commissioner three weeks later.[33]

On October 2, 2023, it was announced that the Albany Firebirds name will be brought back and to play in the AFL for 2024. On October 6, 2023, it was officially announced that the Orlando Predators, Billings Outlaws, Southwest Kansas Storm, Salina Liberty, Wichita Regulators, and an Everett AFL team were announced. On October 25, 2023, the Oregon Blackbears were officially announced as the league's newest team. The league announced revivals of the Nashville Kats, Philadelphia Soul and Chicago Rush on November 1.

On November 16, 2023, in the AFL relaunch event, Hutton revealed the 16 teams who will play in the 2024 season, while he mentioned the league might expand in the future to 24 teams. He also referred to the original list of cities and revealed that other "leagues and individuals" (none specified) were trying to cancel teams contracts with the arenas and participated in "anti-competitive practices" to try to disturb the league's progress, which caused a move to a different location.[34]

Announced locations for the upcoming 2024 AFL Season

Players

Players reported to training camp April 4, 2024. Each team carried 35-men rosters into training camp, while final roster cuts will take place on April 20, 2024, with regular season rosters set at 25 players.[42]

Partnerships

American 7s Football League (A7FL)

On January 16, 2024, the AFL announced a partnership with American 7s Football League (A7FL) for player development, as players can transfer between leagues, with the A7FL functioning as its de facto minor league. As part of the partnership, both leagues will collectively align on marketing efforts that "will elevate the visibility of leagues athletes".[43]

USA Football

In November 2023, the league announced a multi-year partnership with USA Football naming the AFL as an "official national team development & scouting partner", with the AFL helping USA Football recruiting players who want to represent the United States in international competition.[44]

Season structure

Regular season

The league will be split into two conferences and four, four-team divisions (East,[45] Central,[46] South[47] and West[48]) and will consist of a 10-week schedule, with games played on Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.[49] Teams will play six of the ten games within their own division plus four games outside their division.

The 2024 season will begin on April 27, 2024, following the 2024 NFL draft, with a game between the Orlando Predators and the Albany Firebirds.[50] The league also planned a Spanish broadcast game on Cinco de Mayo between the Philadelphia Soul and the Minnesota Myth and a 518th Infantry Regiment benefit game on May 18 between the Nashville Kats and the Georgia Force at the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville.[34]

Postseason

Playoff games will be played at neutral sites, which will host teams in the 2025 season. Division championships will be played at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV and ArenaBowl XXXIII will be played at the Target Center in Minneapolis.[34]

Standings

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Season schedule

Regular season

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Postseason

Attendance

Announced attendance figures for each home game. In the weekly columns, dashes (—) indicate away games, while bold font indicates the highest attendance of each team.

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Awards

League finances

In a February 2023 interview with ArenaFan.com, Hutton mentioned that the league would have a salary cap of $700,000, but the league will allow additional salary spending for "franchise players".[6]

Business partnerships

On July 18, 2023 the AFL announced a partnership with HUMBL, as the "Official Technology Platform of the AFL", through the 2028 season.[52] On February 28, 2024 the league signed "Official Partnership" deal with BSN Sports for official uniform and equipment.[53]

Media

On the AFL relaunch event Hutton declared that the league’s games "will be broadcast, streamed and will also be available in VR".[34] In March the NFL announced that NFL Network will carry 30 games of the 2024 AFL season (games will also be streamed on NFL+).[54] The league announced on March 29 that much of the league's schedule will be carried on Gray Television owned-and-operated stations in each team's home market and in regional syndication.[55]

In January, 2024 the league launched an official podcast for the 2024 season available on YouTube,[56] Spotify,[57] and other platforms.

See also


References

  1. "The Official Website of the AFL". Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  2. @officialafl (January 16, 2023). "#NewProfilePic" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  3. "News: Arena Football League Relaunch The Arena Football League (AFL) - The AFL Returns in 2024!". demosite475.footballshift.com (Press release). February 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  4. Springer, Scott (July 19, 2023). "Cincinnati arena football team won't be at Heritage Bank Center". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  5. Manning, Johnathan (July 19, 2023). "Lake Charles officials address rumors of Arena Football League team". KPLC-TV. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  6. Goldstein-Street, Jake (August 8, 2023). "After announcement, Everett's arena football team still seeking arena". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. Goldstein-Street, Jake (September 26, 2023). "Everett's new arena football team announces owners, coach". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  8. "Arena Football League makes return to Orlando with Predators name". Orland Business Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  9. "WTX Warbird Football". Facebook. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  10. Lowe, Megan (July 25, 2023). "Bossier City on Arena Football League radar". Shreveport-Bossier Journal. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  11. Singelais, Mark (July 20, 2023). "Arena GM: Workers' comp stands in way of arena football return". Times Union. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  12. Petro, Mike (February 23, 2023). "Would an Arena Football League team ever work again in Buffalo?". The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  13. "California Grizzlies". Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  14. "Minnesota Myth". Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  15. Hutton, Lee (July 31, 2023). "OFFICIAL AFL STATEMENT". Arena Football League. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  16. David Griswold (November 14, 2023). "AFL announces nickname, owner, head coach of Minnesota team". KARE. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  17. Professionals. Hutton Law Firm. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  18. "OUTLAWS JOIN AFL FOR 2024 SEASON". BillingsOutlaws.com. August 29, 2023.
  19. "AFL Launch Event New York". Arena Football League.
  20. Gorenstein, Ben (September 28, 2023). "FIRST ON 13: Sources: New arena football team coming to Albany". WNYT.com NewsChannel 13. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  21. Haas, Griffin (October 2, 2023). "Albany Firebirds returning to AFL". News 10. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  22. "Change of Leadership going into the '24 Season". Southwest Kansas Storm. July 26, 2023.
  23. "Rapid City Marshals". The Monument. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  24. Washington AFL website, September 27, 2023
  25. "Arena Football League - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  26. "Arena Football League Podcast". Spotify. Retrieved January 26, 2024.

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