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2024 Arena Football League season is located in the United States
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

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.

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]

Team Location Arena Capacity Founded Head coach
East Division
Albany Firebirds[35][36] Albany, New York MVP Arena 13,785 2023 Damon Ware
Minnesota Myth Minneapolis, Minnesota Target Center 17,500 2023 Rickey Foggie
Nashville Kats[37] Nashville, Tennessee Nashville Municipal Auditorium 8,000 2023 TBA
Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia, Pennsylvania CURE Insurance Arena (3 games) 7,605 2003 Patrick Pimmel
South Division
Georgia Force Atlanta, Georgia Georgia State Convocation Center 8,000 2023 Ramon Robinson
Louisiana VooDoo[38] Lafayette, Louisiana Blackham Coliseum 7,450 2023 James Shiver
Orlando Predators Orlando, Florida Kia Center 17,192 2019 E. J. Burt
West Texas Desert Hawks Odessa, Texas Ector County Coliseum 5,131 2019 Chris Siegfried
Central Division
Iowa Rampage Council Bluffs, Iowa Mid-America Center 6,793 2023 Brandon Henderson
Salina Liberty Salina, Kansas Tony's Pizza Events Center 7,583 2015 Heron O'Neal
Southwest Kansas Storm Dodge City, Kansas United Wireless Arena 5,300 2021 Gary Thomas[39]
Wichita Regulators Park City, Kansas Hartman Arena 5,000 2023 TBA
West Division
Billings Outlaws Billings, Montana MetraPark First Interstate Arena 8,700 2021 Cedric Walker
Oregon Blackbears Salem, Oregon Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion 5,000 2023 Chuck Jones
Rapid City Marshals Rapid City, South Dakota Summit Arena at The Monument[40] 10,000 2021 Shon King
Washington Wolfpack[41] Everett, Washington Angel of the Winds Arena 8,149 2023 J.R. Wells

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

Season schedule

Regular season

Week 1
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
April 27 7:00PM ET Minnesota Myth Nashville Kats Nashville Municipal Auditorium TBD Gray Television [51]
7:30PM ET Philadelphia Soul Louisiana VooDoo Blackham Coliseum TBD Gray Television [51]
8:00PM ET Orlando Predators Albany Firebirds MVP Arena TBD NFL Network
8:00PM ET Wichita Regulators Billings Outlaws MetraPark First Interstate Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
8:05PM ET Iowa Rampage Rapid City Marshals Summit Arena at the Monument TBD Gray Television [51]
9:30PM ET Washington Wolfpack Oregon Blackbears Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion TBD Arenafootball.live
April 28 1:00PM ET Georgia Force West Texas Desert Hawks Ector County Coliseum TBD NFL Network
6:00PM ET Southwest Kansas Storm Salina Liberty Tony's Pizza Events Center TBD NFL Network
Week 2
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
May 2 8:00PM ET Nashville Kats Albany Firebirds MVP Arena TBD NFL Network
May 4 7:00PM ET Iowa Rampage Southwest Kansas Storm United Wireless Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
7:30PM ET Georgia Force Louisiana VooDoo Blackham Coliseum TBD Gray Television [51]
9:30PM ET Billings Outlaws Oregon Blackbears Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion TBD TBD
May 5 1:00PM ET West Texas Desert Hawks Orlando Predators Kia Center TBD NFL Network
6:00PM ET Philadelphia Soul Minnesota Myth Target Center TBD NFL Network
TBD Rapid City Marshals Washington Wolfpack Angel of the Winds Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
May 6 TBD Salina Liberty Wichita Regulators Hartman Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
Week 3
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
May 9 8:00PM ET Orlando Predators Louisiana VooDoo Blackham Coliseum TBD NFL Network
TBD Albany Firebirds Minnesota Myth Target Center TBD Gray Television [51]
May 11 8:05PM ET Georgia Force Iowa Rampage Mid-America Center TBD Gray Television [51]
8:05PM ET Billings Outlaws Rapid City Marshals Summit Arena at the Monument TBD TBD
9:30PM ET Salina Liberty Oregon Blackbears Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion TBD TBD
May 12 1:00PM ET Philadelphia Soul Nashville Kats Nashville Municipal Auditorium TBD NFL Network
3:30PM ET West Texas Desert Hawks Washington Wolfpack Angel of the Winds Arena TBD NFL Network
TBD Southwest Kansas Storm Wichita Regulators Hartman Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
Week 4
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
May 16 8:00PM ET Orlando Predators West Texas Desert Hawks Ector County Coliseum TBD NFL Network
May 18 4:30PM ET Nashville Kats Georgia Force F&M Bank Arena (Clarksville, TN) TBD Gray Television [51]
7:00PM ET Oregon Blackbears Billings Outlaws MetraPark First Interstate Arena TBD TBD
8:05PM ET Southwest Kansas Storm Rapid City Marshals Summit Arena at the Monument TBD TBD
TBD Wichita Regulators Minnesota Myth Target Center TBD TBD
TBD Louisiana VooDoo Washington Wolfpack Angel of the Winds Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
May 19 1:00PM ET Philadelphia Soul Albany Firebirds MVP Arena TBD NFL Network
3:00PM ET Salina Liberty Iowa Rampage Mid-America Center TBD NFL Network
Week 5
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
May 23 8:00PM ET Oregon Blackbears Washington Wolfpack Angel of the Winds Arena TBD NFL Network
May 25 7:00PM ET Minnesota Myth Albany Firebirds MVP Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
7:00PM ET Billings Outlaws Southwest Kansas Storm United Wireless Arena TBD TBD
7:30PM ET Rapid City Marshals Salina Liberty Tony's Pizza Events Center TBD Gray Television [51]
8:05PM ET Wichita Regulators Iowa Rampage Mid-America Center TBD TBD
9:00PM ET West Texas Desert Hawks Louisiana VooDoo Blackham Coliseum TBD Gray Television[51]
May 26 1:00PM ET Nashville Kats Orlando Predators Kia Center TBD NFL Network
3:30PM ET Georgia Force Philadelphia Soul CURE Insurance Arena TBD NFL Network
Week 6
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
May 30 8:00PM ET Washington Wolfpack Minnesota Myth Target Center TBD NFL Network
June 1 4:30PM ET Billings Outlaws West Texas Desert Hawks Ector County Coliseum TBD Gray Television [51]
7:00PM ET Philadelphia Soul Orlando Predators Kia Center TBD TBD
7:00PM ET Oregon Blackbears Rapid City Marshals Summit Arena at the Monument TBD Gray Television [51]
June 2 1:00PM ET Louisiana VooDoo Georgia Force Georgia State Convocation Center TBD NFL Network
3:00PM ET Salina Liberty Southwest Kansas Storm United Wireless Arena TBD TBD
3:30PM ET Albany Firebirds Nashville Kats Nashville Municipal Auditorium TBD NFL Network
TBD Iowa Rampage Wichita Regulators Hartman Arena TBD TBD
Week 7
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
June 6 8:00PM ET Nashville Kats Minnesota Myth Target Center TBD NFL Network
June 8 3:00PM ET Oregon Blackbears Louisiana VooDoo Blackham Coliseum TBD Gray Television [51]
4:30PM ET Albany Firebirds West Texas Desert Hawks Ector County Coliseum TBD Gray Television [51]
7:00PM ET Georgia Force Orlando Predators Kia Center TBD Gray Television [51]
7:30PM ET Iowa Rampage Salina Liberty Tony's Pizza Events Center TBD Gray Television [51]
8:00PM ET Rapid City Marshals Billings Outlaws MetraPark First Interstate Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
June 9 1:00PM ET Philadelphia Soul Wichita Regulators Hartman Arena TBD NFL Network
6:00PM ET Washington Wolfpack Southwest Kansas Storm United Wireless Arena TBD NFL Network
Week 8
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
June 13 8:00PM ET Louisiana VooDoo Orlando Predators Kia Center TBD NFL Network
June 15 4:30PM ET Minnesota Myth Salina Liberty Tony's Pizza Events Center TBD Gray Television [51]
7:00PM ET Philadelphia Soul Albany Firebirds MVP Arena TBD TBD
7:00PM ET Washington Wolfpack Billings Outlaws MetraPark First Interstate Arena TBD TBD
8:05PM ET Southwest Kansas Storm Iowa Rampage Mid-America Center TBD TBD
TBD Rapid City Marshals Wichita Regulators Hartman Arena TBD TBD
June 16 1:00PM ET Oregon Blackbears Nashville Kats Nashville Municipal Auditorium TBD NFL Network
3:30PM ET Georgia Force West Texas Desert Hawks Ector County Coliseum TBD NFL Network
Week 9
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
June 20 8:00PM ET Albany Firebirds Billings Outlaws MetraPark First Interstate Arena TBD NFL Network
June 22 7:00PM ET Wichita Regulators Southwest Kansas Storm United Wireless Arena TBD Gray Television [51]
8:05PM ET West Texas Desert Hawks Iowa Rampage Mid-America Center TBD Gray Television [51]
8:05PM ET Washington Wolfpack Rapid City Marshals Summit Arena at the Monument TBD Gray Television [51]
9:30PM ET Minnesota Myth Oregon Blackbears Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion TBD Gray Television [51]
TBD Orlando Predators Georgia Force Georgia State Convocation Center TBD Gray Television [51]
June 23 1:00PM ET Nashville Kats Philadelphia Soul CURE Insurance Arena TBD NFL Network
3:30PM ET Salina Liberty Louisiana VooDoo Blackham Coliseum TBD NFL Network
Week 10
Date Time Away team Result Home team Arena Attendance Broadcast
June 27 8:00PM ET Iowa Rampage Orlando Predators Kia Center TBD NFL Network
June 29 2:00PM ET Louisiana VooDoo West Texas Desert Hawks Ector County Coliseum TBD Gray Television [51]
7:00PM ET Southwest Kansas Storm Nashville Kats Nashville Municipal Auditorium TBD TBD
7:30PM ET Wichita Regulators Salina Liberty Tony's Pizza Events Center TBD TBD
9:30PM ET Rapid City Marshals Oregon Blackbears Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion TBD Gray Television [51]
TBD Billings Outlaws Washington Wolfpack Angel of the Winds Arena TBD TBD
June 30 1:00PM ET Albany Firebirds Georgia Force Georgia State Convocation Center TBD NFL Network
3:30PM ET Minnesota Myth Philadelphia Soul CURE Insurance Arena TBD NFL Network

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.

Team / Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Average
Albany Firebirds TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Billings Outlaws TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Georgia Force TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Iowa Rampage TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Louisiana VooDoo TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Minnesota Myth TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Nashville Kats TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Oregon Blackbears TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Orlando Predators TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Philadelphia Soul TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Rapid City Marshals TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Salina Liberty TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Southwest Kansas Storm TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Washington Wolfpack TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
West Texas Desert Hawks TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Wichita Regulators TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  
Average 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0

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. ^ @zachkeilman (December 13, 2022). "So some good folks on the @InWallsPod Discord just brought this to my attention: That website is new BTW" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ @officialafl (January 16, 2023). "#NewProfilePic" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ AFL Rewind Exclusive: AFL Commissioner Lee Hutton. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  6. ^ a b AFL Rewind Exclusive: AFL Commissioner Lee Hutton - April Update. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "16 ORG. LOCATIONS REVEALED Chicago, Philly Get Teams". Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Springer, Scott (July 19, 2023). "Cincinnati arena football team won't be at Heritage Bank Center". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  9. ^ Watkins, Steve (July 19, 2023). "Heritage Bank Center GM Ropp says Cincinnati's Arena Football League team won't play there". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Manning, Johnathan (July 19, 2023). "Lake Charles officials address rumors of Arena Football League team". KPLC-TV. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Streng, Nik (July 19, 2023). "New Oregon Arena Football League team based in Salem seems to be a surprise to all: 'We look forward to learning more'". The Oregonian.
  12. ^ Goldstein-Street, Jake (August 8, 2023). "After announcement, Everett's arena football team still seeking arena". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  13. ^ Goldstein-Street, Jake (September 26, 2023). "Everett's new arena football team announces owners, coach". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  14. ^ "Arena Football League makes return to Orlando with Predators name". Orland Business Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "WTX Warbird Football". Facebook. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "Teaser video announcing the team name change". Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Bansil, Sapna (July 20, 2023). "Philadelphia Soul expected to return as the Arena Football League plans a 2024 relaunch". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  18. ^ George, John (November 14, 2023). "Ron Jaworski says he will not be part of resurrected Philadelphia Soul". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  19. ^ Lowe, Megan (July 25, 2023). "Bossier City on Arena Football League radar". Shreveport-Bossier Journal. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Singelais, Mark (July 20, 2023). "Arena GM: Workers' comp stands in way of arena football return". Times Union. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  21. ^ Petro, Mike (February 23, 2023). "Would an Arena Football League team ever work again in Buffalo?". The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "California Grizzlies". Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "Minnesota Myth". Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  24. ^ Hutton, Lee (July 31, 2023). "OFFICIAL AFL STATEMENT". Arena Football League. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  25. ^ St. Louis Rampage [@STLRampageAFL] (July 31, 2023). "Well, uhh... we got em'. Congratulations AFL, you finally noticed. This is what happens when you just announce locations and not ownership, arenas, team mascots, etc. This is not how you run a football league. Get everything prepared before you do something" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ McKenna, Dave (August 1, 2023). "Arena Football League Relaunch Comes As Surprise To Cities That Will Allegedly Have Teams". Defector. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  27. ^ David Griswold (November 14, 2023). "AFL announces nickname, owner, head coach of Minnesota team". KARE. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  28. ^ Professionals. Hutton Law Firm. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  29. ^ Day, Don (July 18, 2023). "An upstart football league says it will field a pro team in Boise, but there are few specifics". BoiseDev. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  30. ^ "OUTLAWS JOIN AFL FOR 2024 SEASON". BillingsOutlaws.com. August 29, 2023.
  31. ^ "Arena Football League announces that the West Texas Desert Hawks will be the newest franchise". NewsWest9. August 31, 2023.
  32. ^ "Orlando Predators prepare Arena Football League return with concerts and more". Orlando Business Journal. September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  33. ^ Press conference posted by the ICT Regulators
  34. ^ a b c d "AFL Launch Event New York". Arena Football League.
  35. ^ Gorenstein, Ben (September 28, 2023). "FIRST ON 13: Sources: New arena football team coming to Albany". WNYT.com NewsChannel 13. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  36. ^ Haas, Griffin (October 2, 2023). "Albany Firebirds returning to AFL". News 10. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  37. ^ Organ, Mike. "How Jeff Fisher is helping bring back the Nashville Kats and Arena Football League". The Tennessean. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  38. ^ AFL announces Voodoo football team coming to Lake Charles
  39. ^ "Change of Leadership going into the '24 Season". Southwest Kansas Storm. July 26, 2023.
  40. ^ "Rapid City Marshals". The Monument. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  41. ^ Washington AFL website, September 27, 2023
  42. ^ "Nashville Kats ready to open training camp at Lipscomb". Nashville Post.
  43. ^ "Arena Football League and American 7s Football League Announce Strategic Partnership". OurSports Central.
  44. ^ "USA Football and AFL Announce Partnership". OurSports Central.
  45. ^ "AFL Eastern Division Preview". OurSports Central.
  46. ^ "AFL Central Division Preview". OurSports Central.
  47. ^ "AFL South Division Preview". OurSports Central.
  48. ^ "AFL West Division Preview". OurSports Central.
  49. ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report, November 20, 2023 - Arena Football League (AFL3)". OurSports Central.
  50. ^ "Albany Firebirds to open at home April 27". Times Union.
  51. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "Subject to Change - Gray/AFL Schedule". KWCH-DT. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  52. ^ "HUMBL Selected as the Official Technology Platform of the Arena Football League Through 2028 Season". GlobeNewswire.
  53. ^ "BSN SPORTS Announces Exclusive Partnership With Arena Football League". Arena Football League.
  54. ^ "NFL Network to televise Arena Football League (AFL), Overtime's football league (OT7) games this spring". NFL.
  55. ^ "Gray Television Partners to Bring the Arena Football League Viewers Free Over-The-Air Starting April 27". KWCH. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  56. ^ "Arena Football League - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  57. ^ "Arena Football League Podcast". Spotify. Retrieved January 26, 2024.