Arena Football League
The Arena Football League was founded in 1987 as a springtime and wintertime American football indoor league. Attendance at AFL games in 2002 averaged almost 10,000 people per game. The Arena Football League also maintains a minor league called AF2.The AFL was founded by Jim Foster, a former NFL and USFL executive. In fact, he had a contract in hand in 1983 to play an exhibition game on NBC, 20 years before the first regular season games appeared on NBC. He abandoned the plan though when the USFL was formed, and did not return to his newly created sport until 1986.
For the 2003 season, the Arena Football League made a deal with the NBC television network to televise league games. In conjunction with this, the league moved the beginning of the season from May to February (the week after the NFL's Super Bowl) and scheduled most of its games on Sunday instead of Friday or Saturday as it had in the past.
The Rules of the Game can be found on the Arena Football page.
Southern Division
Central Division
2004 Teams
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
Carolina Cobras (Charlotte; relocated from Raleigh in 2003)
Columbus Destroyers (relocated from Buffalo in 2004)
Dallas Desperados
New York Dragons (previously the Iowa Barnstormers)
Philadelphia Soul
Austin Wranglers
Georgia Force (previously the Nashville Kats)
New Orleans VooDoo
Orlando Predators
Tampa Bay Storm
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Chicago Rush
Colorado Crush
Detroit Fury
Grand Rapids Rampage
Indiana Firebirds (formerly of Albany)
Arizona Rattlers
Las Vegas Gladiators (formerly of New Jersey)
Los Angeles Avengers
San Jose Sabercats
Defunct Teams
(partial list)
Anaheim Piranhas
Charlotte Rage
Chicago Bruisers (1987-1989)
Cincinnati Rockers
Columbus Thunderbolts (later, Cleveland Thunderbolts)
Dallas Texans (1990-1993)
Denver Dynamite (1987, 1989-1991)
Detroit Drive (1988-1993)
Florida Bobcats
Fort Worth Cavalry
Houston Thunderbears
Las Vegas Sting
Los Angeles Cobras (1988)
Massachusetts Marauders (1994)
Miami Hooters
Milwaukee Mustangs
Minnesota Fighting Pike
New England Steamrollers (1988)
New Orleans Night
New York Knights (1988)
Oklahoma Wranglers
Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987-1990; no affiliation with current Las Vegas club)
Portland Forest Dragons
Sacramento Attack
San Antonio Force
St. Louis Stampede
Texas Terror
Toronto Phantoms
Washington Commandos (1987, 1989-1990; also known as Maryland Commandos)
Championship Games
The Arena Football League's championship game is called the ArenaBowl.
External Links