Kurt Warner's rise as an MVP in the National Football League brought attention to the league that gave Warner a second chance-the Arena Football League. Now the Arena Football League, entering its 19th season in 2005, has come into its own popularity, giving football fans games to watch from late January through May.
Arena football is a unique game-football modified for indoors. The game is played on a 50-yard field with eight men per side, most of whom are required to play both ways (the quarterback and the kicker are two exceptions). A touchdown is six points, but teams have the option of place kicking or drop kicking extra points and field goals, and the different options have different scoring opportunities. Punting is illegal, so on fourth down, teams have to go for the down, the touchdown, or the field goal. Perhaps the most unique aspect to the game is the rebound nets that are set up in the end zones. If a forward pass bounces off the nets, the ball is live until it hits the playing surface.
Currently, the Arena Football League consists of seventeen teams, split into four divisions: Arizona Rattlers; Las Vegas Gladiators; Los Angeles Avengers; San Jose SaberCats; Chicago Rush; Colorado Crush; Grand Rapids Rampage; Nashville Kats; Columbus Destroyers; Dallas Desperados; New York Dragons; Philadelphia Soul; Austin Wranglers; Georgia Force; New Orleans VooDoo; Orlando Predators; and Tampa Bay Storm. League ownership has some famous names, like Tim McGraw, Jon Bon Jovi and John Elway.
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Arena Football League
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The AFL may be one of the most fan-friendly leagues in all of sports. The league's official Web site, found at www.arenafootball.com, includes a fan's Bill of Rights that states, among other things, that fans are entitled "to a total entertainment experience at an affordable cost for all members of the family from the time they arrive at the arena to the time they depart" and "to interact with and have access to players and coaches for autographs and conversation in recognition of their support at every game."
This year's AFL season begins the weekend of January 28. The season runs from late January (the weekend between the NFL's conference championship games and the Super Bowl) until May 22. The AFL is entering its third season with a television contract with NBC. While the early games are scheduled, NBC is keeping a flexible schedule so that as the season goes on, the network can televise the more exciting games.
The season culminates with ArenaBowl XIX Weekend, to be held June 9-12 in Las Vegas. For the first time, the ArenaBowl Championship game will be held in a neutral site. The game will be held in the Thomas & Mack Center. The neutral site adds to the league's attitude toward the positive fan-league relationship, as the AFL believes that using the neutral site will allow fans the chance to plan to attend the game. It also gives the AFL the opportunity to showcase its sport in a weekend event. More info about the ArenaBowl can be found at www.arenabowl.com.
The top eight teams in the league will move into the playoffs (division champions are not guaranteed a playoff spot). In 2005, San Jose will fight to retain its title against Arizona, Tampa Bay, Colorado, New Orleans, Orlando, and Chicago. Philadelphia, relatively new to the league, is hoping that its new star quarterback, Tony Graziani, will push the team into a playoff spot.
Grand Rapids has also helped their chances of reaching the playoffs by picking up one of the league's best offensive specialists, Chris Jackson. The New York team is hoping the acquisition of former Philadelphia Eagle Kevin Clemons will give them the boost needed to reach the top.
Sports fans may start watching Arena Football to find the next Kurt Warner, but what they find instead is a fun and exciting football game.
