The Arena League
Upcoming season or competition: 2024 The Arena League season | |
 | |
| Sport | Six-man arena football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| First season | 2024 |
| Commissioner | Tim Brown |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Duluth Harbor Monsters |
| Most titles | Duluth Harbor Monsters (1) |
| Related competitions | AF1, IFL, NAL |
| Official website | thearenaleague.football |
The Arena League (The AL or TAL) is a indoor American football league in the United States. The league launched in 2024 with four teams playing six-on-six football, but expanded to six-teams and started playing regular 7-on-7 indoor football in it's second season.[1]
History
[edit]The league was first announced in February 2023, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown as TAL Commissioner.[2] The league then released a list of ten semi-finalist markets, which people could vote for the city to be a part of the inaugural season: Waterloo, Iowa; Kansas City, Missouri; Springfield, Missouri; Rochester, Minnesota; Little Rock, Arkansas; Rockford, Illinois; Dubuque, Iowa; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Duluth, Minnesota and Wichita Falls, Texas with fans casting their votes at TAL official website.[3]
The first city announced was Springfield[4] with Duluth being the second city.[5] Waterloo was announced on May 4 as the third team.[6] Kansas City was the fourth and final team announced for the inaugural 2024 season.[7] The league anticipates expanding in the forthcoming years, including adding two teams for the 2025 season,[8] with hope to expand to 12 teams by 2026.[9] In September The AL released the 2024 schedule.[10]
On October 19, 2023 the Waterloo Woo announced their owners and changed their team name to the Iowa Woo.[11]
On April 5, 2024, the league released a list of five markets, which people could vote via a poll on their website for the city to be an expansion franchise beginning in the 2025 season. The five markets included: Dallas, Texas; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; St. Joseph, Missouri; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Rochester, Minnesota, which was a part of the inaugural season voting. On April 25, 2024, the league announced that Hot Springs would be the first expansion team and will begin play in 2025.[12] The league has also announced a second expansion team in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to be branded the Eau Claire Jammers.[13]
Rules
[edit]The Arena League's rules aim to highlight the player's athleticism and increase the pace of play. The field is traditional arena football size, measuring 50 yards long and 85 feet wide enclosed by padded walls. Teams have 15-player rosters with the game played with six offensive players against six defensive players. The league follows a one-platoon system with offensive and defensive players playing both sides of the ball. There are no restrictions on defense. The play clock runs 20 seconds from the spotting of the ball, the same as the Canadian Football League. No offensive huddles are allowed unless a timeout is called.
As is the case with traditional six-man football as played at the high school level, all offensive players are eligible receivers with three players initially lined up in an offensive line position. The quarterback cannot run the ball past the line of scrimmage. The league uses the "double forward pass" rule, originating in the XFL, that allows two forward passes to be thrown on the same play so long as the second pass is from behind the line of scrimmage.
All players and coaches communicate with helmet communication systems that fans will be able to listen to in real time. Kickoffs are replaced with a quarterback throwoff, with an onside conversion option available. All forms of kicking the ball are prohibited, including punts and field goals.[14]
There is only one on-field official to mark and set the ball and make penalty announcements. There are sky judges watching live video feeds to decide penalties in real time.[15] Coaches and fans have access to the referee interactions. After each game, fans can give feedback on the referees performance.
Teams
[edit]| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Joined | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth Harbor Monsters | Duluth, Minnesota | Kramer Service Group Field at DECC Arena | 5,333 | 2024 | Tony O'Neil |
| Eau Claire Axemen | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Sonnentag Event Center | 3,250 | 2025 | Tae Brooks |
| Hot Springs Wiseguys | Hot Springs, Arkansas | Bank OZK Arena | 6,050 | 2025 | Bones Bagaunte |
| Iowa Woo | Waterloo, Iowa | The Hippodrome | 5,155 | 2024 | Mook Zimmerman |
| Kansas City Goats | St. Joseph, Missouri | St. Joseph Civic Arena | 3,800 | 2024 | Dorsey Golston III |
| Ozarks Lunkers | Springfield, Missouri | Wilson Logistics Arena | 4,500 | 2024 | Cam Bruffett |
Season format
[edit]The inaugural season of The Arena League will have a nine-week regular season schedule with each team receiving one bye week with playoffs to follow. The season will run from June to August 2024.[16]
ArenaMania
[edit]On April 6, 2024, the league announced that the championship game will be known as ArenaMania.[17]
| Season | Game | Date | Winning team | Losing team | MVP | Site | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | I | August 10, 2024 | Duluth Harbor Monsters | 46 | 44 | Iowa Woo | Kramer Service Group Field at DECC Arena | ||
Media
[edit]| Team | TV Station(s) | Radio Station(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth Harbor Monsters | Northland Fan 106.5 FM and 560AM[18] | ||
| Eau Claire Axemen | |||
| Hot Springs Wiseguys | |||
| Iowa Woo | KCRG-TV[19] | [a] | |
| Kansas City Goats | |||
| Ozarks Lunkers | KYTV[20] |
Business
[edit]Former IFL Commissioner, Tommy Benizio, an advisor for the league and his corporation will operate and run the teams until, he hopes, business leaders in the community decide they want to be a part of it and own and operate a team.[21] The league would later announce owners for all four locations.[22][23][24][11]
On December 4, 2023 former Dallas Desperados executive Ronnie Davis was appointed as Deputy Commissioner.[25]
J.R. Bond leads a small group financing the league; Bond is a political advisor in Kansas City and has served as owner of several professional sports teams including the Sioux City Bandits, Topeka Tropics, and Topeka Golden Giants. [26]
Personnel
[edit]- Tim Brown - Commissioner and League Chairman
- Ronnie Davis - Deputy Commissioner
- Tommy Benizio - League advisor
- Dr. Michael Kuban - Director of Officials
- J.R. Bond - Financial Group Leader
References
[edit]- ^ "The Arena League transitioning to 7-on-7 action for 2025 season". WDIO.
- ^ "The Arena League is here!". Facebook.
- ^ "NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown looks to bring arena football back to Springfield". The Heartlander. 15 February 2023.
- ^ Wheeler, Wyatt D. (9 March 2023). "'The Arena League' football is coming to Springfield in 2024. Here's what to know". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Malcomb, Jamey (6 April 2023). "NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown announces Duluth to receive Arena League team". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Brown, Chelsie (4 May 2023). "The Arena League bringing a professional football team to Waterloo in inaugural season". KCRG. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report; June 19, 2023". oursportscentral.com. 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Duluth Media Packet" (PDF). The Arena League. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "Waterloo Arena League football team name unveiled". KWWL. 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Our 2024 Regular Season Schedule is here!". Facebook.
- ^ a b "New owners and name announced for Waterloo's arena football league". KWWL. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ Rice, Bryan (26 April 2024). "Arena League football comes to Spa City in 2025". The Sentinel-Record. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Tabbert, Nick (2024-07-18). "New arena football team will be called "Eau Claire Jammers"". WQOW. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ "Rules". The Arena League. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ "The Arena League Referees". youtube.com.
- ^ McClure, Jeffrey F. (6 September 2023). "The Arena League releases schedule for 2024 season". Northern News Now. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Inaugural season. Four teams. One goal". Facebook. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ Cooper, Nick (24 January 2024). "Duluth Harbor Monsters arena football team partners with The FAN 106.5 as exclusive radio home". Northland FAN. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ "KCRG to air Arena League Football". KCRG. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "KY3 broadcasting Ozarks Lunkers Arena League Football games". ky3.com. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Wheeler, Wyatt D. (9 March 2023). "'The Arena League' football is coming to Springfield in 2024. Here's what to know". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Duluth arena football team names owner". Duluth News Tribune. 28 July 2023.
- ^ "The Arena League brings Kansas City Goats, unique indoor football experience to town". The Kansas City Star.
- ^ "Owner reveals name for Springfield's new Arena League football team". KY3. 14 June 2023.
- ^ "The Arena League is appointing Professional Sports executive Ronnie Davis as Deputy Commissioner, under Commissioner Tim Brown, to serve the league and its teams through the inaugural 2024 season". Facebook.
- ^ Cullinan, Mike (17 March 2023). "Arena football league selects Springfield for first team". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 30 July 2023.