2007 Arena Football
By Andrew McCarten,
TheSportsStand.com
The always entertaining Arena
Football league returns after its offseason on March 4th. The AFL is
definitely growing in fan support, and has carved out a legitimate business.
Last year saw the release of a video game, Arena Football from EA Sports,
with another, Arena Football Road to Glory due in March. This year, the
league’s 21st year, marks some important achievements for the league. In the
offseason the AFL signed a deal with ESPN, for exclusive broadcast of the
games. Some will also be shown on ESPN affiliate ABC. Last year games were
broadcast on NBC.
This year, the Chicago Rush look to defend their Arena Bowl XX title. This year the championship game, Arena Bowl XXI, is in the “Big Easy,” New Orleans. New Orleans is showing many signs of returning to normal after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, including the New Orleans VooDoo returning from their year of “loan” to the expansion Kansas City Brigade. “This announcement is about commitment, and we have witnessed the commitment of the great football fans in our region the past year. We are thrilled to once again bring back football year round to New Orleans with the Saints and the VooDoo. And to finish it off with the Arena Bowl here in our city, highlighting our region in July to an audience of millions is another milestone in the economic recovery of our community. Now, we need to get to work and make sure the VooDoo are hosting that game.” Said a clearly emotional VooDoo owner, Tom Benson.
The AFL a real football legacy of innovation, highlighted with an “Arena Football” exhibit at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. “There are many milestones for a growing sports league but I can’t think of one that is more meaningful for our league than an exhibit in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” said AFL Commissioner David Baker, who will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony at the Hall on Monday, February 19.
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