2014 Arena Football League season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2014 Arena Football League season was the twenty-seventh season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 14, 2014 and ended on July 26, 2014.

League business

Teams

The city of Anaheim, California was awarded an expansion team on August 15, 2013. The team, named the Los Angeles Kiss, is the first AFL team to call Los Angeles home since the Los Angeles Avengers in 2008. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, members of the rock band Kiss, are the owners of the expansion franchise.^[1]
Two teams that competed in 2013 suspended operations, (Chicago Rush & Utah Blaze) and their rosters were dispersed throughout the league during a dispersal draft on September 6, 2013.^[2]
The Milwaukee Mustangs sold their league membership to Terry Emmert, who then started a new franchise in Portland, Oregon named the Portland Thunder.^[3]

Television

On December 17, 2013 it was announced that ESPN had agreed to a multi-year deal in televising several games, including the ArenaBowl. Additionally, at least 75 games during the season are to be aired on ESPN3, the network's online streaming service. ESPN had previously aired games as recent as the 2008 season, prior to the league's hiatus that resulted in the canceled 2009 season.^[4]

Realignment

With teams expanding, relocating and suspending operations, the AFL announced the divisional alignment for 2014 on October 29, 2013. The two conferences will have an even number of teams, and will be placed in two divisions.^[5]

Regular season standings

Eight teams qualify for the playoffs: four teams from each conference, of which two are division champions and the other two have the best records of the teams remaining.^[6]

• Green indicates clinched playoff berth
• Blue indicates division champion
• Gray indicates division champion and conference's best record

Tie-breakers

• ^a San Antonio finished in second place in the West Division based on their greater point differential in head-to-head competition with Los Angeles.

Playoffs

Conference semifinals

Conference finals

ArenaBowl XXVII

2014 Arena Football League season
League	Arena Football League
Sport	Arena Football
Duration	March 14, 2014 – August 23, 2014
Regular season
Season champions	Cleveland Gladiators
Season MVP	Nick Davila, ARZ
League postseason
American Conference champions	Cleveland Gladiators
American Conference runners-up	Orlando Predators
National Conference champions	Arizona Rattlers
National Conference runners-up	San Jose SaberCats
ArenaBowl XXVII
Champions	Arizona Rattlers
Runners-up	Cleveland Gladiators
AFL seasons
← 2013 2015 →
Conference	Division	Teams
American	East	Cleveland Gladiators, Iowa Barnstormers, Philadelphia Soul, Pittsburgh Power
	South	Jacksonville Sharks, New Orleans VooDoo, Orlando Predators, Tampa Bay Storm
National	Pacific	Portland Thunder, San Jose SaberCats, Spokane Shock
	West	Arizona Rattlers, Los Angeles Kiss, San Antonio Talons
American Conference East Division Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away (1) Cleveland Gladiators 17 1 .944 991 782 7–1 12–1 9–0 8–1 (3) Pittsburgh Power 15 3 .833 1015 778 6–2 11–2 8–1 7–2 (4) Philadelphia Soul 9 9 .500 1021 949 2–5 7–7 7–2 2–7 Iowa Barnstormers 6 12 .333 848 1046 0–7 2–10 3–6 3–6 South Division Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away (2) Orlando Predators 11 7 .611 1005 957 7–2 8–6 7–2 4–5 Tampa Bay Storm 8 10 .444 904 953 4–3 7–6 5–4 3–6 Jacksonville Sharks 7 11 .389 879 862 2–5 3–8 4–5 3–6 New Orleans VooDoo 3 15 .167 770 1011 2–5 2–12 1–8 2–7	National Conference Pacific Division Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away (2) San Jose SaberCats 13 5 .722 999 723 5–1 9–3 7–2 6–3 (3) Spokane Shock 11 7 .588 957 843 4–2 8–4 6–3 5–4 (4) Portland Thunder 5 13 .278 816 965 0–6 2–11 3–6 2–7 West Division Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away (1) Arizona Rattlers 15 3 .833 1151 905 4–0 11–2 9–0 6–3 San Antonio Talons[a] 3 15 .167 743 1017 1–3 1–5 0–9 3–6 Los Angeles Kiss 3 15 .167 633 957 1–3 3–9 2–7 1–8
	Conference Semifinals					Conference Championship					ArenaBowl XXVII
	1	Cleveland	39
	4	Philadelphia	37
						1	Cleveland	56
	American Conference
						2	Orlando	46
	2	Orlando	56
	3	Pittsburgh	48
											A1	Cleveland	32
											N1	Arizona	72
	1	Arizona	52
	4	Portland	48
						1	Arizona	72
	National Conference
						2	San Jose	56
	2	San Jose	55
	3	Spokane	28
Conference	Date	Kickoff	Away	Score	Home	Game site	Recap
American	August 2	7:00 p.m. EDT	Philadelphia Soul	37-39	Cleveland Gladiators	Quicken Loans Arena	[7]
National	August 2	10:00 p.m. EDT	Spokane Shock	28-55	San Jose SaberCats	SAP Center at San Jose	[8]
American	August 3	2:00 p.m. EDT	Pittsburgh Power	48-56	Orlando Predators	CFE Arena	[9]
National	August 3	6:00 p.m. EDT	Portland Thunder	48-52	Arizona Rattlers	US Airways Center	[10]
Conference	Date	Kickoff	Away	Score	Home	Game site	Recap
American	August 10	3:00 p.m. EDT	Orlando Predators	46-56	Cleveland Gladiators	Quicken Loans Arena	[11]
National	August 10	8:00 p.m. EDT	San Jose SaberCats	56-72	Arizona Rattlers	US Airways Center	[12]
Date	Kickoff	Away	Score	Home	Game site	Recap
August 23	8:00 p.m. EDT	Arizona Rattlers	72–32	Cleveland Gladiators	Quicken Loans Arena

2013 Arena Football League season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2013 Arena Football League season
League	Arena Football League
Sport	Arena football
Duration	March 23, 2013 – August 17, 2013
Regular season
Season champions	Arizona Rattlers
Season MVP	Erik Meyer, SPO
AFL Playoffs
American Conference champions	Philadelphia Soul
American Conference runners-up	Jacksonville Sharks
National Conference champions	Arizona Rattlers
National Conference runners-up	Spokane Shock
ArenaBowl XXVI
Champions	Arizona Rattlers
Runners-up	Philadelphia Soul
Finals MVP	Rod Windsor, ARZ
AFL seasons
← 2012 2014 →

The 2013 Arena Football League season was the twenty-sixth season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 23, 2013 with a five-game slate, the first of which to kickoff being between the Utah Blaze and the Pittsburgh Power, and ended on July 27, 2013 with the Utah Blaze and Cleveland Gladiators as the last game to kickoff.^[1][2] The Arizona Rattlers defeated the Philadelphia Soul by a 48–39 score in ArenaBowl XXVI to conclude the league's playoffs.^[3]

Contents

• 1 League business
  • 1.1 Teams
  • 1.2 Television
• 2 Regular season standings
  • 2.1 Tie-breakers
• 3 Playoffs
  • 3.1 Conference semifinals
  • 3.2 Conference championships
  • 3.3 ArenaBowl XXVI
• 4 References

League business

Teams

The league dropped to 14 teams during the offseason. The Kansas City Command ceased operations on August 23, 2012,^[4] as well as the Georgia Force on October 14, 2012.^[5] The Milwaukee Mustangs suspended operations for 2013, eyeing a return to play in the 2014 season.^[6]

Television

It was announced on November 13, 2012 that the league had reached an agreement with CBS Sports Network to air 19 regular season games, as well as two playoff games. The network is scheduled to air the league's "game of the week" each Saturday. The main CBS network will televise ArenaBowl XXVI on August 17, 2013.^[3]

Regular season standings

American Conference
East Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
(2) Philadelphia Soul	12	6	.667	1052	839	2–2	6–3	5–4	7–2
Cleveland Gladiators[a]	4	14	.222	847	1047	2–2	3–7	3–6	1–8
Pittsburgh Power	4	14	.222	726	1014	2–2	4–8	1–8	3–6
South Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
(1) Jacksonville Sharks[b]	12	6	.667	941	883	6–0	11–0	6–3	6–3
(3) Orlando Predators[c]	7	11	.389	965	1032	2–4	5–7	4–5	3–6
(4) Tampa Bay Storm	7	11	.389	959	980	2–4	4–6	2–7	5–4
New Orleans VooDoo	5	13	.278	833	1069	2–4	4–6	3–6	2–7
National Conference
Central Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
(2) Chicago Rush[d]	10	8	.556	973	947	2–2	5–5	3–5	7–3
San Antonio Talons	10	8	.556	782	884	2–2	3–8	4–5	6–3
Iowa Barnstormers	6	12	.333	827	913	2–2	3–7	2–7	4–5
West Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
(1) Arizona Rattlers	15	3	.833	1203	866	4–2	9–3	8–1	7–2
(3) Spokane Shock	14	4	.778	1198	896	4–2	8–2	7–2	7–2
(4) San Jose SaberCats	13	5	.722	1033	877	3–3	6–4	8–2	5–3
Utah Blaze	7	11	.389	896	988	1–5	3–8	4–5	3–6

Eight teams qualify for the playoffs: four teams from each conference, of which two are division champions and the other two have the best records of the teams remaining.^[7]

• Green indicates clinched playoff berth
• Blue indicates division champion
• Gray indicates division champion and conference's best record

Tie-breakers

• ^a Cleveland finished in second place in the East Division based on their greater point differential in head-to-head competition with Pittsburgh.
• ^b Jacksonville clinched the American Conference's No. 1 seed based on their win over Philadelphia.
• ^c Orlando clinched the American Conference's No. 3 seed based on a greater conference record than Tampa Bay.
• ^d Chicago clinched the Central Division based on their greater point differential in games against common opponents with San Antonio.

Playoffs

	Conference Semifinals					Conference Championship					ArenaBowl XXVI
	1	Jacksonville	69
	4	Tampa Bay	62
						1	Jacksonville	59
	American Conference
						2	Philadelphia	75
	2	Philadelphia	59
	3	Orlando	55
											A2	Philadelphia	39
											N1	Arizona	48
	1	Arizona	59
	4	San Jose	49
						1	Arizona	65
	National Conference
						3	Spokane	57
	2	Chicago	47
	3	Spokane	69

• Note: Due to "arena conflicts," the Chicago Rush did not host the playoff game.^[8]

Conference semifinals

Conference	Date	Kickoff	Away	Home	Final score	Game site	Recap
National	August 1	10:00 p.m. EDT	Chicago Rush	Spokane Shock	Spokane, 67–49	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena	[9]
American	August 3	7:00 p.m. EDT	Tampa Bay Storm	Jacksonville Sharks	Jacksonville, 69–62	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena	[10]
American	August 3	7:05 p.m. EDT	Orlando Predators	Philadelphia Soul	Philadelphia, 59–55	Wells Fargo Center	[11]
National	August 4	8:00 p.m. EDT	San Jose SaberCats	Arizona Rattlers	Arizona, 59–49	US Airways Center	[12]

Conference championships

Conference	Date	Kickoff	Away	Home	Final score	Game site	Recap
American	August 10	7:00 p.m. EDT	Philadelphia Soul	Jacksonville Sharks	Philadelphia, 75–59	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena	[13]
National	August 10	9:00 p.m. EDT	Spokane Shock	Arizona Rattlers	Arizona, 65–57	US Airways Center	[14]

ArenaBowl XXVI

Main article: ArenaBowl XXVI

Date	Kickoff	Away	Home	Final score	Game site	Recap
August 17	1:00 p.m. EDT	Philadelphia Soul	Arizona Rattlers	Arizona, 48–39	Amway Center	[15]

2012 Arena Football League season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2012 Arena Football League season
League	Arena Football League
Sport	Arena football
Duration	March 9, 2012 – August 10, 2012
Regular season
Season champions	Philadelphia Soul
Season MVP	Tommy Grady, UTA
AFL playoffs
American Conference champions	Philadelphia Soul
American Conference runners-up	Jacksonville Sharks
National Conference champions	Arizona Rattlers
National Conference runners-up	Utah Blaze
ArenaBowl XXV
Champions	Arizona Rattlers
Runners-up	Philadelphia Soul
Finals MVP	Nick Davila, ARZ
AFL seasons
← 2011 2013 →

The 2012 Arena Football League season was the twenty-fifth season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 9, 2012 with a game between the Pittsburgh Power and the Orlando Predators and ended on July 22, 2012 with a game between the Utah Blaze and Philadelphia Soul. The Arizona Rattlers defeated the Philadelphia Soul by a 72–54 score in ArenaBowl XXV on August 10, 2012 to conclude the playoffs.^[1]

Contents

• 1 League business
  • 1.1 Teams
  • 1.2 Labor issues
• 2 Regular season standings
  • 2.1 Tie-breakers
• 3 Playoffs
  • 3.1 Conference semifinals
  • 3.2 Conference championships
  • 3.3 ArenaBowl XXV
• 4 References

League business

Teams

The only franchise that relocated during the offseason was the Tulsa Talons, which became the San Antonio Talons following a move to San Antonio, Texas, where the team announced they would play at the Alamodome.^[2]
When the 2012 schedule was announced, the Dallas Vigilantes were left off without any explanation on the status of the franchise. No expansion teams were added for the 2012 season.

Labor issues

On March 9, 2012, the day the AFL was to begin play, the Arena Football League Players Association went on strike, seeking a doubling of their wages. The game between the Pittsburgh Power and Orlando Predators scheduled for that night was played as scheduled with replacement players making up about three-quarters of the roster. However, players began crossing the picket line by the second quarter and the AFL announced the work stoppage ended just two hours after the game ended.^[3][4]
For the second game of the 2012 season, the entire roster of the San Antonio Talons voted unanimously not to strike for its first game against the Utah Blaze.^[5]
On June 8, the Cleveland Gladiators were forced to forfeit a week 14 matchup against the Pittsburgh Power when they were unable to field enough players to play as a result of several of their players going on strike. It was the first forfeited game in the history of the league.^[6][7] This news came after the NFL Network chose not to air a contest between the Milwaukee Mustangs and Philadelphia Soul in the network's weekly Friday night broadcast, citing a "labor uncertainty."^[8] In the following week, after reports of a potential lockout rose,^[9][10] the NFL Network chose to air a War on I-4 game between the Tampa Bay Storm and the Orlando Predators via tape delay on June 16, the day after the game took place.^[11]
On June 17, it was announced that the AFL and the AFLPU agreed to a multi-year collective bargaining agreement, to be signed on June 20.^[12]

Regular season standings

American Conference
East Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
(1) Philadelphia Soul	15	3	.833	1228	919	4–2	12–2	7–2	8–1
Cleveland Gladiators	8	10	.444	879	875	4–2	6–8	5–4	3–6
Milwaukee Mustangs[a]	5	13	.278	960	1062	3–3	4–7	2–6	3–7
Pittsburgh Power	5	13	.278	827	963	1–5	4–9	1–8	4–5
South Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
(2) Jacksonville Sharks	10	8	.556	930	884	4–4	8–6	6–4	4–4
(3) Georgia Force	9	9	.500	812	923	5–3	8–5	5–4	4–5
(4) New Orleans VooDoo[b]	8	10	.444	979	995	5–3	7–5	4–5	4–5
Tampa Bay Storm	8	10	.444	1021	1108	4–4	7–7	7–2	1–8
Orlando Predators	4	14	.222	770	902	2–6	4–11	4–5	0–9
National Conference
Central Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
(1) San Antonio Talons	14	4	.778	1042	949	5–1	9–4	8–1	6–3
Chicago Rush	10	8	.556	1047	1044	4–2	5–6	7–2	3–6
Iowa Barnstormers	7	11	.389	948	1032	3–3	5–9	4–5	3–6
Kansas City Command	3	15	.167	705	938	0–6	1–12	2–7	1–8
West Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
(2) Arizona Rattlers	13	5	.722	1118	880	3–3	8–5	7–2	6–3
(3) San Jose SaberCats[c]	12	6	.667	1143	1027	4–2	10–4	8–1	4–5
(4) Utah Blaze	12	6	.667	1128	1051	4–2	8–4	6–3	6–3
Spokane Shock	10	8	.556	1063	1048	1–5	5–7	5–4	5–4

Eight teams qualify for the playoffs: four teams from each conference, of which two are division champions and the other two have the best records of the teams remaining.^[13]

• Green indicates clinched playoff berth
• Blue indicates division champion
• Gray indicates division champion and conference's best record

Tie-breakers

• ^a Milwaukee finished in third place in the East Division based on a head-to-head sweep over Pittsburgh.
• ^b New Orleans clinched the American Conference's No. 4 seed based on a greater won-loss percentage among games between New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Cleveland. (New Orleans: 2–1, Tampa Bay: 2–2, Cleveland: 1–2)
• ^c San Jose clinched the National Conference's No. 3 seed based on their greater point differential in head-to-head competition with Utah.

Playoffs

	Conference Semifinals					Conference Championship					ArenaBowl XXV
	1	Philadelphia	66
	4	New Orleans	53
						1	Philadelphia	89
	American Conference
						2	Jacksonville	34
	2	Jacksonville	58
	3	Georgia	56
											A1	Philadelphia	54
											N2	Arizona	72
	1	San Antonio	34
	4	Utah	35
						4	Utah	69
	National Conference
						2	Arizona	75
	2	Arizona	51
	3	San Jose	48

Conference semifinals

Conference	Date	Kickoff	Away	Home	Final score	Game site	Recap
National	July 27	8:00 p.m. EDT	Utah Blaze	San Antonio Talons	Utah, 35–34	Alamodome	[14]
American	July 28	7:00 p.m. EDT	Georgia Force	Jacksonville Sharks	Jacksonville, 58–56	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena	[15]
American	July 28	7:05 p.m. EDT	New Orleans VooDoo	Philadelphia Soul	Philadelphia, 66–53	Wells Fargo Center	[16]
National	July 28	10:00 p.m. EDT	San Jose SaberCats	Arizona Rattlers	Arizona, 51–48	US Airways Center	[17]

Conference championships

Conference	Date	Kickoff	Away	Home	Final score	Game site	Recap
American	August 3	8:00 p.m. EDT	Jacksonville Sharks	Philadelphia Soul	Philadelphia, 89–34	Wells Fargo Center	[18]
National	August 4	10:00 p.m. EDT	Utah Blaze	Arizona Rattlers	Arizona, 75–69	US Airways Center	[19]

ArenaBowl XXV

Main article: ArenaBowl XXV

Date	Kickoff	Away	Home	Final score	Game site	Recap
August 10	10:30 p.m. EDT	Arizona Rattlers	Philadelphia Soul	Arizona, 72–54	New Orleans Arena	[20]