The Arena League

The Arena League (The AL or TAL) is a six-on-six indoor American football league in the United States. The league launched in 2024 with four teams.

History

The league was first announced in February 2023, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown as TAL Commissioner. 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.

The first city announced was Springfield with Duluth being the second city. Waterloo was announced on May 4 as the third team. Kansas City was the fourth and final team announced for the inaugural 2024 season. The league anticipates expanding in the forthcoming years, including adding two teams for the 2025 season, with hope to expand to 12 teams by 2026. In September The AL released the 2024 schedule.

On October 19, 2023 the Waterloo Woo announced their owners and changed their team name to the Iowa Woo.

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. The league has also announced a second expansion team in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Rules

The Arena League's rules aim to highlight the player's athleticism and increase the pace of play. The field will be traditional arena football size, measuring 50 yards long and 85 feet wide enclosed by padded walls. Teams will have 15-player rosters with the game being played with six offensive players against six defensive players. The league will follow 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 will communicate with helmet communication systems that fans will be able to listen to in real time. Kickoffs will be replaced with a quarterback throwoff, with an onside conversion option (akin to that seen in Fan Controlled Football and Alliance of American Football) available. All forms of kicking the ball are prohibited, including punts and field goals.

There will only be one on-field official to mark and set the ball and make penalty announcements. There will be sky judges watching live video feeds to decide penalties in real time. Coaches and fans will have access to the referee interactions. After each game, fans can give feedback on the referees performance.

Teams

Season format

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.

ArenaMania

On April 6, 2024, the league announced that the championship game will be known as ArenaMania.

Media

Business

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. The league would later announce owners for all four locations.

On December 4, 2023 former Dallas Desperados executive Ronnie Davis was appointed as Deputy Commissioner.

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.

Personnel

• 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