By Brady Ray
Have you ever envisioned football in the blistering heat of summer? I bet you haven’t but what if it were indoors in an arena? You know, the place with the air conditioning? Would that change your mind? The Arena League, The AL or TAL, will be bringing a refreshing take on the beloved game of football this summer. Play will begin on June 1st which is still technically spring but we can all agree June can be unforgiving when it comes to the heat. They will play a 9-week schedule with the final regular season game on July 27th with playoffs beginning in August. The idea of having football year-round seems repetitive and prone to stale but bringing something different to the table would keep this game fresh. Many can attest that this is just another arena football league clout chasing off the coattails of the AFL but The AL is not that nor do they want to be.
The Arena League is a 6 versus 6 game of football with all offensive players eligible as receivers and no restrictions on defense. Three players will act as linemen but are active receivers once the ball is snapped. This leaves traditional big linemen out of the picture with an emphasis on skills positions. The quarterback will not be able to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage unless it is by way of a pass making every play a mad scramble like back in recess. Quarterbacks are pressured to make a throw every down or risk being sacked all game long. Receivers will have to dig deeper in their routes and create space quicker to give their gunslingers a fighting chance. Kicking will not be a part of this league. Kickoffs will be replaced with throw-offs like a good old-fashioned backyard game. Onside Conversions will take the place of Onside Kicks. Teams will either have to go for it on 4th down or surrender the ball instead of punting. Teams will play with a 20-second play clock and no offensive huddles whatsoever unless a timeout is called. Instead of huddles, players and coaches will be able to communicate via headsets that even fans can access and break for the play. The idea is to keep the game actively moving to provide a captivating experience for the fans while giving them all access as if they’re one of the team. Only a singular referee will be present to place and set the ball while also announcing penalties. Penalties will be assessed by a crew of officials from a skybox with a live aerial view of the game. Post-game reviews of the referees’ performance will be filled out by fans as they will also have access to referee interactions. All of this encapsulates a hybrid breed of football that is sure to take fans to the next level.
The league has encouraged fan input since day one and even held a vote to decide the inaugural franchises’ locations. The league also opted for nontraditional nicknames for their league teams. Fans were influenced to pick nicknames unique to their respective cities that have never been used by anyone. The first season will begin with only four teams but expansion is never out of the question in the future. The four initial teams for the 2024 season are the Duluth Harbor Monsters, Iowa Woo, Kansas City Goats, and the Ozarks Lunkers. The goal was to be different and they found the end zone in my opinion. Teams have held tryouts over the last year and many signings have been reported. Roster maximums are held at 15 players per team with athletes playing both sides of the ball. The league has made strenuous efforts to find local talent to supply their teams especially and give these young men another shot at glory. Having local players on your squad gives the home crowd another great reason to come out and support their team. Warming up to the idea yet? Guess which NFL legend is at the forefront?
This newfound league is led by Heisman Trophy Winner, Pro Football Hall of Fame, wide receiver, Tim Brown, and his colleagues Ronnie Davis and Dr. Michael Kuban. Brown recently was the general manager and co-owner of the Texas Revolution from the Champions’ Indoor Football League but will now serve as League Chairman and Commissioner of the League. His rich history of the sport and experience outside of playing provides an interesting pull for the league. Davis will serve as Deputy Commissioner after a storied career in the Dallas and Fort Worth area while Dr. Kuban will be Director of Officials. Both of them are no strangers to arena football working for Jerry Jones’ Dallas Desperados. Tommy Benizio will be League Adviser after spending time with the aforementioned Texas Revolution with Tim Brown. JR Bond is the Financial Group Leader and a former owner of the Sioux City Bandits and the Topeka Tropics. This league is an ambitious attempt yet a feasible one. Chairman and Commissioner Brown keeping his promises and delivering a consistent, unique product that fans can latch onto will be a challenge but I believe he’s assessed all of those risks. By starting small with 4 teams, 60 players, and limited travel, they should be able to cut a lot of costs that frequently kill newer leagues.
More details have yet to be clarified like what platform games will be available on, jersey, and stadium reveals but this has all the right ingredients for a successful product. When you’re thinking of your summer plans this year, forget sitting in a baseball park sweating through countless innings waiting for excitement. Find yourself in the arena where it’s cool both literally and figuratively. Enjoy a game of football that harkens to the days of backyard football and good old-fashioned fun. Enter the arena and ask yourself afterward: Are you not entertained?