National Arena League

American indoor football league

National Arena LeagueMost recent season or competition:
2024 National Arena League season

Sport| Arena football
Founded| 2016
First season| 2017
Commissioner| Brandon Ikard
No. of teams| 8 (as of April 25, 2025)
Country|

* United States

Headquarters| Atlanta, Georgia
Most recent
champion(s)| Omaha Beef (1st title)
Most titles| Jacksonville Sharks (3 titles)
Broadcaster(s)| Right Now TV
Related
competitions| AF1, IFL, TAL
Official website| nationalarenaleague.com

The National Arena League (NAL) is a professional indoor football league that began play in 2017. As of the end of the 2024 season, the league consisted of five teams.

A team's typical payroll budget is $600,000 per season,[1] but as of the 2022 season, there is no salary cap limit.[2] Players are usually paid $200 per week (before taxes), and veterans can make $225 with the potential raises for loyalty on a year-by-year basis. Additionally, $50 bonus is given to players on the winning team each week.[3] Some teams also provide housing for their players during the season.

Teams' estimated annual revenue is between $500,000 and $800,000 a year.[4]

## History

[edit]

### Origins

[edit]

In June 2016, Columbus Lions' owner Skip Seda and father Keke Seda founded a league called the Arena Developmental League (ADL) in the wake of several years of minor indoor leagues folding. The league was announced to begin play in March 2017 and, while not affiliated with any other leagues, intended on developing players to be looked at by scouts in the Arena Football League (AFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and National Football League (NFL). In their introductory press conference, the league announced former AFL, af2, and CFL head coach John Gregory as its first commissioner and former AFL and af2 head coach Chris Siegfried as director of football operations.

Charter teams began being announced in July 2016 with the Columbus Lions and Lehigh Valley Steelhawks joining from the defunct American Indoor Football.[5][6] On July 21, the High Country Grizzlies announced their ADL membership after initially being announced as an AIF expansion team.[7] On August 11, the Dayton Wolfpack were announced as the league's fourth team.[8] On September 13, the ADL added the Georgia Firebirds from the AIF as the fifth team.[9] On September 21, the league announced its sixth team to be from Highland Heights, Kentucky, owned by Northern Kentucky Professional Indoor Football LLC headed by W. Leland Bennett III. Bennett was one of the owners of the Northern Kentucky Nightmare, a travel team that played in the AIF the previous season, but no name for the ADL team was announced and the franchise was removed from the league when the league later changed names. In October, the ADL added the Anderson Gladiators from Anderson, South Carolina, but they were removed from the league in November due to arena lease issues.[10] On October 17, the Corpus Christi Rage announced it had joined the ADL (although the ADL did not confirm until October 28).[11] On October 20, the ADL announced that the Fort Myers area-based Florida Tarpons were joining the league.[12] However, the Tarpons would also withdraw from the league on November 10 to join the upstart Arena Pro Football.

### National Arena League: first seasons

[edit]

#### 2017 season

[edit]

Main article: 2017 National Arena League season

On November 18, 2016, the league announced it had changed its name to National Arena League. As part of the change in name, the league management was also restructured so that it was no longer managed by Lions' owner Skip Seda, but was instead managed by all member teams equally. Later that day, the league added a former Arena Football League team, the Jacksonville Sharks. On November 30, the league added the Monterrey Steel from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, becoming the first American indoor/arena league to house a Mexican team as well as the first in fifteen years to house a team from outside the United States.[13] In order to satisfy the Sharks' contract with their arena, they were given eight home games in the 12-game season. To balance the uneven scheduling, the Corpus Christi Rage and Dayton Wolfpack each only were given five home games while the other five teams each had six. This was changed again when the Wolfpack apparently never were able to secure an arena lease, despite announcing they would play at the Nutter Center and signed players were reporting on social media that all players had been cut. As of February 20, 2017, all Wolfpack home games were canceled.[14] During the season, the league took over operations of the Firebirds,[15] Rage, and Wolfpack. The Sharks would go on to finish with an 11–1 record and win the inaugural championship game over the Lions. The Rage and Wolfpack folded at the end of the season.

During the first season, the league announced the first 2018 expansion team in the Jersey Flight of Trenton, New Jersey.[16] During the summer league meetings, the NAL conditionally approved ownership groups in Boston, Providence, Richmond, and Orlando[17] with an expansion application deadline of August 15, 2017. The Richmond Roughriders, formerly of Arena Pro Football, confirmed the next day that they were finalizing their NAL expansion requirements.[18] However, on September 13, the Roughriders announced they were joining the American Arena League instead.

#### 2018 season

[edit]

On September 28, 2017, the NAL announced on their Facebook page that the Jacksonville Sharks, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, Columbus Lions, and Jersey Flight had all signed three-year NAL membership agreements and committed to play in the league until 2020. The Monterrey Steel could not commit for 2018 citing the 2017 Central Mexico earthquake. The Georgia Firebirds could not commit due to an ownership transition, but failed to obtain an arena lease. Despite the initially announced August 15 deadline, the next confirmed expansion team was announced in November as the Massachusetts Pirates based out of Worcester, Massachusetts. In the expansion announcement, the league also mentioned adding teams in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Portland, Maine, but no mention of the other previously conditionally approved teams in Boston, Providence, or Orlando.[19] The Carolina Cobras were announced in Greensboro on December 4 and the Maine Mammoths on December 5, with both teams owned by National Sports Ventures, and organization led by NAL executive Rob Storm and Atlanta businessman Richard Maslia[20] and includes Sharks' owner and expansion chairman Jeff Bouchy.[21] The Monterrey Steel and the expansion Jersey Flight would be removed from the league for failing to meet the minimum league obligations prior to the release of the 2018 schedule.[22]

In October 2017, commissioner Gregory stepped down and was replaced by the director of operations, Chris Siegfried.[23] The 2018 season began on April 7, 2018. All three expansion teams fared well, with the Cobras winning the league championship, the Pirates finishing the regular season in first place, and the Mammoths ending the season on a five-game winning streak. However, the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks finished the season winless and the owner announced he was trying to sell the team, while the Mammoths were also announced as looking for local ownership.

#### 2019 season

[edit]

The league announced its first addition of the 2019 season in the New York Streets with plans to play at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York, in December 2018.[24][25][26][27] A revived Orlando Predators team, owned and coached by players from the former Arena Football League team of the same name, was added on January 17, 2019.[28] After failing to reach an agreement with local ownership, both the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and Maine Mammoths announced they had suspended operations for the season.[29][30] Prior to the 2019 season, Sharks' majority owner and NAL expansion chairman Jeff Bouchy resigned and sold his interest in the team to the other owners on March 11, 2019.[31] The Sharks won the 2019 NAL championship.[32]

### 2020–present

[edit]

#### 2020

[edit]

Following the season, the NAL announced it had partnered with Champions Indoor Football (CIF) to create a new league for the 2020 season under a new identity with two conferences: the CIF and NAL.[33] The Massachusetts Pirates chose to not join the merged league[34] and the New York Streets were not mentioned as an included team. However, it was announced on October 10 that the deal had been postponed, with both leagues playing their own individual schedules in 2020.[35] The Pirates rejoined the NAL and the league then added two teams that had originally been given conditional approval to join in the 2018 season, the Jersey Flight[36] and the West Virginia Roughriders[37] (then known as the Richmond Roughriders), from the American Arena League. As with almost all other sports leagues, the NAL suspended operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, with intention to hold the season once social distancing mandates were lifted and it was safe to do so. The season was fully canceled by June 12, 2020.[38]

#### 2021 season

[edit]

Following the cancellation of the 2020 season, Massachusetts Pirates left for the Indoor Football League (IFL), while the NAL announced the additions of the Albany Empire,[39] Baltimore Lightning,[40] Louisville Xtreme,[41] Ontario Bandits,[42] and the Tampa Bay Tornadoes.[43] The Baltimore franchise membership was revoked less than three weeks after being announced. The Louisville and Tampa Bay organizations left the league three months after being added, and the West Virginia Roughriders opted to go dormant for 2021 while the owner was trying to sell the team.[44] Louisville instead joined the IFL.[45] The start of the 2021 season was delayed to at least May 2021 due to the ongoing restrictions in the pandemic.[46] One week before the start of the 2021 season, the Ontario Bandits went dormant.[47]

#### 2022 season

[edit]

Main article: 2022 National Arena League season

For the 2022 season, the league announced it was going to start playing using ironman rules, where most players must play both offense and defense, as originally used by the Arena Football League from 1987 to 2007.[48] In October 2021, the Roughriders stated they will not return to the NAL during a dispute with the league contract,[49][50] but were then in discussions with selling the team to the ownership group led by Ron Trideco to keep the team in the NAL.[51] On November 11, the league announced the San Antonio Gunslingers as an expansion team after playing their inaugural 2021 season in the AAL.[52] The Roughriders, Ontario Bandits, and Jersey Flight were eventually removed from the list of 2022 NAL teams[53][54] and were not included in the schedule.[55]

#### 2023 season

[edit]

Main article: 2023 National Arena League season

On July 14, 2022, the league announced its first addition for the 2023 season in Fayetteville, North Carolina, later named the Fayetteville Mustangs.[56] At halftime of the 2022 NAL championship, the league announced the West Texas Warbirds from Odessa, Texas, would be joining the league for 2023. On August 24, 2022, the league announced the return of rebound nets, which had been popularized by the Arena Football League.[57] On December 22, the membership of the Columbus Lions was discontinued and the team left the league.[58]

Due to various financial problems, both the Albany Empire and Fayetteville Mustangs were removed the league schedule during the season.

The Sharks won the 2023 NAL championship.[59]

#### 2024 season

[edit]

Main article: 2024 National Arena League season

In August 2023, the league announced it had added the Omaha Beef[60] and Sioux City Bandits[61] from Champions Indoor Football for the 2024 season. On August 22, 2023, the Jacksonville Sharks announced they were joining the Indoor Football League (IFL).[62] The league added the expansion Colorado Spartans, based out of Loveland, Colorado, on August 31.[63] Also on August 31, the Warbirds, which had been renamed as the West Texas Desert Hawks, were announced as joining the relaunched Arena Football League.[64] On September 14, the Topeka Tropics also joined the NAL from the CIF.[65] On September 21, the two-time American West Football Conference champions Idaho Horsemen joined the NAL.[66] On September 26, the San Antonio Gunslingers were announced as also joining the IFL.[67] The next day, the North Texas Bulls announced their membership in the NAL.[68] On October 16, the Oklahoma Flying Aces were as announced as the eighth and final team for the 2024 NAL season.[69] The NAL, however, terminated the North Texas Bulls' membership on February 16, 2024, due to "failure to pay league dues as well as failure to provide an executed arena lease for the upcoming 2024 season."[70] The announcement came one day after the NAL revoked the Topeka Tropics' membership "due to violations of their League Affiliation Agreement, including failure to pay league dues and meeting other criteria to participate in the upcoming 2024 season". The NAL stated it is in discussions with new ownership as it tries to keep a Topeka team part of the 2024 season.[71] The Tropics put out an open letter begging members of the Topeka business community to buy and save the franchise.[72] On February 28, 2024, the league terminated the Tropics membership.[73]

#### 2025 season

[edit]

On June 21, 2024, the Wheeling Miners, formerly of the American Arena League, joined the NAL for the 2025 season.[74] On July 9, 2024, the league announced a merger with the remaining teams in American Indoor Football and added the Corpus Christi Tritons and Harrisburg Stampede and welcomed back the Columbus Lions.[75] On August 15, 2024, the first-year Shreveport Rouxgaroux joined the NAL.[76] On August 20, 2024, the Amarillo Dusters (formerly known as the Venom and played in various leagues over the last 20 years) joined the NAL.[77] The Stampede folded, while the NAL expelled the Dusters and Tritons, ostensibly blaming "noncompliance," but later clarifying that the NAL had been having difficulty booking dates at its other teams' arenas; the Tritons instead joined Arena Football One.[78] On February 4, 2025, the league announced that they had promoted executive Brandon Ikard to commissioner replacing former commissioner Todd Walkenhorst.[79] For the 2025 season, the NAL dropped the rebound nets and returned to traditional goalposts.

On February 21, 2025, the NAL secured a television contract with Right Now TV, a multicast network with over-the-air affiliates and free ad-supported streaming.[80]

The Carolina Cobras suspended operations April 24, 2025, citing "unforeseen circumstances."[81]

## Teams

[edit]

### Map of teams

[edit]

Renegades

Spartans

Lions

Horsemen

Beef

Rouxgaroux

Bandits

Miners

class=notpageimage|

NAL team locations (National Division teams in blue; American Division teams in red)

### Current members

[edit]

Division | Team | Location | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined | Head coach

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

American | Beaumont Renegades | Beaumont, Texas | Ford Arena | 8,200 | 2023[a] | 2025 | Corey Mayfield
Columbus Lions | Columbus, Georgia | Columbus Civic Center | 7,573 | 2006[b] | 2017, 2025[c] | Damian Daniels
Shreveport Rouxgaroux | Shreveport, Louisiana | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum | 10,300 | 2024 | 2025 | Jermaine Hampton[82]
Wheeling Miners | Wheeling, West Virginia | WesBanco Arena | 5,406 | 2024[d] | 2025 | Josh Resignalo
National | Colorado Spartans | Denver, Colorado | Denver Coliseum | 8,140 | 2023 | 2024 | Fred Shaw
Idaho Horsemen | Nampa, Idaho | Ford Idaho Center | 12,279 | 2018[e] | 2024 | Chris Reynolds
Omaha Beef | Omaha, Nebraska | Liberty First Credit Union Arena | 4,600 | 2000[f] | 2024 | Brandon Negron
Sioux City Bandits | Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center | 6,941 | 2000[g] | 2024 | Erv Strohbeen

1. ^ In American Indoor Football, but were released prior to several former AIF teams merging with the NAL.
2. ^ In the World Indoor Football League.
3. ^ Team played the first five seasons of the NAL, then was sold to new ownership in the 2022 offseason and the league subsequently discontinued their membership.[58] Rejoined when several AIF teams merged into the NAL.
4. ^ In American Indoor Football, but joined the American Arena League prior to their inaugural season.
5. ^ In the American West Football Conference.
6. ^ In the Indoor Professional Football League.
7. ^ In the original Indoor Football League.

### Former members

[edit]

Team | Location | Joined | Departed | Notes

|
|
|
|

Albany Empire | Albany, New York | 2021 | 2023 | League membership terminated due to non-payment of league dues. Owner Antonio Brown was also fined for conduct detrimental to the league, a fine included with league dues, and Brown failed to pay that fine.[83] Reorganized as the Albany Firebirds and joined Arena Football League (2024), then Arena Football One.
Amarillo Dusters |

Amarillo, Texas

| Never played  | were terminated by the league on February 2 2025
Anderson Gladiators | Anderson, South Carolina | Never played | Announced as a team for the ADL's inaugural 2017 season, but were later removed by the league. Anderson subsequently announced plans to join Supreme Indoor Football, but never played a game.
Baltimore Lightning | Baltimore, Maryland | Never played | Announced as a 2021 expansion team, but league terminated franchise two weeks later when team failed to post required Letter of Credit.[84] Now an outdoor developmental team; most recently attempted to join the International Football Alliance but
Carolina Cobras | Greensboro, North Carolina | 2018  | 2025  | Cancelled the rest of the 2025 season, but plan to return in 2026 under new ownership.
Corpus Christi Rage | Corpus Christi, Texas | 2017 | Team operations were assumed by the league after four games, with operations ceased at conclusion of the season.[85]
Corpus Christi Tritons | Corpus Christi, Texas | Never played | Were to have joined the league, but were left off of the 2025 season schedule and looking at other leagues. The team claimed that they were left off the schedule because the league failed to acknowledge that they met all league requirements, a claim the league has yet to address.[86] The team has since joined rival Arena Football One.
Dayton Wolfpack | Traveling team | 2017 | Originally intended to play in Dayton, Ohio; the original team operators failed to secure an arena lease. League ran the team as a traveling team for other team's home games using various semi-professional units based out of Georgia during the 2017 season.
Fayetteville Mustangs | Fayetteville, North Carolina | 2022 | 2023 | Joined as an expansion team for the 2023 season, but withdrew during the season after playing eight games.[87]
Florida Tarpons | Estero, Florida | Never played | Joined ADL on October 20, 2016, after playing in American Indoor Football (AIF). Subsequently announced they had joined Arena Pro Football for 2017 instead but never played a game.
Georgia Firebirds | Albany, Georgia | 2017 | Joined the ADL after playing in American Indoor Football. League assumed operations during 2017 season. After the season, the league announced that the team was changing ownership but could not commit to the 2018 season until the new ownership obtained a new arena lease. In November 2017, the Firebirds were removed as league members.
Harrisburg Stampede | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Never played | Were to have joined the league with other former AIF teams, but folded on December 3, 2024 before they were to have played.
High Country Grizzlies | Boone, North Carolina | 2017 | Originally an AIF expansion team, one of the first ADL teams announced. Left after 2017 for the newly formed American Arena League.[88]
Jacksonville Sharks | Jacksonville, Florida | 2017 | 2023 | One of the NAL's founding members in 2017 that joined from the Arena Football League. Left for the Indoor Football League after winning the 2023 NAL championship.
Jersey Flight | Trenton, New Jersey | 2020 | 2021 | An announced 2018 expansion team that was removed from the league prior to the release of the 2018 schedule. Team then joined the American Arena League. Under new ownership, the NAL announced the team as a member for the 2020 season. The team ceased operations prior to the 2022 season.[89]
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 2017 | 2018 | One of the first two teams announced in the ADL and then played the first two NAL seasons. The team suspended operations after the ownership failed to find a buyer to operate the team for the 2019 season.
Louisville Xtreme | Louisville, Kentucky | Never played | Announced by the NAL as a 2021 expansion team, but league membership was terminated three months later. The team then joined the Indoor Football League a week later, but folded a few weeks into the season.[44][90]
Maine Mammoths | Portland, Maine | 2018 | Established along with the Carolina Cobras for the 2018 season by National Sports Ventures, a company that included league expansion chairman and Jacksonville Sharks owner Jeff Bouchy, NAL executive Rob Storm, and Atlanta businessman Richard Maslia. After failing to secure local ownership, the Mammoths suspended operations before the 2019 season. In September 2019, the league announced it is finalizing the process for the Mammoths to return in 2020[91] but never made it on the 2020 schedule.
Massachusetts Pirates | Worcester, Massachusetts | 2018 | 2020 | Announced by the NAL as a 2018 expansion team. The team entered the league with a three-year league affiliation agreement. Not offered another three-year membership agreement before the 2021 season[92] after the team was openly looking to join other leagues.[93] The Pirates joined the Indoor Football League for the 2021 season.
Monterrey Steel | Monterrey, Nuevo Leon | 2017 | Played the inaugural 2017 season as an expansion team; could not commit to the 2018 season and were removed from the league.
New York Streets | White Plains, New York | 2019 | Announced by the NAL as a 2019 expansion team. Played on an undersized field at the Westchester County Center where, among other things, the lockers of players of the visiting Carolina Cobras were robbed during a game. Ceased operations afterward.
North Texas Bulls | Fort Worth, Texas | Never played | Joined NAL in September 2023 after being a member of the Arena Football Association, however, membership was revoked on February 16, 2024.
Northern Kentucky | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Never played | An unnamed team created from the former travel-only team, the Northern Kentucky Nightmare, that played in the AIF in 2016 and was initially announced as an inaugural ADL team. Team was removed when the ADL changed names to the NAL.
Ontario Bandits | Ontario, California | Never played | Announced as a 2021 expansion team, but then went dormant for the season. Not listed as a member for the 2022 season.[53][94]
Oklahoma Flying Aces | Enid, Oklahoma | 2024 | Joined from the Champions Indoor Football merger in 2023. The team terminated their season after four games after announcing ownership restructuring.
Orlando Predators | Orlando, Florida | 2019 | 2023 | Started as an expansion team in 2019 named for the former Arena Football League team. Joined the third incarnation of the AFL for 2024.
San Antonio Gunslingers | San Antonio, Texas | 2022 | 2023 | Joined from the American Arena League for the 2022 season. Joined the Indoor Football League for the 2024 season.
Tampa Bay Tornadoes | Tampa, Florida | Never played | Announced as a 2021 expansion team, but the league terminated the team's membership three months later.[44] The organization re-joined the American Arena League.
Topeka Tropics | Topeka, Kansas | Never played | Joined NAL in 2023 after being a member of Champions Indoor Football, however, membership was revoked on February 28, 2024.[73]
West Texas Warbirds | Odessa, Texas | 2023 | Started as an expansion team in 2020 and was to have played with Champions Indoor Football before the COVID-19 pandemic scrapped those plans. Joined the NAL for one season in 2023, then joined the third incarnation of the Arena Football League for 2024 and were rebranded the West Texas Desert Hawks.
West Virginia Roughriders | Wheeling, West Virginia | Never played | Announced as a 2020 expansion team that previously played in the American Arena League. Team suspended operations due to onset of COVID-19 pandemic. Listed as dormant member thorough the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but left the league prior to 2022 season due to a financial dispute with the NAL having never played a game.

### Timeline

[edit]

## Championships

[edit]

Year | Champion
(Record in Championship Games) | Runner-up
(Record in Championship Games) | Game Site
(Games Hosted) | Score | Notes | Attendance

|
|
|
|
|
|

2017 | Jacksonville Sharks (1–0) | Columbus Lions (0–1)[95] | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena | 27–21[96] |  | 9,730
2018 | Carolina Cobras (1–0) | Columbus Lions (0–2)[97] | Greensboro Coliseum Complex | 66–8[98] |  |
2019 | Jacksonville Sharks (2–0) | Carolina Cobras (1–1) | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (2) | 52–48[99] |  |
2020 | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 | Albany Empire (1–0)[100] | Columbus Lions (0–3) | MVP Arena | 79–62[101] |  | 4,014
2022 | Albany Empire (2–0)[102] | Carolina Cobras (1–2) | MVP Arena (2) | 47–20[103] |  | 4,281
2023 | Jacksonville Sharks (3–0) | Carolina Cobras (1–3) | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (3) | 54–45[104] |  | 8,539
2024 | Omaha Beef (1–0) | Sioux City Bandits (0–1) | Liberty First Credit Union Arena | 47–46 | 2OT |
2025  |  |  | Doggett Ford Park |  |  |

## Commissioners

[edit]

* Brandon Ikard (2025-present)[105]
* Todd Walkenhorst (2023–2025)[106]
* Chris Siegfried (2017–2023)[107]
* John Gregory (2016)[108]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Empire are back, but will they make enough money to stay?". Times Union. May 8, 2021.
2. ^ "Interview Series; with NAL Commissioner Chris Siegfried". YouTube. April 23, 2022.
3. ^ "Kenny McEntyre revives Orlando Predators in National Arena League". January 17, 2019.
4. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Albany Empire's Ousting: The Inside Story with Antonio Brown And National Arena League". xflnewshub.com. June 21, 2023.
5. ^ Lions owner Seda establishes new Arena Developmental League Archived July 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Dana Barker, Columbus Ledger-Inquirer, July 7, 2016
6. ^ "Steelhawks Announce Arena Developmental League Affiliation". OurSports Central. July 19, 2016. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
7. ^ "Grizzlies Announce New Affiliation". OurSports Central. July 21, 2016. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
8. ^ "Dayton Wolfpack Announce Intentions to Join ADL". ArenaDL.com. Arena Developmental League. August 11, 2016. Archived from the original on January 22, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
9. ^ "Georgia Firebirds to join Arena Development League". The Albany Herald. September 13, 2016.
10. ^ "Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report". OurSports Central. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
11. ^ "Ceremony held for new Corpus Christi Rage arena football team". KIII. October 17, 2016. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
12. ^ "League to Welcome Former Two-Time Champion Florida Tarpons". ADL. October 20, 2016. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
13. ^ "NAL Goes International". NAL. November 30, 2016. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
14. ^ "NAL's Dayton Wolpack set to become a travel only team". Arena Football Talk. February 20, 2017. Archived from the original on February 26, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
15. ^ "Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report". OurSports Central. May 22, 2017. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
16. ^ "JERSEY FLIGHT FOOTBALL, INC. Announces kick-off of the Jersey Flight Arena Football Team". Gloucester City News. March 10, 2017. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
17. ^ "NAL Announces Teams for 2018 Play - Northeast Bolstered by Expansion". NAL. July 20, 2017. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
18. ^ Brandon Russell (July 21, 2017). "Richmond Roughriders officially announce NAL Expansion". Last Word On Sports. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
19. ^ "Indoor football league plans to put expansion team in Portland". Portland Press Herald. November 15, 2017. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
20. ^ "Maine Mammoths, arena football team, calls a halt after one season". Portland Press Herald. February 6, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
21. ^ "Mammoths to bring arena football to Portland". The Forecaster. December 5, 2017. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
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24. ^ Neil Best (December 18, 2018). "New York Streets announced as new arena football team". NewsDay. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
25. ^ Carron J. Phillips (December 18, 2018). "As the first black sports owner in NY history, Corey Galloway bringing arena football back to the city". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
26. ^ Peter Schwartz (December 19, 2018). "Schwartz on Sports: Corey Galloway, owner of the NY Streets". New York Sports Day. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
27. ^ Nancy Haggerty (December 20, 2018). "Pro arena football to debut at County Center in spring; owner hopes for multi-league playoff". The Journal News.
28. ^ "Predators Return for the 2019 Season". NAL. January 17, 2018. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
29. ^ "Maine Mammoths Suspend Operations for the 2019 Season". OurSportsCentral.com. February 5, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
30. ^ "Lehigh Valley Steelhawks to go on hiatus for 2019 arena football season". The Morning Call. February 14, 2019. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
31. ^ "Jeffrey Bouchy Facebook post March 11, 2019". Facebook. March 11, 2019.
32. ^ "SHARKS WIN! Jacksonville Reclaims the NAL Title". Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
33. ^ "NAL and CIF merge to form new indoor football league". WTVM. September 26, 2019. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
34. ^ "Pirates Weigh Anchor from NAL/CIF Partnership". Massachusetts Pirates. September 26, 2019. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
35. ^ "National Arena League and Champions Indoor Football to Postpone 2020 partnership". NAL. October 10, 2019. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
36. ^ "National Arena League Continues to Expand North with New Jersey to Join the League in 2020". OurSports Central. October 25, 2019. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
37. ^ "NAL Expands North, West Virginia to Join League in 2020". OurSports Central. October 24, 2019. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
38. ^ "June NAL Season Update". National Arena League. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
39. ^ "Expansion Alert: Albany, New York Joins The NAL". National Arena League. August 13, 2020. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
40. ^ "Expansion Alert: The Baltimore Lightning Joins The NAL". National Arena League. August 1, 2020. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020.
41. ^ "Expansion Alert: Louisville Xtreme Joins The NAL". National Arena League. July 22, 2020. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
42. ^ "National Arena League Announces First West Coast Team in League History". National Arena League. November 13, 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020.
43. ^ "Expansion Alert:Tampa Bay Tornadoes Joins The NAL". National Arena League. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
44. ^ a b c "Tampa and Louisville Memberships Terminated". National Arena League. October 30, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
45. ^ "Louisville Joins IFL For 2021". Indoor Football League. November 6, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020.
46. ^ "NAL Announces 2021 Schedule Shift". OurSports Central. February 9, 2021.
47. ^ "Ontario Bandits Become Dormant For 2021 Season". National Arena League. May 24, 2021.
48. ^ "The NAL Becomes The New Home For Ironman Football". NAL. October 8, 2021.
49. ^ "Update: We can't seem to get on the same page with the NAL on our league contract". West Virginia Roughriders Facebook. October 12, 2021.
50. ^ "Are you playing in the NAL???". West Virginia Roughriders Facebook. October 24, 2021.
51. ^ @WVRoughriders (October 27, 2021). "Update; We are in talks with TX4 group for purchase of team. TX4 group also has ownership of Albany Empire & Orlando Predators. Ownership would keep team in Wheeling and play in NAL. Will keep fans posted as we move into further Negotiations. #Ridermafia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
52. ^ "NAL Announces San Antonio Gunslingers As Expansion Franchise". National Arena League. November 11, 2021.
53. ^ a b "About the NAL". NAL. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
54. ^ "About the NAL". NAL. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021.
55. ^ "NAL Announces it's [sic] 2022 Schedule". NAL. December 21, 2021.
56. ^ "National Arena League Announces Expansion Team For 2023". National Arena League. July 14, 2022.
57. ^ "NAL Brings Back Rebound Nets For 2023". National Arena League. August 24, 2021.
58. ^ a b "NAL Discontinues Membership Of The Columbus Lions". National Arena League. July 14, 2022.
59. ^ "Jacksonville Sharks vs Carolina Cobras". YouTube. August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
60. ^ "CIF Champion Omaha Beef Joins The NAL". National Arena League. August 9, 2023.
61. ^ "NAL Announces Sioux City Bandits As Expansion Franchise". National Arena League. August 8, 2023.
62. ^ "IFL Adds Jacksonville Sharks". Indoor Football League. August 22, 2023.
63. ^ "Colorado Spartans Expansion Team Joins the NAL for 2024". NAL. August 31, 2023.
64. ^ "Arena Football League announces that the West Texas Desert Hawks will be the newest franchise". NewsWest9. August 31, 2023.
65. ^ "National Arena League Expansion Continues In Kansas". NAL. September 14, 2023.
66. ^ "Idaho Revealed As The Next NAL Franchise To Join In 2024". NAL. September 21, 2023.
67. ^ "IFL Adds San Antonio Gunslingers". Indoor Football League. September 26, 2023.
68. ^ "North Texas Bulls Ready To Run With The NAL For 2024". NAL. September 27, 2023.
69. ^ "Oklahoma Aces Join The NAL For The 2024 Season". NAL. October 16, 2023.
70. ^ "NAL Board Terminates North Texas Bulls Membership". National Arena League. February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
71. ^ Lovergine, Vince (February 15, 2024). "Topeka Tropics National Arena League membership revoked". WIBW.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
72. ^ Self, Matthew (February 22, 2024). "Topeka Tropics put out 'heartfelt call' for investors after owner backs out". KSNT via Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
73. ^ a b "NAL Board Terminates Topeka Tropics Membership". National Arena League. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
74. ^ "Wheeling Miners Join National Arena League For 2025". NAL. June 21, 2024.
75. ^ "American Indoor Football League Joins The National Arena League". NAL. July 9, 2024.
76. ^ "Shreveport Rouxgaroux Join the National Arena League". August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
77. ^ "Amarillo Dusters Join the National Arena League". August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
78. ^ "Beaumont Renegades Join the NAL". September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
79. ^ "Executive Brandon Ikard Promoted to Commissioner". February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
80. ^ "News: NAL Partners with Right Now TV - National Arena League". www.nationalarenaleague.com. February 21, 2025. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
81. ^ "Carolina Cobras end 2025 season early due to unforeseen circumstances". wfmynews2.com. April 25, 2025. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
82. ^ https://www.geauxrouxgaroux.com/staff
83. ^ "Albany Empire, owned by Antonio Brown, kicked out of arena league". ESPN. June 15, 2023.
84. ^ "Baltimore Lightning Update on 2021 Season". NAL. August 19, 2020.
85. ^ "Another indoor football team bites the dust, Rage calls it quits after going 0-9". KRIS-TV. June 15, 2017. Archived from the original on July 22, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
86. ^ AIF staff (October 14, 2024). "AIF Championship - American Bowl". AIF YouTube Channel.
87. ^ "League Updates Regular Season Schedule For 2023 Season". NAL. June 26, 2023.
88. ^ "High Country Grizzlies Leave NAL; Join AAL". Last Word on Sports. September 20, 2017. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
89. ^ "Teams". NAL. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021.
90. ^ "Louisville Joins IFL For 2021". Indoor Football League. November 6, 2020.
91. ^ "The Maine Mammoths Awaken". NAL. September 20, 2019. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
92. ^ "NAL Update: Massachusetts Pirates". National Arena League. July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
93. ^ "Indoor football: Massachusetts Pirates continue to focus forward". Telegram & Gazette. June 23, 2020.
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95. ^ "Columbus Lions lose heart breaker in National Arena League championship, 27-21". WRBL. July 11, 2017.
96. ^ "National Arena League Championship". YouTube. July 10, 2017.
97. ^ "Columbus Lions throttled in national championship game". Ledger Enquirer. August 29, 2018.
98. ^ "NAL Championship Game Highlights: Cobras Win 2018 Title". WFMY2. August 27, 2018.
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104. ^ "NAL Championship - Jacksonville Sharks vs Carolina Cobras". YouTube. August 12, 2023.
105. ^ "Executive Brandon Ikard Promoted to Commissioner". February 5, 2025.
106. ^ "Todd Walkenhorst Named New Commissioner of the NAL". oursportscentral.com. November 17, 2023.
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## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Media related to National Arena League at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

National Arena League

Teams|

* Beaumont Renegades
* Carolina Cobras
* Colorado Spartans
* Columbus Lions
* Idaho Horsemen
* Omaha Beef
* Shreveport Rouxgaroux
* Sioux City Bandits
* Wheeling Miners

Venues|

* Columbus Civic Center (Columbus)
* Denver Coliseum (Colorado)
* Ford Arena (Beaumont)
* Ford Idaho Center (Idaho)
* Greensboro Coliseum Complex (Carolina)
* Hirsch Memorial Coliseum (Shreveport)
* Liberty First Credit Union Arena (Omaha)
* Tyson Events Center (Sioux City)
* WesBanco Arena (Wheeling)

Former teams|

* Albany Empire (2021–2023)
* Corpus Christi Rage (2017)
* Dayton Wolfpack (2017)
* Fayetteville Mustangs (2023)
* Georgia Firebirds (2017)
* High Country Grizzlies (2017)
* Jacksonville Sharks (2017–2023)
* Jersey Flight (2020–2021)
* Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (2017–2018)
* Maine Mammoths (2018)
* Massachusetts Pirates (2018–2020)
* Monterrey Steel (2017)
* New York Streets (2019)
* Oklahoma Flying Aces (2024)
* Orlando Predators (2019–2023)
* San Antonio Gunslingers (2022–2023)
* West Texas Warbirds (2023)
* West Virginia Roughriders (2020)

Former venues|

* Albany Civic Center (Georgia)
* Amway Center (Orlando)
* Arena Monterrey (Monterrey)
* Chisholm Trail Coliseum (Oklahoma)
* Cross Insurance Arena (Maine)
* Crown Coliseum (Fayetteville)
* CURE Insurance Arena (Jersey)
* DCU Center (Massachusetts)
* Ector County Coliseum (West Texas)
* Freeman Coliseum (San Antonio)
* Holmes Center (High Country)
* MVP Arena (Albany)
* PPL Center (Lehigh Valley)
* VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville)
* Westchester County Center (New York)

Seasons|

* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

American football in the United States

History|

| Early|

* American Football Union
* Intercollegiate Football Association
* National Football League (1902)
* New York Pro Football League
* Ohio League
* Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit
* World Series of Football (1902–03)

|

Modern|

| Major|

* All-America Football Conference
* American Football League (1926)
* American Football League
* American Football League (1936)
* American Football League (1940)
* United States Football League
* World Football League

|

Minor|

* Alliance of American Football
* American Association
* Anthracite League
* Atlantic Coast Football League
* Continental Football League
* Dixie League
* Midwest Football League
* NFL Europe
* Pacific Coast Professional Football League
* United Football League (1961–1964)
* United Football League
* United States Football League
* XFL (2001)
* XFL (2020)

Developmental|

* The Spring League
* Your Call Football

Halls of fame|

* Professional
* College
* Arena
* Indoor

Professional|

| NFL|

* History
* Playoffs
* AFC Championship Game
* NFC Championship Game
* Pro Bowl
* Super Bowl

|

Other outdoor|

* American 7s Football League
* United Football League

Indoor leagues|

* American Arena League
* Arena Football Association
* American West Football Conference
* Arena Football League
* American Indoor Football
* Champions Indoor Football
* Indoor Football League
* National Arena League
* Great Lakes Arena Football
* Fan Controlled Football

Proposed leagues|

* American Patriot League
* American Spring Football League
* Freedom Football League
* The Arena League

Related topics|

* Researchers Association

College|

| NCAA|

| FBS|

* National championship
* Playoff National Championship
* Playoff
* Bowl game

|

FCS|

* Championship

Other|

* NAIA
* National Championship
* NJCAA
* Championship
* National Signing Day

Junior|

| High school|

* High School Football National Championship
* National Federation of State High School Associations
* National Signing Day

|

Youth / middle|

* American Youth Football
* Pop Warner

Women's|

* Extreme Football League
* United States Women's Football League
* Women's Football Alliance
* Women's National Football Conference

International|

* USA Football
* National men's team
* National women's team

Related|

* List of American football films
* Donald Trump and American football

* Category
* Commons
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Professional gridiron football leagues in North America

American football

| Major|

* National Football League (1920–present)

|

Other|

* American 7s Football League (2015–present)
* Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (2016–present)
* United Football League (2024–present)

Defunct national|

* American Football League (1926)²
* American Football League (1936–1937)²
* American Football League (1940–1941)
* All-America Football Conference² (1945–1949)
* American Football League (1960–1969)¹
* Continental Football League (1965–1969)
* World Football League (1974–1975)
* United States Football League (1983–1985)
* World League of American Football/NFL Europe/NFL Europa³
* XFL (2001)
* United Football League (2009–2012)
* Alliance of American Football (2019)
* XFL (2020, 2023)*
* United States Football League (2022–2023)*

Defunct regional|

* American Football Union (1886–1895)
* Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit** (1890–1905)
* Ohio League² (1902–1919)
* New York Pro Football League² (1908–1919)
* National Football League (1902)
* Anthracite League² (1924)
* Eastern League of Professional Football (1926–1927)
* American Football League (1934)
* Midwest Football League (1935–1940)
* Dixie League³ (1936–1947)
* American Association (American football)³
* American Football League (1938–1939)
* Eastern Pennsylvania Football League (1938)
* Pacific Coast Professional Football League³ (1940–1948)
* American Football League (1944)
* American Football League (1946–1950)³
* American Football Conference (1959–1961)
* United Football League (1961–1964)
* Atlantic Coast Football League³ (1962–1973)
* Midwest Football League (1962–1978)
* Professional Football League of America (1965–1967)
* Texas Football League (1966–1971)
* Seaboard Football League (1971–1974)
* American Football Association (1977–1983)
* Regional Football League (1999)
* Spring Football League (2000)
* World Football League (2008–2010)
* Stars Football League (2011–2013)
* Fall Experimental Football League (2014–2016)
* Fútbol Americano de México (2019–2022)

* ¹ Merged into the NFL. All teams still active as members of the NFL's American Football Conference.
* ² Teams moved to NFL
* ³ Official NFL minor league; see also Association of Professional Football Leagues
* * Merged into the UFL, still active as conferences within

Canadian football

| Major|

* Canadian Football League

|

Predecessors|

* Direct
* Interprovincial Rugby Football Union
* Western Interprovincial Football Union
* Other
* Ontario Rugby Football Union
* Quebec Rugby Football Union

Junior|

* Atlantic Football League
* Canadian Junior Football League
* Quebec Junior Football League

Arena/Indoor football

| Current|

* American Indoor Football
* American Arena League 2
* Arena Football One
* Indoor Football League
* National Arena League
* The Arena League
* United Indoor Football Association

|

Defunct|

* American Indoor Football Alliance
* American Professional Football League
* American West Football Conference
* Arena Football Association
* Arena Football League (1987–2008, 2010–2019)
* Arena Football League (2024)
* arenafootball2
* Arena Pro Football
* Can-Am Indoor Football League
* Champions Indoor Football
* Champions Professional Indoor Football League
* Continental Indoor Football League
* Great Lakes Arena Football
* Independent Indoor Football Alliance
* Indoor Football League (1999–2000)
* Indoor Professional Football League
* Intense Football League
* Lone Star Football League
* National Indoor Football League
* Professional Indoor Football League (1998)
* Professional Indoor Football League (2012)
* Southern Indoor Football League
* Supreme Indoor Football
* Ultimate Indoor Football League
* United Indoor Football
* X-League Indoor Football
* World Indoor Football League (2007)
* World Series of Football (1902–03)

On hiatus|

* Fan Controlled Football

Women's football

| Outdoor|

* Women's Football Alliance (2009–present)
* United States Women's Football League (2009–present)
* Women's National Football Conference (2018–present)

|

Defunct Outdoor|

* Women's Professional Football League (1965–1973)
* National Women's Football League (1974–1982)
* Women's Professional Football League (1999–2007)
* National Women's Football Association (2000–2008)
* Independent Women's Football League (2000–2018)

Arena football|

* X League (2009–present)

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