The Arena League

Professional American arena football league

Not to be confused with Arena Football League or Arena League (disambiguation).

The Arena LeagueUpcoming season or competition:
2025 The Arena League season

Sport| Arena football
Founded| February 2, 2024 (16 months ago) (2024-02-02)
First season| 2024
Commissioner| Tim Brown
No. of teams| 6
Country| United States
Most recent
champion(s)| Duluth Harbor Monsters
(1st title)
Most titles| Duluth Harbor Monsters
(1 title)
Broadcaster(s)| YouTube
Related
competitions| AF1, IFL, NAL
Official website| thearenaleague.football

The Arena League (The AL or TAL) is an indoor American football league in the United States. The league launched in 2024 with four teams playing six-on-six football, but expanded to six-teams and started playing regular 7-on-7 indoor football in its second season.[1]

## History

[edit]

The league was first announced in February 2023, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown as TAL Commissioner.[2] 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 the AL official website.[3]

The first city announced was Springfield[4] with Duluth being the second city.[5] Waterloo was announced on May 4 as the third team.[6] Kansas City was the fourth and final team announced for the inaugural 2024 season.[7] The league anticipates expanding in the forthcoming years, including adding two teams for the 2025 season,[8] with hope to expand to 12 teams by 2026.[9] In September, the AL released the 2024 schedule.[10]

On October 19, 2023, the Waterloo Woo announced their owners and changed their team name to the Iowa Woo.[11]

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.[12] The league has also announced a second expansion team in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to be branded as the Eau Claire Jammers, but then rebranded as the Eau Claire Axemen.[13] The league was forced to take over the Axemen's operations shortly before the start of the 2025 season after the original ownership was evicted from their planned home arena.[14] On April 17, 2025, the Kansas City Goats relocated to St. Joseph and rebranded as the St. Joseph Goats, after an ownership group led by Garage Beer and its owners Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce purchased the team.[15]

## Rules

[edit]

The field is traditional arena football size, measuring 50 yards long and 85 feet wide enclosed by padded walls. Teams have 15-player rosters with the game played with six offensive players against six defensive players. The league follows 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 communicate with helmet communication systems that fans will be able to listen to in real time. Kickoffs are replaced with a quarterback throwoff, with an onside conversion option available. All forms of kicking the ball are prohibited, including punts and field goals. In lieu of punting, the offensive team can choose to "surrender," which gives the opponent possession of the ball at their own 15-yard line.[16]

There is only one on-field official to mark and set the ball and make penalty announcements. There are sky judges watching live video feeds to decide penalties in real time.[17] Coaches and fans have access to the referee interactions. After each game, fans can give feedback on the referees performance.

## Teams

[edit]

Team  | City  | Stadium  | Capacity  | Joined  | Head coach

|
|
|
|
|

Duluth Harbor Monsters | Duluth, Minnesota | DECC Arena | 5,333  | 2024  | Tony O'Neil
Eau Claire Axemen | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Sonnentag Event Center | 3,250  | 2025  | Tae Brooks
Hot Springs Wiseguys | Hot Springs, Arkansas | Bank OZK Arena | 4,141  | 2025  | Bones Bagaunte
Iowa Woo | Waterloo, Iowa | The Hippodrome | 5,155  | 2024  | Victor Mann
Ozarks Lunkers | Springfield, Missouri | Wilson Logistics Arena | 4,500  | 2024  | Cam Bruffett
St. Joseph Goats | St. Joseph, Missouri | St. Joseph Civic Arena | 3,800  | 2024  | Dorsey Golston III

Ozarks Lunkers

Duluth Harbor Monsters

Iowa Woo

St. Joseph Goats

Hot Springs Wiseguys

Eau Claire Axemen

## Season format

[edit]

The inaugural season of The Arena League had a nine-week regular season schedule with each team receiving one bye week with playoffs to follow. The season ran from June to August 2024.[18]

## ArenaMania

[edit]

On April 6, 2024, the league announced that the championship game will be known as ArenaMania.[19]

Results of ArenaMania games  Season  | Game  | Date  | Winning team  | Losing team  | MVP  | Site  | Attendance

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2024 | I  | August 10, 2024 | Duluth Harbor Monsters | 46 | 44 | Iowa Woo |  | DECC Arena |

## Media

[edit]

TAL team media deals  Team | TV Station(s) | Radio Station(s) | Notes

|
|
|

Duluth Harbor Monsters |  | Northland Fan 106.5 FM and 560AM[20] |
Eau Claire Axemen |  |  |
Hot Springs Wiseguys |  |  |
Iowa Woo | KCRG-TV[21] |  | [a]
Ozarks Lunkers | KYTV[22] |  |
St. Joseph Goats |  |  |

1. ^ The team is partnered with KWWL as the exclusive news source.

## Business

[edit]

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.[23] The league would later announce owners for all four locations.[24][25][26][11] In late 2024, Benizio announced the launch of the Entertainment Football Association, which will follow identical rules to TAL but with a separate schedule and geographic footprint centered on the Eastern Seaboard, with another Hall of Famer, Andre Reed, as commissioner of that league.[27][28][29]

On December 4, 2023, former Dallas Desperados executive Ronnie Davis was appointed as Deputy Commissioner.[30]

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.[31]

### Personnel

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

1. ^ "The Arena League transitioning to 7-on-7 action for 2025 season". WDIO. 6 December 2024.
2. ^ "The Arena League is here!". Facebook.
3. ^ "NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown looks to bring arena football back to Springfield". The Heartlander. 15 February 2023.
4. ^ Wheeler, Wyatt D. (9 March 2023). "'The Arena League' football is coming to Springfield in 2024. Here's what to know". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
5. ^ Malcomb, Jamey (6 April 2023). "NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown announces Duluth to receive Arena League team". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
6. ^ Brown, Chelsie (4 May 2023). "The Arena League bringing a professional football team to Waterloo in inaugural season". KCRG. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
7. ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report; June 19, 2023". oursportscentral.com. 19 June 2023.
8. ^ "Duluth Media Packet" (PDF). The Arena League. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
9. ^ "Waterloo Arena League football team name unveiled". KWWL. 28 June 2023.
10. ^ "Our 2024 Regular Season Schedule is here!". Facebook.
11. ^ a b "New owners and name announced for Waterloo's arena football league". KWWL. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
12. ^ Rice, Bryan (26 April 2024). "Arena League football comes to Spa City in 2025". The Sentinel-Record. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
13. ^ Tabbert, Nick (2024-07-18). "New arena football team will be called "Eau Claire Jammers"". WQOW. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
14. ^ Strom, Lindsay (2025-05-20). "Eau Claire Axemen taken over by Arena League". WEAU. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
15. ^ Dailey, Greg (2025-05-29). "Kelce-owned beer company buys stake in area football team". KCTV. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
16. ^ "Rules". The Arena League. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
17. ^ "The Arena League Referees". youtube.com.
18. ^ McClure, Jeffrey F. (6 September 2023). "The Arena League releases schedule for 2024 season". Northern News Now. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
19. ^ "Inaugural season. Four teams. One goal". Facebook. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
20. ^ Cooper, Nick (24 January 2024). "Duluth Harbor Monsters arena football team partners with The FAN 106.5 as exclusive radio home". Northland FAN. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
21. ^ "KCRG to air Arena League Football". KCRG. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
22. ^ "KY3 broadcasting Ozarks Lunkers Arena League Football games". ky3.com. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
23. ^ Wheeler, Wyatt D. (9 March 2023). "'The Arena League' football is coming to Springfield in 2024. Here's what to know". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
24. ^ "Duluth arena football team names owner". Duluth News Tribune. 28 July 2023.
25. ^ "The Arena League brings Kansas City Goats, unique indoor football experience to town". The Kansas City Star.
26. ^ "Owner reveals name for Springfield's new Arena League football team". KY3. 14 June 2023.
27. ^ O'Leary, Matt (2025-01-15). "Arena football makes its return to Nassau Coliseum starting in June". Greater Long Island. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
28. ^ Westhoven, William. "Morristown lands new arena football franchise at Mennen, kicking off in 2025". Daily Record. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
29. ^ Gagne, Michael (September 12, 2024). "Danbury Diesel football team unveiled". News-Times. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
30. ^ "The Arena League is appointing Professional Sports executive Ronnie Davis as Deputy Commissioner, under Commissioner Tim Brown, to serve the league and its teams through the inaugural 2024 season". Facebook.
31. ^ Cullinan, Mike (17 March 2023). "Arena football league selects Springfield for first team". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 30 July 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

The Arena League

Teams|

* Duluth Harbor Monsters
* Eau Claire Axemen
* Hot Springs Wiseguys
* Iowa Woo
* St. Joseph Goats
* Ozarks Lunkers

Venues|

* Bank OZK Arena (Hot Springs)
* DECC Arena (Duluth)
* St. Joseph Civic Arena (St. Joseph)
* Sonnentag Event Center (Eau Claire)
* The Hippodrome (Iowa)
* Wilson Logistics Arena (Ozarks)

Seasons|

* 2024
* 2025

* 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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