| 2024 The Arena League season | |
|---|---|
| League | The Arena League |
| Sport | Arena football |
| Duration | June 1 - July 27, 2024 [1] |
| Number of games | 16 |
| Number of teams | 4 |
The 2024 TAL season is the upcoming inaugural season of The Arena League (TAL). The regular season is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2024, with the regular season ending on July 27, 2024.[1][2][3][4]
Background
The League was announced as six-on-six indoor American football league with the intentions to launch in 2024 with four teams and with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown as the Commissioner.
The TAL aim is to highlight the player's athleticism and increase the pace of play.
Teams
The first city announced was Springfield[5] with Duluth being the second city.[6] Waterloo was announced on May 4 as the third team.[7] 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.[8]
On October 19, 2023 the Waterloo Woo announced their owners and changed their team name to the Iowa Woo.[9]
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Joined | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth Harbor Monsters | Duluth, Minnesota | DECC Arena | 5,333 | 2024 | Tony O'Neil |
| Iowa Woo | Waterloo, Iowa | The Hippodrome | 5,155 | 2024 | TBD |
| Kansas City Goats | Kansas City, Missouri | Municipal Arena | 9,987 | 2024 | TBD |
| Ozarks Lunkers | Springfield, Missouri | Wilson Logistics Arena | 4,500 | 2024 | Cam Bruffett |
Players
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.
On December 5, 2023, the Lunkers signed Matt Rush, the first player to sign with a TAL team.[10]
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.[1] In September The AL released the 2024 schedule.[11]
Rules
Reference[12]
- 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.
- Play clock is reduced to 20 seconds (the teaser video did not mention whether this will be measured from the spotting of the ball, as in the Canadian Football League, or the end of the previous play). No offensive huddles are allowed unless a timeout is called.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.[13] After each game, fans can give feedback on the referees performance.
Standings
| Team | Win | Loss | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth Harbor Monsters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Iowa Woo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kansas City Goats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Ozarks Lunkers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season schedule
Regular season
Week 1
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Duluth Harbor Monsters | Kansas City Goats | Municipal Arena | ||||
| June 1 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Iowa Woo | Ozarks Lunkers | Wilson Logistics Arena | ||||
Week 2
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Kansas City Goats | Iowa Woo | The Hippodrome | ||||
Week 3
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Duluth Harbor Monsters | Ozarks Lunkers | Wilson Logistics Arena | ||||
| June 15 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Iowa Woo | Kansas City Goats | Municipal Arena | ||||
Week 4
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 22 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Ozarks Lunkers | Iowa Woo | The Hippodrome | ||||
| June 23 | 5:05 p.m. CT | Kansas City Goats | Duluth Harbor Monsters | DECC Arena | ||||
Week 5
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 29 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Ozarks Lunkers | Kansas City Goats | Municipal Arena | ||||
| June 29 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Iowa Woo | Duluth Harbor Monsters | DECC Arena | ||||
Week 6
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 6 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Duluth Harbor Monsters | Ozarks Lunkers | Wilson Logistics Arena | ||||
Week 7
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 13 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Kansas City Goats | Ozarks Lunkers | Wilson Logistics Arena | ||||
| July 13 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Iowa Woo | Duluth Harbor Monsters | DECC Arena | ||||
Week 8
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 20 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Ozarks Lunkers | Duluth Harbor Monsters | DECC Arena | ||||
| July 20 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Kansas City Goats | Iowa Woo | The Hippodrome | ||||
Week 9
| Date | Time | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Stadium | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 27 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Duluth Harbor Monsters | Iowa Woo | The Hippodrome | ||||
| July 27 | 7:05 p.m. CT | Ozarks Lunkers | Kansas City Goats | Municipal Arena | ||||
Postseason
Awards
Media
The Duluth Harbor Monsters partnered with local radio station, The Fan 106.5 FM and 560AM, to cover the team's games.
League finances
Former IFL Commissioner, Tommy Benizio, an advisor for the league and his corporation will operate and run the teams,[15] while 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.[16] The league would later announce owners for all four locations.[17][18][19][9]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 McClure, Jeffrey F. (6 September 2023). "The Arena League releases schedule for 2024 season". Northern News Now. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ↑ Vierzba, Neil (6 September 2023). "The Arena League Reveals 2024 Schedule, Duluth Harbor Monsters to Open Year on Road". FOX21. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ↑ Tipcke, Alicia (6 September 2023). "The Arena League reveals Duluth Harbor Monsters schedule". WDIO. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ↑ "Schedule". The Arena League. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Brown, Chelsie (4 May 2023). "The Arena League bringing a professional football team to Waterloo in inaugural season". KCRG. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ↑ "Duluth Media Packet" (PDF). The Arena League. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- 1 2 "New owners and name announced for Waterloo's arena football league". KWWL. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ Pinson, Chris (5 December 2023). "Lunkers reel in Springfield native Rush". Ozarks First. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ↑ "Our 2024 Regular Season Schedule is here!". Facebook.
- ↑ "Rules". The Arena League. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ↑ "The Arena League Referees". youtube.com.
- ↑ "Schedule - The Arena League". thearenaleague.football.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Cullinan, Mike (17 March 2023). "Arena football league selects Springfield for first team". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ↑ "Duluth arena football team names owner". Duluth News Tribune. 28 July 2023.
- ↑ "The Arena League brings Kansas City Goats, unique indoor football experience to town". The Kansas City Star.
- ↑ "Owner reveals name for Springfield's new Arena League football team". KY3. June 14, 2023.