2006 Xplorers schedule released
November 4, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
SOUTHAVEN --- ArenaFootball2 announced their 2006 schedule this week and the leagues defending champions, the Memphis Xplorers, are set to defend their title as well as welcome a new division alignment in the expanded af2.
The 16 game, 18 week af2 schedule begins on March 30 with teams Stockton and Spokane playing the first ever arena football game in the state of Washington. The Xplorers open their season two days later on Saturday, April 1 against Tennesee Valley in Huntsville. The Huntsville market is making its return to the af2 after a one year hiatus.
The Xplorers first home game will be a week later on Saturday, April 8 when they host the 2004 Arena Cup Champs and the 2005 South Division Champion Florida Firecats at the DeSoto Civic Center. The league also released the new divisional alignments with Memphis joining the Birmingham Steeldogs, Florida Firecats, Macon Knights, South Georgia Wildcats and the Tennessee Valley Vipers in the new American Conference-South Division. The Xplorers were in the Northern Conference and the Midwest Division last season.
I am excited about the challenge of playing in a new division (the South) and the American Conference, Xplorers Head Coach Danton Barto said. We will be playing with some great teams in the new division Florida, Tennessee Valley, Macon, South Georgia and Birmingham. We look forward to this season and defending our ArenaCup championship.
Of the 16 games, the Xplorers will play 13 on Saturday, 2 on Friday and 1 on a Sunday. Their byes will be in week 11 and in week 18, the final week of the season. All home games are slated for 7 p.m. starts.
The highlight of the season will be a rematch of last seasons ArenaCup. The Xplorers will travel to Louisville to face the Fire on Saturday, July 8. Coach Barto and his Xplorers defeated his long-time friend Tommy Johnson and the Fire 63-41 on August 27 in Bossier City for their first ever title.
The af2 expanded to 23 teams for 2006 with new expansion franchises in Spokane and Everett, Washington and Stockton, California. The return of arena football to the Tennessee Valley and the loss of the San Diego franchise, give the league a total of 23 teams, up from 20 in 2005.
2006 Schedule Notes:
The Xplorers will play each of their divisional foes twice, once at home and once on the road.
They will play Tennessee Valley and Florida twice each in the first four weeks.
Amarillo is the only non-divisional foe that Memphis will play twice.
The Xplorers will play 3 of their final 4 games on the road.
COMPLETE 2006 MEMPHIS XPLORERS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE (times are central)
Saturday, April 1 Memphis @ Tennessee Valley 7:30
Saturday, April 8 Florida @ Memphis 7:00
Saturday, April 15 Tennessee Valley @ Memphis 7:00
Saturday, April 22 Memphis @ Florida 6:30
Friday, April 28 Macon @ Memphis 7:00
Saturday, May 6 Manchester @ Memphis 7:00
Saturday, May 13 Memphis @ South Georgia 6:30
Saturday, May 20 Bossier-Shreveport @ Memphis 7:00
Sunday, May 28 Memphis @ Amarillo 3:00
Saturday, June 3 Memphis @ Stockton 9:00
Week 11 BYE
Saturday, June 17 Birmingham @ Memphis 7:00
Saturday, June 24 South Georgia @ Memphis 7:00
Friday, June 30 Memphis @ Macon 6:30
Saturday, July 8 Memphis @ Louisville 6:00
Saturday, July 15 Amarillo @ Memphis 7:00
Saturday, July 22 Memphis @ Birmingham 7:00
Week 18 BYE
The Memphis Xplorers2005 ArenaCup Champions
The Xplorers will defend their Arena Cup Championship in 2006 and you can be in on the action. Season Tickets are available now and begin as low as $56. Dont miss all the action of the 50-Yard Indoor War. For season ticket information call the Xplorers office at 662-342-1755.
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