24 Day to Kickoff 2004

Published on January 12, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

NEW YORK - The AFL followed its most successful season ever -- 2003 -- with the most successful offseason in its history. The new developments ensure that fans will connect with the AFL in more ways than ever before, and that 2004 will be another year of growth and excitement for the nation's fastest growing sport.

Offseason business ventures provide the first-ever opportunities for fans to play AFL fantasy football and to buy AFL merchandise at national retail outlets.

Ø AFL Fantasy Football: The fantasy football season has been extended with the launch of two AFL fantasy football games for the 2004 season. The AFL has partnered with SandboxPlus to develop, produce, implement and manage the AFL's fantasy football program through 2005. Fans can register NOW at aflfantasy.com.

Ø AFL Merchandise at Retail: Champs Sports has been designated as the Official Athletic Retailer of the AFL through 2006. For the first time ever, fans will be able to shop for AFL merchandise at a national retail outlet. Champs Sports will provide a designated AFL merchandising area featuring Drew Pearson AFL caps, Majestic replica jerseys, and team-specific Team Edition tee shirts in all AFL markets (approximately 190 stores).

Ø New Spalding AFL Football: Fans will be able to purchase the newly designed Spalding AFL football at all 550 Champs Sports stores nationwide, as well as at numerous other national sporting goods retailers. It is the first time fans will be able to purchase a ball outside of the arena. The Spalding ball features a bright new look, including a blue stripe and blue crosshairs at the tips, that meets all AFL competitive specifications for size, weight and construction. The new ball's innovative design will add even greater excitement to the AFL by making it easier for receivers, defenders and fans to locate and follow during the game.

Ø Lottery Games: Through an agreement with Scientific Games (NASDAQ: SGMS) and its wholly-owned subsidiary MDI Entertainment, AFL fans will be able purchase AFL-themed instant scratch tickets featuring AFL logos, themes, marks, designs, colors and special events at lottery retailer outlets. Purchasing details vary from market to market.

The offseason business ventures will not only serve current AFL fans, but will also satisfy the new fans that are certain to surface as a result of the AFL's offseason expansion efforts. At a time when most sports leagues are stagnant or contracting, the AFL expanded into three new markets with impressive ownership groups:

- Austin: Owner GREGORY L. FESTE has formed a dynamic ownership group that includes Dell CFO JIM SCHNEIDER and numerous current and former NFL players, including former Pro Bowl player GLYN MILBURN, who also serves as the team's assistant general manager and director of player personnel. The Wranglers will play their games at the University of Texas' Frank Erwin Center.

- New Orleans: TOM BENSON, owner of the NFL's New Orleans Saints, has brought year-round football to 'Nawlins with the VooDoo, who will play their home games at the New Orleans Arena.

- Philadelphia: Co-owners JON BON JOVI and CRAIG SPENCER are bringing hard-hitting AFL action to the city of brotherly love. The Philadelphia Soul will play at both the Wachovia Spectrum and the Wachovia Center, which will be the site of their debut on NBC on February 8 against the expansion New Orleans VooDoo.

There was also one team relocation to a larger market during the offseason. Buffalo Destroyers owner MARK E. HAMISTER moved the team to Columbus and incorporated local businessmen JAMES RENACCI and JOHN H. MC CONNELL, owner of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, into the ownership group. The team subsequently announced former Ohio State Buckeyes EARLE BRUCE, JOEY GALLOWAY, and CHRIS SPIELMAN as head coach, minority owner, and director of football operations, respectively.

The 2004 AFL promotional campaign begins on Friday, January 9 with a two-minute mini-movie starring Soul co-owner Bon Jovi and Colorado Crush co-owner JOHN ELWAY that will run in all 555 Regal CineMedia locations from January 9-29.

In the mini-movie, produced by The NBC Agency, Elway goes to Bon Jovi's house to welcome him to the AFL. The greeting isn't well received and both men decide to "take it inside" and play a game between their teams inside Bon Jovi's house. Hard-hitting action ensues. When Elway's quarterback is injured, he is forced to don the pads again and take matters into his own hands, which leads to a spectacular conclusion. Fans can see a one-minute preview NOW on their respective team's Web site or on arenafootball.com

The AFL season begins in 24 days on Thursday, February 5 when the Detroit Fury host the San Jose SaberCats at The Palace of Auburn Hills at 7:30 p.m. ET. NBC's second season of AFL coverage begins on Sunday, February 8 with five games. Following is the AFL's 2004 Week 1 schedule with NBC games in bold (all times EST; Austin has a Week 1 bye):

Thursday, February 5
San Jose at Detroit 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 6
Las Vegas at Colorado 9 p.m.

Saturday, February 7
Columbus at Indiana 7 p.m.

Sunday, February 8
Carolina at Dallas 3 p.m.
Los Angeles at Arizona 3 p.m.
Grand Rapids at Chicago 3 p.m.
New York at Georgia 3 p.m.
New Orleans at Philadelphia 3 p.m.
Orlando at Tampa Bay 3 p.m.

Although there are 24 days until the first game of the season, the hitting has already begun. AFL training camps opened this past weekend when the Detroit Fury took the field on Saturday, January 10. Seven other teams, including all three expansion teams, began training camp on Sunday, January 11.

Following are each team's training-camp start dates:

TEAM TRAINING CAMP
Arizona Rattlers January 14
Austin Wranglers January 11
Carolina Cobras January 18
Chicago Rush January 19
Colorado Crush January 11
Columbus Destroyers January 11
Dallas Desperados January 12
Detroit Fury January 10
Georgia Force January 17
Grand Rapids Rampage January 18
Indiana Firebirds January 11
Las Vegas Gladiators January 18
Los Angeles Avengers January 12
New Orleans VooDoo January 11
New York Dragons January 18
Orlando Predators January 19
Philadelphia Soul January 11
San Jose SaberCats January 11
Tampa Bay Storm January 17

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 12, 2004

• Detroit Fury Open Training Camp Today - Detroit Fury
• Jeff Munn Returns as Rattlers PA Announcer - Arizona Rattlers
• Oklahoma Tops among Colleges with 13 Players on AFL Preseason Rosters - AFL I
• 24 Day to Kickoff 2004 - AFL I

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.