af2 bids "aloha" to Honolulu

by af2 Press Release
September 7, 2001 - arenafootball2 (af2)

af2 Press Release

HONOLULU, Hawaii – The league office of arenafootball2 announced today that Honolulu is the latest addition to the expansion class for play in the 2002 season.

The Hawaiian Islanders will play its games at the 6,100-seat Blaisdell Center. The Hawaii operators will be the Charles Wang and his daughter, Kimberly. The Wangs own the National Hockey League's New York Islanders and the Arena Football League's New York Dragons. In June, Wang was also approved as an operator for a 2002 expansion team in New Haven, Conn.

"My daughter and I are very pleased to bring this exciting, fast-paced game to Hawaii," Charles Wang said. "Arena Football is a sport that has flourished over the last 15 years. It is an affordable event that provides fans with great football, plus post-game activities such as players signing autographs and fans kicking field goals."

In the past two seasons, more than 2 million fans have attended af2 games. Last season, 33 af2 players made the final cut for 2001 AFL teams, five of whom were named to the AFL's All-Rookie team. Two current NFL players got their professional football start in af2. More than half a million fans combined witnessed af2's ArenaCup championship games aired nationally on TNN the past two seasons.

"This is an historic day for the af2," said Jay Marcus, the af2's Executive Director. "Over the years, the pro football fans in Hawaii have proven they are some of the best football fans in the world. We are eager and proud to give those fans a chance to be a part of the most exciting, fan friendly version of football in existence."

Honolulu is the ninth expansion team named for the 2002 season. The other eight expansion cities were: Albany, New York; Bakersfield, California; Fresno, California; Manchester, New Hampshire; Mobile, Alabama; New Haven, Connecticut; Uncasville, Connecticut; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

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arenafootball2 Stories from September 7, 2001

• af2 bids "aloha" to Honolulu - OSC Original by af2 Press Release

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