AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL and U.S. Army Renew Partnership for 2004 Season

Published on January 20, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – The Arena Football League and U.S. Army announced today a national partnership renewal, including multiple enhancements, that designates the organization as the Official Military Service Partner of the AFL for the 2004 season.

This is the third consecutive year of the AFL-U.S. Army partnership. All U.S. Army sponsorships are one-year terms subject to annual renewal.

The new elements for the 2004 season are:

· U.S. Army is designated as the title sponsor for all AFL game, weekly and monthly Ironman honors, the Ironman of the Year award and the All-Ironman Team
· Online "Ironman Challenge" for fans at www.arenafootball.com
· "AFL Basic Training" program in high schools in five AFL markets
· AFL involvement in U.S. Army Spring Break program

"We are proud and honored to be a partner with the U.S. Army. Each year the recruiting results at AFL games have improved and each subsequent year, the U.S. Army has enhanced their partnership with further activation," said GLENN HORINE, AFL Properties Executive Vice President. "The growing U.S. Army partnership is testimony to our sport and the loyalty fans have toward our partners."

Arena Football is true Ironman football with six of the eight players playing both offense and defense. U.S. Army will recognize the AFL's prominent two-way athletes as the title sponsor for all AFL Ironman honors, including the League's most prestigious award – Ironman of the Year – and all individual game, weekly and monthly honors, as well as the All-Ironman Team. Fans can also participate in an online program, the U.S. Army "Ironman Challenge," at www.arenafootball.com.

The "AFL Basic Training" program will be conducted in Chicago, Dallas, Georgia, Los Angeles and New York in 2004. AFL players will visit local high schools with U.S. Army battalion officials. The AFL game system will be setup in high school gyms for AFL-related physical drills and skills instruction. In-season player appearances with local battalion officials will continue at high schools in all AFL markets.

The AFL will also be involved with the U.S. Army's Spring Break program in Panama City, Mexico, including an AFL Command Center with an AFL beach football setup and a sports lounge where spring breakers can watch the AFL on NBC.

"Our partnership with Arena Football has been extremely successful in helping the Army connect with America," said COL. THOMAS NICKERSON, director of Strategic Outreach for the U.S. Army Accessions Command. "We're excited to see the partnership go beyond the arena and into schools and other Army programs. This way both sides will be able to build greater awareness among both young Americans and those people who influence their decisions — parents, teachers, coaches and peers."

U.S. Army's renewal with the AFL also includes logo identification on all player home jerseys, on-field signage – a turf square and dasherboard – and various additional in-arena promotions, including public address and video jumbotron announcements in each of the AFL's 19 team markets throughout the regular season and postseason.

U.S. Army will also place interactive recruiting booths in all arena concourses, give away an official team jersey at each game among other prizes and continue to present the color guard at kickoff for more than 120 AFL games. Each AFL market will hold "U.S. Army Night" at one home game during the regular season, centered around Armed Forces weekend at which local battalion will be able to attend the game and fans can receive U.S. Army promotional giveaways.

The AFL has already increased its presence with U.S. Army this season by honoring lineman JEFF BYERS of Loveland (CO) High School as the AFL High School Ironman of the Year during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas in early January. The AFL's new game ball, manufactured by Spalding, also made its debut at the fourth annual game live on NBC and AFL players led skills clinics during the week.

Fan loyalty is the hallmark of AFL partnerships. An ESPN Sports Poll released in November 2003 revealed for the third consecutive year that AFL fans are more likely to try, switch, and remain loyal to a sponsor's product due to a sponsorship of an event/sport they follow than fans of NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and NASCAR.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 20, 2004


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