AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL and U.S. Army renew partnership for 2005 season

Published on November 30, 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 several enhancements, that continues the association of Official and Exclusive Military Service Partner of the AFL for the 2005 season.

This is the fourth consecutive year of the AFL-U.S. Army partnership, which, as with all U.S. Army sponsorships, is subject to annual review and renewal.

New and extended elements for the 2005 season:

· U.S. Army will become a presenting sponsor of AFL Fantasy Football
· "U.S. Army Week"
· A high school educational and fitness initiative, which underwent successful tests in five AFL markets during the offseason, will expand its reach nationwide
· U.S. Army continues its designation as the presenting sponsor for the AFL' s Ironman program, including game, weekly and monthly Ironman honors, the Ironman of the Year award and the All-Ironman Team
· AFL continues its involvement in U.S. Army Spring Break program
· AFL will again honor the AFL High School Ironman of the Year at U.S. Army All-American Bowl

"We continue to be proud and honored to 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."

With the renewal, U.S. Army will become the presenting sponsor of AFL Fantasy Football and its weekly, in-season email newsletter distributed to participants. AFL Fantasy Football launched its inaugural season in 2004.

Arena Football is true Ironman football with six of the eight players playing both offense and defense. U.S. Army will continue to 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.

Each AFL market will hold "U.S. Army Week" during the regular season, highlighted by local high schools visits, which will include player appearances and AFL flag-football scrimmages. A local battalion will be able to attend the game that week and game activation will include additional U.S. Army assets.

The high school initiative will expand and be presented nationwide in AFL markets during the 2005 season. Through the program, AFL players and coaches and U.S. Army battalion officials will speak with students at local high schools during physical education classes about the importance of teamwork, fitness and exercise education. Students will participate in AFL flag-football scrimmages. Autograph signings and raffles for AFL memorabilia are also part of the program. In-season player appearances with local battalion officials will continue at high schools in all AFL markets.

"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 provides the Army and AFL an opportunity to expand and build greater awareness among both young Americans and those people who influence their decisions — parents, teachers, coaches and peers."

The AFL will again honor the AFL High School Ironman of the Year during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. JEFF BYERS, then a lineman at Loveland (CO) High School, was recognized with the award in 2004. Byers is currently a freshman center for the University of Southern California. AFL coaches and players will lead coaches and skills clinics held in conjunction with the event. The AFL's new revolutionary game ball, manufactured by Spalding, will be used as the official football for the game.

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

U.S. Army's renewal with the AFL includes logo identification on all player dark jerseys, on-field signage and additional in-arena promotions, including public address and video jumbotron announcements in each of the AFL's 17 team markets throughout the regular season and postseason.

U.S. Army will continue its interactive recruiting booths in all arena concourses and will give away an official team jersey at games among other prizes. U.S. Army will also continue to present the color guard at kickoff for more than 100 AFL games.

Fan loyalty is the hallmark of AFL partnerships. An ESPN Sports Poll released in July 2004 revealed for the fourth 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 November 30, 2004


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