Los Angeles Avengers Announce 2003 Schedule
October 10, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League have finalized their 2003 season schedule and will kickoff their fourth season at STAPLES Center against the New Jersey Gladiators on Feb. 2, 2003.
As many as nine of the Avengers' 16 regular-season games will be televised on NBC (the AFL's new national television partner), including a Week 2 match-up against the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats on Feb. 9, at STAPLES Center.
Twelve of L.A.'s regular-season games will be against teams that participated in last year's playoffs.
The Avengers will play their first road game of the 2003 season on Feb. 16, in Denver versus the Colorado Crush, which is an expansion team owned by John Elway. The Crush join the Avengers, SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers in the newly reorganized Western Division. The Avengers will face Colorado at STAPLES Center in their final regular-season home game on Saturday, May 10, as each AFL team plays home and road games against its divisional foes.
Five of L.A.'s eight home games will be played on Sunday and each contest will feature promotional giveaways and post-game autograph sessions.
In addition to the season-opener against New Jersey and the three divisional foes, the Avengers also will host four other exciting teams at STAPLES Center, as the Georgia Force (March 2), Grand Rapids Rampage (March 23), Carolina Cobras (April 4) and Buffalo Destroyers (April 18) come to Los Angeles.
The Avengers will play back-to-back road games on three different occasions in 2003. In addition, L.A.'s first six away games will be outside the Pacific Time Zone, including first-ever meetings against the New York Dragons (March 9) and Orlando Predators (March 30).
With NBC now onboard, the upcoming 2003 season is expected to be a breakthrough for the 17-year-old Arena Football League. The network is slated to televise up to 70 AFL games (regular-season and postseason), including ArenaBowl XVII on Sunday, June 22.
Avenger season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-888-AVENGERS or online at www.laavengers.com.
The complete Avenger schedule follows below.
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS 2003 SCHEDULE
REGULAR SEASON
DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME (PT)
Feb. 2 (Sun.) New Jersey STAPLES Center 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 (Sun.) San Jose * STAPLES Center Noon
Feb. 16 (Sun.) @ Colorado ** Denver, Colo. Noon
Feb. 23 (Sun.) @ Chicago * Chicago, Ill. Noon
Mar. 2 (Sun.) Georgia ** STAPLES Center Noon
Mar. 9 (Sun.) @ New York ^ Uniondale, N.Y. 9 a.m.
Mar. 16 (Sun.) @ Indiana ^ Indianapolis, Ind. 9 a.m.
Mar. 23 (Sun.) Grand Rapids STAPLES Center TBA
Mar. 30 (Sun.) @ Orlando Orlando, Fla. Noon
April 4 (Fri.) Carolina STAPLES Center 7:30 p.m.
April 13 (Sun.) Arizona * STAPLES Center Noon
April 18 (Fri.) Buffalo STAPLES Center 7:30 p.m.
April 27 (Sun.) @ Dallas * Dallas, Tex. Noon
May 4 (Sun.) @ Arizona ** Phoenix, Ariz. Noon
May 10 (Sat.) Colorado STAPLES Center 7:30 p.m.
May 17 (Sat.) @ San Jose San Jose, Calif. 7:30 p.m.
PLAYOFFS
DATE ROUND TIME (PT)
May 24-25 (Sat.-Sun.) First Round * TBA
May 31-June 1 (Sat.-Sun.) Quarterfinals * TBA
June 7-8 (Sat.-Sun.) Semifinals * TBA
June 22 (Sun.) ArenaBowl XVII * Noon
All dates and times are subject to change
All times are Pacific
* -- Televised on NBC
^ -- Televised on NBC (not on West Coast)
** -- Possible NBC game
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 10, 2002
- SaberCats Release 2003 Schedule - San Jose SaberCats
- Desperados Announce 2003 Schedule - Dallas Desperados
- Los Angeles Avengers Announce 2003 Schedule - Los Angeles Avengers
- Up to 70 Games to Air on NBC - AFL I
- Chicago Rush 2003 Schedule Announced - Chicago Rush
- Detroit Fury Releases 2003 Schedule - Detroit Fury
- Firebirds Release 16-Game Schedule - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Rampage Release 2003 Schedule - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Buffalo Destroyers 2003 Schedule Released - Buffalo Destroyers
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