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Rampage Release 2003 Schedule

October 10, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League announced today their schedule for the 2003 season, the team's sixth campaign.

The 2003 AFL season will be by far the biggest yet for the league's smallest market, as the Rampage and the city of Grand Rapids will be featured on NBC Sports a total of seven times. Five of the Rampage's eight home games in 2003 will be broadcast live on NBC from Van Andel Arena, while road trips to Georgia and Chicago will also be a part of "Must See TV."

Grand Rapids opens with five of its first eight games on road, starting the season in Buffalo against Hudsonville, Mich. native Ray Bentley and the Destroyers on Saturday, Feb. 1. The Rampage's home opener won't come until the third week of the season, when the New York Dragons come to town on Sunday, Feb. 16 for a 3 p.m. NBC kickoff.

With the exception of three games, every Rampage home game for the 2003 season will be a Sunday afternoon affair (3 p.m.) on NBC. The three exceptions are a Friday night contest against the Carolina Cobras on Feb. 28, and Saturday night games against the Chicago Rush on Mar. 29 and the Danny White led Arizona Rattlers on Apr. 19. All three games have 7:30 p.m. start times.

"The news of the schedule is a proud and defining moment for the Grand Rapids sports landscape," said Bob Sack, senior vice president of DP Fox Sports & Entertainment. "The significant network television coverage is unprecedented in our market. Now, it is incumbent upon the Rampage organization and the community to show America the hidden sports gem that is West Michigan."

Due to the recent division realignment, the Detroit Fury has moved from the AFL's Central Division to the Eastern Division, joining Buffalo, New Jersey, and New York. Taking the place of the Fury are Jerry Jones' Dallas Desperados, who will make their Van Andel Arena debut on Sunday, May 18. Grand Rapids will play a total of six divisional games, playing each opponent (Chicago, Dallas, Indiana) twice. In addition to the divisional games and the aforementioned home games against Arizona, Carolina and New York, the Rampage will also play host to the 2002 Eastern Division champion New Jersey Gladiators, and the four-time ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm.

For the first time in team history, the Rampage will play at expansion Colorado (Friday, Feb. 7), at Dallas (Sunday, Mar. 16), at Georgia (Sunday, Mar. 9), and at Los Angeles (Sunday, Mar. 23). The game time of GR's first Hollywood trip on March 23 will be announced in the coming weeks.

Going off of last season's results, 10 of the 13 teams that the Rampage will face in 2003 were playoffs teams in 2002. At the top of that list are the ArenaBowl XVI champion San Jose Sabercats, who Grand Rapids will face on Saturday, May 3 in a matchup of the last two AFL champions.

Single-game tickets for the 2003 season will go on sale in January, but full season and mini-plan ticket packages are currently available by calling the Rampage office at (616) 559-1871 or (888) 595-4878.

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE 2003 SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT TIME (EST)
Sat., Feb. 1 @ Buffalo (6-8; Second in Eastern Division in 2002) 7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 7 @ Colorado (John Elway's Expansion Team) 9 p.m.
*Sun., Feb. 16 NEW YORK (3-11; QB showdown - Dolezel vs. Garcia) 3 p.m.
*Sun., Feb. 23 TAMPA BAY (6-8; Four-time ArenaBowl Champions) 3 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 28 CAROLINA (6-8; Upset GR in 2002 playoffs) 7:30 p.m.
*Sun., Mar. 9 @ Georgia (6-8; Missed playoffs by one game in 2002) 12 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 16 @ Dallas (7-7; 2-1 vs. Central Division in 2002) 4 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 23 @ Los Angeles (8-6; GR's first Hollywood trip) TBA
Sat., Mar. 29 CHICAGO (9-5; Central Division Champions) 7:30 p.m.
Sat., April 5 @ Indiana (7-7; 5-1 vs. Central Division in 2002) 7:30 p.m.
*Sun., April 13 NEW JERSEY (9-5; Eastern Division Champions) 3 p.m.
Sat., April 19 ARIZONA (11-3; ArenaBowl XVI Runner-up) 7:30 p.m.
*Sun., April 27 @ Chicago (9-5; 2-0 vs. GR in 2002) 3 p.m.
Sat., May 3 @ San Jose (13-1; Battle of last two AFL Champions) 10:30 p.m.
*Sun., May 11 INDIANA (7-7; 2-0 vs. GR in 2002)) 3 p.m.
*Sun., May 18 DALLAS (7-7; Jerry Jones' boys make first trip to GR) 3 p.m.
*Indicates NBC games

ALL HOME GAMES AT VAN ANDEL ARENA SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE BY CALLING 1-888-595-4878



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 10, 2002


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.

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