AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Russell Athletic Arena Football on ESPN Kicks Off Postseason Friday

June 24, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN on ABC will televise all 11 games of the 2008 Arena Football League playoffs, beginning Friday, June 27 with the first of four Wild Card match-ups. All Wild Card, Divisional and Conference Championship games will be produced in high definition and simulcast on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. The season will culminate with ArenaBowl XXII in New Orleans on Sunday, July 27, at 3 p.m. ET and will air live on ABC and ABC HD.

During the AFL playoffs, instant replay will be used for the first time in league history. (Each coach will have a total of two challenges per game that can be used at anytime during regulation. An additional challenge will be granted per overtime if the game requires overtime. If a team has challenges remaining from regulation, they will not roll over into overtime.)

This weekend's games will include: New York Dragons at Dallas Desperados, Friday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN; Colorado Crush at Utah Blaze, Saturday, June 28, at 4 p.m. on ESPN; Orlando Predators at Cleveland Gladiators, Monday, June 30 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2; and Grand Rapids Rampage at Arizona Rattlers, Monday, June 30 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

The top two teams in both conferences - Chicago Rush (11-5) and defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats (11-5) of the American Conference, and Philadelphia Soul (13-3) and Georgia Force (10-6) of the National Conference -- received first-round byes and will host Divisional games July 5-7.

ESPN's AFL commentator team throughout the playoffs will include former NFL players and analysts Ray Bentley, Shaun King and Marcellus Wiley, along with play-by-play commentators Bob Wischusen, Dave Pasch and Ari Wolfe.

Russell Athletic Arena Football Postseason Preview Show on ESPN2 - Friday, July 27 (7 p.m. ) The Russell Athletic Arena Football Postseason Preview Show Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 will breakdown all the first round AFL playoff match-ups and spotlight the top plays from the regular season. Stan Verrett will host the 30-minute playoff special, which will preview the Wild Card games and look ahead to the Divisional round.

2008 Arena Football League Playoff Schedule on ESPN:

Date Game Talent Network Time (ET)

WILD CARD

Fri., June 27 New York at Dallas Bob Wischusen and Ray Bentley ESPN 7:30 p.m.

Sat., June 28 Colorado at Utah Dave Pasch and Marcellus Wiley ESPN 4 p.m.

Mon., June 30 Orlando at Cleveland Ari Wolfe and Shaun King ESPN2 7 p.m.

Mon., June 30 Grand Rapids at Arizona Pasch and Bentley ESPN2 9:30 p.m.

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF

Sat., July 5 TBD at San Jose Pasch and Wiley ESPN 3 p.m.

Sat., July 5 TBD at Philadelphia Wolfe and King ESPN 7 p.m.

Sun., July 6 TBD at Chicago Wischusen and Bentley ESPN 3 p.m.

Mon., July 7 TBD at Georgia Wischusen and Bentley ESPN2 8 p.m.

CONF CHAMPIONSHIP

July 12-14 (TBD) Conference Championship TBD TBD TBD

July 12-14 (TBD) Conference Championship TBD TBD TBD

ARENABOWL

Sun., July 27 ArenaBowl XXII (New Orleans, La.) TBD ESPN on ABC 3 p.m.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 24, 2008


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