SaberCats Announce 2011 Schedule
Published on October 27, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE - The San Jose SaberCats return to the Arena Football League will be marked by an 18-game schedule, marking the longest in AFL history, with the SaberCats opening against ArenaBowl XXIII champion, the Spokane Shock. Other notable games include a rematch at home of the SaberCats last game in ArenaBowl XXII with the Philadelphia Soul and a road meeting with the reigning American Conference champion Tampa Bay Storm to cap off the regular season.
"We are very excited about the return of arena football to San Jose," said head coach Darren Arbet. "I'm happy that our fans will get the chance to see some great competition coming to HP Pavilion with teams that have enjoyed great success over the years. We're looking forward to getting on the field and working on bringing a fourth ArenaBowl championship to the SaberCats organization."
San Jose kicks off their return to play with a home game on March 11 against the reigning AFL champion and division opponent Spokane Shock, marking the first meeting between the two franchises. The following week, the SaberCats welcome the Kansas City Command for the first time since 2008 before traveling to Chicago for their first road game against the Rush who finished 10-6 in 2010.
San Jose will play host to the Iowa Barnstormers, for the first time since 1999 on April 1 before welcoming their next division opponent, the Utah Blaze, whom the SaberCats hold a 5-1 regular season record against. San Jose will then travel to Tulsa, for their first ever game with the Talons on April 16.
In Week 7, the SaberCats return home to HP Pavilion in hopes of avenging their ArenaBowl XXII loss to the Philadelphia Soul in 2008 prior to their first bye. On May 7, San Jose takes on another division opponent, the Arizona Rattlers who they hold a 19-14 all-time record against, including the postseason. The SaberCats then head to Pittsburgh in Week 10 in a battle of expansion franchises. After a second tilt with the Blaze in Utah on May 21, the Georgia Force come to San Jose, with the SaberCats holding a 5-2 record in those contests.
San Jose plays the first of three consecutive road games, beginning with the Dallas Desperados in Week 13 for just their second matchup in the last five years before heading into another bye week. After making their way south to play Arizona on June 18, the SaberCats wrap up their central division slate with a matchup at Cleveland to take on the Gladiators for the first time since their move from Las Vegas.
San Jose concludes their home schedule with two southern division opponents. First, they take on the Jacksonville Sharks on July 2, in their first ever meeting. The SaberCats then welcome the two-time ArenaBowl champion Orlando Predators, marking the seventh regular season match between the two storied franchises with San Jose holding a 5-1 all-time record.
The SaberCats close out the season on the road against both participants from ArenaBowl XXIII. They travel north for their second meeting with the Shock on July 16 before heading cross country for their regular season finale with the Tampa Bay Storm, where San Jose has won six out of the last seven regular season matchups.
2011 SABERCATS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Local Time
Friday, March 11 Spokane 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 18 Kansas City 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 25 @Chicago TBD
Friday, April 1 Iowa 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 8 Utah 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 16 @Tulsa TBD
Saturday, April 23 Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
BYE
Saturday, May 7 Arizona 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 14 @Pittsburgh TBD
Saturday, May 21 @Utah TBD
Saturday, May 28 Georgia 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 4 @Dallas TBD
BYE
Saturday, June 18 @Arizona TBD
Saturday, June 25 @Cleveland TBD
Saturday, July 2 Jacksonville 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 9 Orlando 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 16 @Spokane TBD
Saturday, July 23 @Tampa Bay TBD
*All dates and times are subject to change. All changes will be publicized on thesanjosesabercats.com, www.facebook.com/sanjosesabercats, http://twitter.com/SJSaberCats as well as through the local print, electronic and internet media.
The XVI, XVIII and XXI ArenaBowl champion, San Jose SaberCats, return to the Arena Football League for their 15th season starting in 2011. The SaberCats began play in 1995, playing their home games at HP Pavilion. Fans and sponsors can go to www.thesanjosesabercats.com or call 408-673-3400 to sign up to receive the latest news and updates about the SaberCats, as well as to pre-register for ticket information. Make sure to follow the SaberCats on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news on the team.
Arena Football League Stories from October 27, 2010
- Georgia Force Schedule Announced - Georgia Force
- VooDoo Announce 2011 Game Schedule - New Orleans VooDoo
- AFL, Soul Release 2011 Regular-Season Schedule - Philadelphia Soul
- AFL Releases 2011 Schedule - Spokane Shock
- Pittsburgh Power and the AFL Release 2011 Schedule - Pittsburgh Power
- SaberCats Announce 2011 Schedule - San Jose SaberCats
- Sharks Announce 2011 Schedule - Jacksonville Sharks
- Historic AFL 18-Game Schedule Kicks Off on March 11, 2011 - AFL
- Barnstormers Bolster Pass Rush with Addition of Robinson - Iowa Barnstormers
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