Storm Announces 2010 Schedule

Published on January 14, 2010 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Erie Explosion News Release


(Erie, PA) - Head Coach Shawn Liotta of the Erie Storm of the American Indoor Football Association has announced the team's schedule for the upcoming 2010 season.

The slate includes fourteen games against East Division opponents, seven of which will be played at the Tullio Arena, including the season opener on Sunday afternoon, March 7, when Erie will host the defending AIFA champion and historical division rivals, the Reading Express. Three opponents will be making their inaugural visits to Erie.

For 2010, the East Division of the AIFA will consist of the Erie Storm, Reading Express, Harrisburg Stampede, Baltimore Mariners, Fayetteville Guard, and two new AIFA members, the Richmond Raiders and the New Jersey Revolution. The Storm will play all division teams at least twice, and will play interstate opponents Reading and Harrisburg three times to round out the regular-season schedule.

"Our schedule is always a challenge, and this one is no exception. We'll need to be sharp right away having to face the defending champs right out of the gate and in two of our first three games. Baltimore and Harrisburg are loaded with proven talent so those games will be tough as well. I haven't seen Fayetteville myself yet, but that franchise has always been a winner, so I expect nothing less than hard-fought battles with them. But our team is coming together really nicely and I can't wait to get back to Erie and get this started up again." commented Liotta.

Following its season opener, Erie will stay at home for a second consecutive week when it hosts the Harrisburg Stampede on Sunday, March 14. The Stampede won the season series 2-1 in 2009, with each of the two games in Erie not decided until the games' final moments and both very physical and hotly-contested affairs.

After a bye week, the Storm begins a two-game in-state road trip, when it visits Reading on Saturday, March 27, and Harrisburg, on Saturday, April 3.

Following its second bye week, Erie returns home on Friday night, April 16, hosting the Richmond Raiders in their franchise's first visit to Erie. The Raiders are coached by Mike Siani, who was a wide receiver for the NFL's Oakland Raiders where he was named to the Pro Bowl in 1973 and won a Super Bowl championship ring in 1977.

On Sunday, April 25, Reading returns to Erie for the teams' third and final regular-season encounter of the season, before the Storm embark on another two-game road trip, including repeat matchups at Richmond on April 30 and at Harrisburg on May 8.

In the month of May, Erie will welcome two more first-time visitors. On Friday night, May 14, the Storm will host the New Jersey Revolution, a former franchise of the CIFL which sat out last year in preparation for joining the AIFA for the upcoming 2010 season. On Saturday, May 22, the Fayetteville Guard comes calling at the Tullio Arena. The Guard is entering its third year in the AIFA following a successful run in the NIFL. Erie played the Guard for the first time in 2009 in Fayetteville. In 2010, the teams will have a home-and-home series.

The Storm face a grueling end to their regular season with three of their last four games played on the road, including the franchise's first visit to New Jersey on May 29, Baltimore on June 5, and the longest road trip of the season, to Fayetteville, NC,to end the regular season on June 19.

Erie will close out its home schedule hosting the Baltimore Mariners on Sunday, June 13. The two teams played a memorable game at the Tullio Arena last Mother's Day which ended on a 41-yard field goal by Joe Lindway as time expired to give Erie its first win of the season.

Season ticket packages and individual game tickets for all Erie Storm games are now on sale at the Tullio Arena box office (452-4857) and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Erie Storm 2010 Schedule:

Date Matchup Kickoff

Sunday March 7 Reading at Erie 2:00 PM

Sunday March 14 Harrisburg at Erie 2:00 PM

Saturday March 27 Erie at Reading 7:00 PM

Saturday April 3 Erie at Harrisburg 7:30 PM

Friday April 16 Richmond at Erie 7:30 PM

Sunday April 25 Reading at Erie 2:00 PM

Friday April 30 Erie at Richmond 7:00 PM

Saturday May 8 Erie at Harrisburg 7:30 PM

Friday May 14 New Jersey at Erie 7:30 PM

Saturday May 22 Fayetteville at Erie 7:30 PM

Saturday May 29 Erie at New Jersey 7:00 PM

Saturday June 5 Erie at Baltimore 7:00 PM

Sunday June 13 Baltimore at Erie 2:00 PM

Saturday June 19 Erie at Fayetteville 7:00 PM

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American Indoor Football Association Stories from January 14, 2010


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