AFL 1992

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
Northern Division
*Detroit Drive	10	8	2	0	488	314	.800
*Cincinnati Rockers	10	7	3	0	451	341	.700
*Albany Firebirds	10	5	5	0	422	416	.500
*Cleveland Thunderbolts	10	4	6	0	311	362	.400
Southern Division
*Orlando Predators	10	9	1	0	484	281	.900
*Tampa Bay Storm	10	9	1	0	472	354	.900
Charlotte Rage	10	3	7	0	357	320	.300
New Orleans Night	10	0	10	0	258	491	.000
Western Division
*Dallas Texans	10	5	5	0	354	383	.500
*Sacramento Attack	10	4	6	0	354	395	.400
Arizona Rattlers	10	4	6	0	319	420	.400
San Antonio Force	10	2	8	0	268	461	.200

Reference: [1]

Quarter-Finals
Orlando Predators	50	Cleveland Thunderbolts	12
Detroit Drive	48	Sacramento Attack	23
Dallas Texans	48	Albany Firebirds	45
Tampa Bay Storm	41	Cincinnati Rockers	36
Semi-Finals
Detroit Drive	57	Dallas Texans	14
Orlando Predators	24	Tampa Bay Storm	21 OT
Arena Bowl VI
Detroit Drive	56	Orlando Predators	38

Reference: [1]

AFL 1993

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
American Conference
*Detroit Drive	12	11	1	0	506	372	.917
*Arizona Rattlers	12	7	5	0	486	489	.583
*Dallas Texans	12	3	9	0	454	551	.250
Cincinnati Rockers	12	2	10	0	394	525	.167
Cleveland Thunderbolts	12	2	10	0	357	484	.167
National Conference
*Orlando Predators	12	10	2	0	526	355	.833
*Tampa Bay Storm	12	9	3	0	571	389	.750
*Charlotte Rage	12	6	6	0	440	509	.500
*Miami Hooters	12	5	7	0	429	481	.417
*Albany Firebirds	12	5	7	0	482	490	.417

Reference: [1]

Quarter-Finals
Orlando Predators	41	Miami Hooters	13
Tampa Bay Storm	48	Albany Firebirds	34
Detroit Drive	51	Dallas Texans	6
Arizona Rattlers	56	Charlotte Rage	49
Semi-Finals
Detroit Drive	38	Arizona Rattlers	34
Tampa Bay Storm	55	Orlando Predators	52
Arena Bowl VII
Tampa Bay Storm	51	Detroit Drive	31

Reference: [1]

AFL 1994

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
American Conference
*Albany Firebirds	12	10	2	0	642	507	.833
*Arizona Rattlers	12	8	4	0	525	449	.667
*Massachusetts Marauders	12	8	4	0	586	504	.667
*Las Vegas Sting	12	5	7	0	382	487	.417
Cleveland Thunderbolts	12	2	10	0	445	548	.167
Milwaukee Mustangs	12	0	12	0	376	609	.000
National Conference
*Orlando Predators	12	11	1	0	595	341	.917
*Tampa Bay Storm	12	7	5	0	561	564	.583
*Charlotte Rage	12	5	7	0	442	521	.417
*Fort Worth Cavalry	12	5	7	0	559	490	.417
Miami Hooters	12	5	7	0	398	491	.417

Reference: [1]

Quarter-Finals
Arizona Rattlers	53	Charlotte Rage	24
Albany Firebirds	49	Las Vegas Sting	30
Orlando Predators	34	Fort Worth Cavalry	13
Massachusetts Marauders	58	Tampa Bay Storm	51
Semi-Finals
Orlando Predators	51	Massachusetts Marauders	42
Arizona Rattlers	40	Albany Firebirds	33
Arena Bowl VIII
Arizona Rattlers	36	Orlando Predators	31

Reference: [1]

AFL 1995

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Central Division
*St. Louis Stampede	12	9	3	0	519	533	.750
*Iowa Barnstormers	12	7	5	0	593	511	.583
*Memphis Pharaohs	12	6	6	0	459	491	.500
Milwaukee Mustangs	12	4	8	0	541	619	.333
Western Division
*San Jose Sabercats	12	8	4	0	524	412	.667
*Arizona Rattlers	12	7	5	0	599	587	.583
Las Vegas Sting	12	6	6	0	532	498	.500
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
*Albany Firebirds	12	7	5	0	649	560	.583
Charlotte Rage	12	5	7	0	446	519	.417
Connecticut Coyotes	12	1	11	0	409	591	.083
Southern Division
*Tampa Bay Storm	12	10	2	0	605	378	.833
*Orlando Predators	12	7	5	0	542	471	.583
Miami Hooters	12	1	11	0	361	609	.083

Reference: [1]

Quarter-Finals
Tampa Bay Storm	53	Memphis Pharaohs	41
Albany Firebirds	51	St. Louis Stampede	49
Orlando Predators	55	San Jose Sabercats	37
Iowa Barnstormers	56	Arizona Rattlers	52
Semi-Finals
Tampa Bay Storm	56	Albany Firebirds	49
Orlando Predators	56	Iowa Barnstormers	49
Arena Bowl IX
Tampa Bay Storm	48	Orlando Predators	35

Reference: [1]

AFL 1996

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Central Division
*Iowa Barnstormers	14	12	2	0	712	601	.857
*Milwaukee Mustangs	14	10	4	0	704	566	.714
*St. Louis Stampede	14	8	6	0	706	627	.571
Memphis Pharaohs	14	0	14	0	400	688	.000
Western Division
*Arizona Rattlers	14	11	3	0	736	646	.786
*Anaheim Piranhas	14	9	5	0	602	505	.643
San Jose Sabercats	14	6	8	0	536	540	.429
Minnesota Fighting Pike	14	4	10	0	471	706	.286
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
*Albany Firebirds	14	10	4	0	873	622	.714
Charlotte Rage	14	5	9	0	591	643	.357
Connecticut Coyotes	14	2	12	0	540	695	.167
Southern Division
*Tampa Bay Storm	14	12	2	0	698	504	.857
*Orlando Predators	14	9	5	0	651	572	.643
Florida Bobcats	14	6	8	0	598	593	.429
Texas Terror	14	1	13	0	421	731	.071

Reference: [1]

Quarter-Finals
Tampa Bay Storm	30	Anaheim Piranhas	16
Iowa Barnstormers	52	St. Louis Stampede	49
Albany Firebirds	79	Milwaukee Mustangs	59
Arizona Rattlers	65	Orlando Predators	48
Semi-Finals
Tampa Bay Storm	55	Arizona Rattlers	54
Iowa Barnstormers	62	Albany Firebirds	55
Arena Bowl X
Tampa Bay Storm	42	Iowa Barnstormers	38

Reference: [1]

AFL 1997

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Central Division
*Iowa Barnstormers	14	11	3	0	803	645	.786
*Milwaukee Mustangs	14	8	6	0	669	667	.571
Texas Terror	14	6	8	0	733	756	.429
Portland Forest Dragons	14	2	12	0	446	701	.143
Western Division
*Arizona Rattlers	14	12	2	0	713	540	.857
*San Jose Sabercats	14	8	6	0	548	563	.571
Anaheim Piranhas	14	2	12	0	615	735	.143
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
*Nashville Kats	14	10	4	0	740	660	.714
*New Jersey Red Dogs	14	9	5	0	660	596	.643
Albany Firebirds	14	6	8	0	745	714	.429
New York CityHawks	14	2	12	0	522	691	.143
Southern Division
*Orlando Predators	14	10	4	0	678	505	.714
*Tampa Bay Storm	14	8	6	0	548	521	.571
Florida Bobcats	14	4	10	0	519	645	.429

Reference: [1]

Quarter-Finals
Orlando Predators	45	New Jersey Red Dogs	37
Iowa Barnstormers	68	San Jose Sabercats	59
Arizona Rattlers	46	Minnesota Fighting Pike	29
Tampa Bay Storm	52	Nashville Kats	49
Semi-Finals
Iowa Barnstormers	52	Orlando Predators	34
Arizona Rattlers	49	Tampa Bay Storm	46 OT
Arena Bowl XI
Arizona Rattlers	55	Iowa Barnstormers	33

Reference: [1]

AFL 1998

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Central Division
*Houston ThunderBears	14	8	6	0	734	732	.571
Milwaukee Mustangs	14	7	7	0	719	718	.500
Iowa Barnstormers	14	5	9	0	582	716	.357
Grand Rapids Rampage	14	3	11	0	550	710	.214
Western Division
*Arizona Rattlers	14	10	4	0	786	650	.714
*San Jose Sabercats	14	7	7	0	659	643	.500
Portland Forest Dragons	14	4	10	0	677	762	.286
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
*Albany Firebirds	14	10	4	0	793	692	.714
*New Jersey Red Dogs	14	8	6	0	679	699	.571
New York CityHawks	14	3	11	0	568	717	.214
Southern Division
*Tampa Bay Storm	14	12	2	0	794	513	.857
*Orlando Predators	14	9	5	0	655	623	.643
*Nashville Kats	14	9	5	0	711	659	.643
Florida Bobcats	14	3	11	0	637	710	.214

Reference: [1]

Quarter-Finals
Orlando Predators	58	Nashville Kats	43
Arizona Rattlers	50	Houston ThunderBears	36
Tampa Bay Storm	65	San Jose Sabercats	46
New Jersey Red Dogs	66	Albany Firebirds	59
Semi-Finals
Tampa Bay Storm	49	New Jersey Red Dogs	23
Orlando Predators	38	Arizona Rattlers	33
Arena Bowl XII
Orlando Predators	62	Tampa Bay Storm	31

Reference: [1]

AFL 1999

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Central Division
*Iowa Barnstormers	14	11	3	0	750	643	.786
*Grand Rapids Rampage	14	8	6	0	726	654	.571
*Milwaukee Mustangs	14	7	7	0	621	721	.500
Houston ThunderBears	14	4	10	0	742	815	.286
Western Division
*Arizona Rattlers	14	10	4	0	749	639	.714
Portland Forest Dragons	14	7	7	0	613	597	.500
San Jose Sabercats	14	6	8	0	712	746	.429
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
*Albany Firebirds	14	11	3	0	822	674	.786
New Jersey Red Dogs	14	6	8	0	583	666	.429
New England Sea Wolves	14	5	9	0	647	723	.357
Buffalo Destroyers	14	1	13	0	467	642	.071
Southern Division
*Tampa Bay Storm	14	11	3	0	690	488	.786
*Nashville Kats	14	8	6	0	754	710	.571
*Orlando Predators	14	7	7	0	634	646	.500
Florida Bobcats	14	3	11	0	555	701	.214

Reference: [1]

Quarter-Finals
Orlando Predators	41	Tampa Bay Storm	19
Albany Firebirds	55	Grand Rapids Rampage	45
Arizona Rattlers	34	Nashville Kats	30
Iowa Barnstormers	66	Milwaukee Mustangs	34
Semi-Finals
Orlando Predators	48	Iowa Barnstormers	41
Albany Firebirds	73	Arizona Rattlers	47
Arena Bowl XIII
Albany Firebirds	59	Orlando Predators	48

Reference: [1]

AFL 2000

Team	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Central Division
*Iowa Barnstormers	14	9	5	0	797	677	.643
*Milwaukee Mustangs	14	7	7	0	750	714	.500
*Grand Rapids Rampage	14	6	8	0	628	721	.429
Houston ThunderBears	14	3	11	0	709	810	.214
Western Division
*San Jose Sabercats	14	12	2	0	871	648	.857
*Arizona Rattlers	14	12	2	0	727	592	.857
*Oklahoma Wranglers	14	7	7	0	654	605	.500
Los Angeles Avengers	14	3	11	0	659	831	.214
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
*Albany Firebirds	14	9	5	0	815	706	.643
*New England Sea Wolves	14	9	5	0	694	696	.643
*Buffalo Destroyers	14	5	9	0	615	767	.357
New Jersey Red Dogs	14	4	10	0	698	773	.286
Southern Division
*Orlando Predators	14	11	3	0	663	568	.786
*Nashville Kats	14	9	5	0	671	593	.643
*Tampa Bay Storm	14	8	6	0	657	598	.571
Carolina Cobras	14	3	11	0	641	783	.214
Florida Bobcats	14	3	11	0	537	704	.214

Reference: [1]

First Round
Arizona Rattlers	41	Buffalo Destroyers	34
Oklahoma Wranglers	52	New England Sea Wolves	38
Nashville Kats	57	Grand Rapids Rampage	14
Tampa Bay Storm	72	Milwaukee Mustangs	64
Quarter-Finals
Orlando Predators	34	Tampa Bay Storm	24
San Jose Sabercats	63	Oklahoma Wranglers	40
Arizona Rattlers	53	Albany Firebirds	50
Nashville Kats	63	Iowa Destroyers	56
Semi-Finals
Nashville Kats	51	San Jose Sabercats	42
Orlando Predators	56	Arizona Rattlers	44
Arensa Bowl XIV
Orlando Predators	41	Nashville Kats	38

Reference: [1]

Report

A period of rapid expansion in the early 1990s, coupled with stability afterwards saw the Arena Football League become what the Wall Street Journal called the ‘Fifth Major’.

Detroit Drive won Arena Bowl VI in 1992, defeating Orlando Predators 52-38, but were unable to repeat as they lost Arena Bowl VII the following year to Tampa Bay Storm, on a 51-31 scoeline.

Orlando were defeated finalists again in 1994, losing to Arizona Rattlers this time, 36-31. In 1995, they lost their third Arena Bowl in four years, as Tampa Bay Storm won 48-35 in Arena Bowl IX.

Tampa Bay repeated in 1996, winning Arena Bowl X 42-38 over Iowa Barnstormers, and like in 1994, this was followed by an Arizona Rattlers triumph, 55-33 over Iowa, who lost their second Arena Bowl in a row.

Orlando Predators finally overcame their Arena Bowl jinx, winning the 12th edition 62-31 in a comprehensive victory over Florida rivals Tampa Bay Storm. They were unable to repeat the feat in 1999, as Albany Firebirds finally won the Bowl, defeating Orlando 59-48.

Orlando appeared in their third Arena Bowl in a row in 2000, winning the title 41-38 in a close encounter with Nashville Kats.

A rival Indoor Football League, the Professional Indoor Football League had started in 1999, and the Arena Football League took them to court, arguing it was a breach of the copyright awarded to them, however the Judge ruled the copyright was restricted to the rebound nets either side of the goalposts and eveything else was just Football, and therefore not under copyright.

This opened the door for a flood of rival Arena Leagues, and the AFL responded by starting its own development league, the AF2. This, however, was an over-expansion, and the League was no longer the main Major League rival to the NFL, the spot now taken by the XFL, which had garnered a Major TV Network deal.

References:

Sources:

[1] Arena Football League (2016) 2016 Record and Factbook pp. 67-83 / 52.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Fiona Corrigan, Caoimhe Mullaney, Alan Delaney, Alan Grey, Elise McManus, Ian Breathnach, Donie, Mark Mahon.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

World Gridiron Archive

Last Updated: 18 March 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and World Gridiron Archive 2019

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.