Arena Indoor Football Leagues Era Timeline 1985-2019

Arena Football League Logo [Reference: Images 1]
Arena Football League Logo [Reference: Images 1]

Arena Football League (1985-2019)

AMERICAN CONFERENCENATIONAL CONFERENCE
American EastNational East
Detroit DriveMassachusetts Marauders
Cincinnati RockersConnecticut Coyotes
Cleveland ThunderboltsNew Jersey Red Dogs
Pittsburgh GladiatorsNew York CityHawks
New England SteamrollersNew England Sea Wolves
New York KnightsBuffalo Destroyers
Pittsburgh PowerToronto Phantoms
Albany FirebirdsNew York Dragons
Chicago BruisersNew Jersey Gladiators
Columbus ThunderboltsColumbus Destroyers
Cleveland GladiatorsPhiladelphia Soul
American CentralNational Central
Milwaukee MustangsIowa Barnstormers
Fort Worth CavalryChicago Rush
St. Louis StampedeMilwaukee Iron
Memphis PharaohsKansas City Command
Houston ThunderBearsSan Antonio Talons
Grand Rapids RampageDallas Vigilantes
Indiana FirebirdsBaltimore Brigade
Detroit FuryWashington Valor
American SouthAlbany Empire
Jacksonville SharksAtlantic City Blackjacks
Alabama VipersNational South
New Orleans VoodooCharlotte Rage
Orlando PredatorsNew Orleans Night
Tampa Bay StormWashington Commandos
Tulsa TalonsMaryland Commandos
Oklahoma City Yard DogzMiami Hooters
Bossier-Shreveport BattlewingsFlorida Bobcats
Dallas VigilantesTexas Terror
American WestNashville Kats
Sacramento AttackCarolina Cobras
San Antonio ForceGeorgia Force
Los Angeles CobrasAustin Wranglers
Denver DynamiteKansas City Brigade
Las Vegas StingNational West
Anaheim PiranhasUtah Blaze
Minnesota Fighting PikeArizona Rattlers
Portland Forest DragonsSan Jose Sabercats
Oklahoma WranglersPortland Thunder
Los Angeles AvengersSpokane Shock
Colorado CrushLos Angeles Kiss
Las Vegas GladiatorsPortland Steel
Dallas TexansLas Vegas Outlaws
Arena Football League 1985-2019 [Reference: Arena Football League 1-9]

China Arena Football League (2016-2019)

Team (2016)Team (2019)
Shanghai SkywalkersBeijing Lions
Qingdao ClipperWuhan Gators
Guangzhou PowerShenyang Black Rhinos
Shenzhen NajaShanghai Legend
Dalian Dragon Kings
China Arena Football League (2016-2019) [Reference: China Arena Football League 1-12]

note: In Addition the Arena Football League played a “Test Game” in Rockford, Illinois in 1985, and a “Showcase Game” in 1986 – Teams Unknown.

Legends Football League (2004-2019)

Midwestern DivisionNortheastern Division
Chicago BlissBaltimore Charm
Green Bay ChillPhiladelphia Passion
Minnesota ValkyrieCleveland Crush
Dallas DesireToledo Crush
Nashville KnightsNew York Euphoria
Pittsburgh RebellionNew England Liberty
Pacific DivisionSoutheastern Division
Seattle MistAtlanta Steam
Los Angeles TemptationJacksonville Breeze
Las Vegas SinOmaha Heart
San Jose SeductionMiami Caliente
Denver DreamTampa Breeze
Austin AcousticOrlando Fantasy
Legends Football League 2004-2019 [Reference: Lingerie Bowl 1-4 / Lingerie Football League 1-6 / Legends Football League 1-18]

Note: In Addition Team Euphoria and Team Dream played in Lingerie Bowl I in 2004.

Legends Football League Canada & Australia (2012-2014)

LFL CANADALFL Australia
Saskatoon SirensNSW Surge
Regina RageWestern Australia Angels
BC AngelsQueensland Brigade
Toronto TriumphVictoria Maidens
Lingerie Football League Canada [Reference: LFL Canada 1-3] and Legends Football League Australia [Reference: LFL Australia 1-8]

Report

Arena Football was invented by a former National Football League executive in 1982 after seeing an Indoor Soccer Game. In 1985 he left the NFL and played the first “Test Game” and the following year the first “Showcase Game”. In 1987 the Arena Football League started, which lasted until 2019. It spawned numerous copy leagues, some of which are still in existence today, such as the Indoor Football League. In 2004, a Rival TV Network, took advantage of fans describing the Super Bowl Halftime Show as too long and boring to air a match featuring scantily-clad models and actresses called the “Lingerie Bowl” at the same time. The game was a variation on Arena Football. In 2009 this Bowl became a fully-fledged league, which renamed itself the Legends Football League, and started playing in bicycle shorts and crop tops following complaints of sexism. Boty of these leagues had a Global adventure: the AFL established the China Arena Football League in 2016, which had its second season in 2019, and the LFL established the LFL Canada in 2012-13 and LFL Australia in 2013-14, both of which lasted one season. Irishwoman Linda Holland played for the Western Australia Angels in the LFL Autstralia.

Bibliography

[1] Arena Football League (2016) “2016 Record and Fact Book” pp. 52-109 / 45

Websites (Arena Football League)

[1] Arena Football League (2016) 2016 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/standings.html [Accessed 1 April 2017][Broken Link]

[3] Arena Football League (2017) 2017 Standings [Internet] Available from: http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=standings [Accessed 16 September 2017][Broken Link]

[4] Arena Football League (2017) 2017 Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.arenafootball.com/2017-schedule [Accessed 16 September 2017][Broken Link]

[5] Arena Football League (2018) 2018 Standings [Internet] Available from: http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=standings [Accessed 6 January 2019][Broken Link]

[6] Arena Football League (2018) 2018 Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=schedule [Accessed 6 January 2019][Broken Link]

[7] Arena Football League (2018) 2019 Standings [Internet] Available from: http://www.arenafootball.com/2019-standings [Accessed 26 July 2019][Broken Link]

[8] Arena Football League (2018) 2018 Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.afldigital.com/index.cfm?view=schedule&season=2019 [Accessed 8 September 2019][Broken Link]

[9]Arena Fan (2019) Arena Bowl History [Internet] Available from: http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=abowls [Accessed 19 February 2020]

Websites (China Arena Football League)

[1] Arena Fan (2016) China Arena Football League Standings [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20161107032211/http://www.arenafan.com/statistics/?page=standings&league=4 [Accessed 31 August 2019]

[2] Morninghof, Mick (2016) Beijing Wins CAFL Bowl on Final Play [Internet] Available from: http://caflfootball.com/beijing-wins-cafl-china-bowl-on-final-play/ [Accessed 31 August 2019]

[3] Morninghof, Mick (2016) Shanghai Takes Third With 57-52 Win [Internet] Available from: http://caflfootball.com/shanghai-takes-third-with-57-52-win/ [Accessed 31 August 2019]

[4] Morninghof, Mick (2016) Naja Finish at .500 With 46-30 Win Over Dalian [Internet] Available from: http://caflfootball.com/shanghai-takes-third-with-57-52-win/ [Accessed 31 August 2019]

[5] China Arena Football League (2019) CAFL 2019 Competition Breakdown! [Internet] Available from: http://caflfootball.com/cafl-2019-competition-breakdown/ [Accessed 3 December 2019]

[6] China Arena Football League | Facebook (2019) Post, November 13, 2019: ” Final Score from Shenyang: Beijing 28 Shenyang 0 “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CAFLFootball/posts/2768277399901933 [Accessed 3 December 2019]

[7] China Arena Football League | Facebook (2019) Post, November 22, 2019” Final Score in Wuhan: Gators 40 Shanghai 0 “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CAFLFootball/posts/2791563504239989 [Accessed 3 December 2019]

[8] China Arena Football League | Facebook (2019) Post, December 6, 2019” Half way through Match Play and Day 1 of the CAFL Championship Tournament and here are the scores:  [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CAFLFootball/posts/2823067901089549 [Accessed 10 December 2019]

[9] China Arena Football League | Facebook (2019) Post, December 6, 2019 The first day is complete and here is how the teams finished in day 1 of Match Play of the CAFL 2019 Championship Tournament. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CAFLFootball/posts/2823301561066183 [Accessed 10 December 2019]

[10] China Arena Football League | Facebook (2019) Post, December 8, 2019” The Shenyang Black Rhinos take home the 3rd Place OF THE CAFL 2029 Championship Tournament with an 18-6 win over the Shanghai Legends.  [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CAFLFootball/posts/2827977440598595 [Accessed 10 December 2019]

[11] China Arena Football League | Facebook (2019) Post, December 8, 2019” What an epic battle as the CAFL 2019 Tournament Championship Game gave fans all that they could ask for as the Wuhan Gators came from behind in regulation to tie the score and take the game to overtime to defeat the 2016 champions Beijing Lions 30-22.  “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CAFLFootball/posts/2827996027263403 [Accessed 10 December 2019]

[12] Arena Football League (2019) Official Statement [Internet] Available from: https://www.arenafootball.com/article/nov27-statement [Accessed 3 December 2019]

Websites (LIngerie Bowl)

[1] Aman2k You Tube Channel Lingerie Bowl 1 – Sheena Mariano (2/1/2004) Published Dec 9, 2011 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90TD1bMaC_Y [Accessed 11 February 2019]

[2] Aman2k You Tube Channel Lingerie Bowl II – Sheena Mariano (2/5/2006) Published Dec 9, 2011 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVRTPcnI8Hw [Accessed 11 February 2019]

[3] Brian Powell (2008) “Lingerie Bowl a no-show” East Valley Tribune [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20080201110709/http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/107628 [Accessed 11 February 2019]

[4] Emily Nipps (2009) “Lingerie Bowl canceled over dispute with Caliente nudist resort” Tampa Bay Times. [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20141130171134/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/lingerie-bowl-canceled-over-dispute-with-caliente-nudist-resort/970537> [Accessed 11 February 2009]

Websites (Lingerie Football League)

[1] Lingerie Football League (2010) Lingerie Football League 2009/2010 Regular Season [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20100726192959/http://www.lflus.com:80/standings/ [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[2] Legends Football League (2010) Lingerie Bowl VII Highlights [Final Score at 1:50] Published Jul 27, 2010 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toM-MI39s8A [Accessed 11 February 2019]

[3] Lingerie Football League (2011) Lingerie Football League 2010/2011 Regular Season [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20110214004628/http://www.lflus.com:80/standings/ [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[4] Goodsportsmedialv You Tube Channel (2011) Sample of Lingerie Bowl 2011 Published Feb 6, 2011 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCoQIQQ_ESs [Accessed 11 February 2019]

[5] Lingerie Football League (2012) 2011/2012 Regular Season [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20120414145620/http://www.lflus.com:80/standings/ [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[6] Avi Zarum You Tube Channel (2012) 2012 Lingerie Bowl Story [Final Score at 5:47] Published Mar 18, 2012 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_sx_6dDZEU [Accessed 11 February 2012]

Websites (Legends Football League)

[1] Legends Football League US (2013) 2013 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20130826190354/http://www.lflus.com/standings [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[2] Legends Football League US (2013) 2013 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20130927191603/http://www.lflus.com/schedule [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[3] Legends Football League US (2013) Unfortunately for Passion, History Does not Repeat Itself [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/lfl-north-america/usa/passion-history-repeat/ [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[4] Legends Football League US (2013) 2014 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20141028232802/http://www.lflus.com/standings [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[5] Legends Football League US (2013) 2014 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20141026212957/http://www.lflus.com/schedule [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[6] Legends Football League US (2013) 2015 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20151025065405/http://www.lflus.com/standings [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[7] Legends Football League US (2013) 2015 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20151023025851/http://www.lflus.com/schedule [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[8] Legends Football League US (2013) 2016 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20160928161149/http://www.lflus.com/standings [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[9] Legends Football League US (2013) 2016 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20160930084040/http://www.lflus.com/schedule [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[10] Legends Football League US (2013) 2017 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20170927134723/http://www.lflus.com/standings [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[11] Legends Football League US (2013) 2017 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20171002082933/http://www.lflus.com/schedule [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[12] Legends Football League US (2013) 2018 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://lflus.com/standings [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[13] Legends Football League US (2013) 2018 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20180907141133/https://lflus.com/schedule[Accessed 19 March 2019]

[14] Legends Football League US (2013) Knights Blissful Inaugural Season, Comes to an End with 18-6 Loss to Chicago[Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/lfl-north-america/usa/nashville-knights-usa/knights-blissful-inaugural-season-comes-to-an-end-with-18-6-loss-to-chicago/ [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[15] Legends Football League US (2013) Chicago Bliss Become Winnigest Team in History with 28-20 Legends Cup win over Austin Acoustic [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/lfl-north-america/usa/chicago-bliss/chicago-bliss-become-winningest-team-in-history-with-28-20-legends-cup-win-over-austin-acoustic/ [Accessed 19 March 2019]

[16] Legends Football League (US) (2019) 2019 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://lflus.com/standings [Accessed 15 September 2019]

[17] Legends Football League (US) (2019) Schedule 2019 Standings [Internet] Available from: https://lflus.com/schedule [Accessed 15 September 2019]

Media (Legends Football League)

[18] Legends Football League | You Tube Channel (2019) LFL | 2019 Season | Legends Cup | Los Angeles Temptation vs Seattle Mist [Final Score LA 20 Sea 56 @1:30:29 | Premiered 14 September 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5436&v=lEt-L0wpDHQ [Accessed 15 September 2019]

Internet Archive (Legends Football League Canada)

[1] LFL Canada | Internet Archive (2012) LFL Canada | 2012-13 | Standings [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20121119013016/http://lflcanada.com/standings.php [Accessed 31 August 2019]

[2] De La Fuente, Marcus (2012) LINGERIE BOWL I: HANSON & GARCIA LIGHT UP THE FIELD FOR BC AS MISSED OPPORTUNITIES AND MISTAKES PLAGUE SASKATOON LFL Canada | Internet Archive [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20121205072904/http://www.lfl360.com/articles/lingerie-bowl-i-hanson-garcia-light-field-bc-missed-opportunities-mistakes-plague-saskatoon/ [Accessed 31 August 2019]

[3] LFL Canada Internet Archive (2012) LFL Canada 2012-13 Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20121119023314/http://lflcanada.com/schedule.php [Accessed 31 August 2019]

Websites (Legends Football League Australia)

[2] LFL 360 (2013) NSW Surge vs QLD Brigade – The inaugural Australian LFL game [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/australia/new-south-wales-surge/nsw-surge-qld-brigade-the-inaugural-australian-lfl-game/ [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[3] LFL 360 (2013) A Packed Stadium and Upset Win Add to an Ulnikely Maiden Voyage [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/australia/packed-stadium-upset-win-add-maiden-voyage/ [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[4] LFL 360 (2013) Heavenly Debut for the Angels [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/australia/heavenly-debut-angels/ [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[5] LFL 360 (2013) A Surge Capsizes Maiden Voyage, NSW 36 VIC 12 [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/australia/surge-capsizes-maiden-voyage-34-12-sydney [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[6] LFL 360 (2014) Massacre on the Gold Coast, Angels soar above Brigade 41-0 [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/australia/massacre-gold-coast-angels-soar-brigade-41-0 [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[7] LFL 360 (2014) LFL Australia: Articles [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/category/australia/ [Accessed 6 May 2018]

[8] LFL 360 (2014) LFL Australia: Articles – Page 2 [Internet] Available from: https://www.lfl360.com/category/australia/page/2/ [Accessed 6 May 2018]

Images

[1] Arena Football League (2019) Arena Football League Reveals New Logo [Internet] Available from: https://snagfilms-a.akamaihd.net/0000015a-a977-d135-adda-fb7fb65f0000/images/c3/b8/20eb27b6418aa78b71d4679d2988/1545950679236_1545950297199_viewliftarticle_16x9images_16x9Images.png [Accessed 17 September 2019]

[2] Brian O’Reilly – Irish Independent (2014) February 13 2014: Video: Irish woman becomes star of Australia’s Lingerie Football League [Internet] Availabble from: https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/video-irish-woman-becomes-star-of-australias-lingerie-football-league-30007193 [Accessed 6 May 2018]

References

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Anton Pippo O’Grady (Dublin Bay Raptors), Joe Grey (Dublin Dragons) Sean Douglas (Dublin Rebels & UCD) Fiona Corrigan, Caoimhe Mullaney, Alan Delaney; Cillian Smith, Michael Smith, Ralph Schmeer, and Michael Brophy (IAFA).

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 10 July 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

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

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