With American football’s popularity booming, fans are itching for more of the sport. The NFL off-season is under way, but one league, the Arena Football League, will begin its regular season in April.
The Arena Football League began in 1987 and lasted until 2008 before a brief hiatus. The AFL returned in 2010 and continued through 2019 before the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The league announced its return in 2024 with a 16-team format. Rosters are still coming together, but the locations of each franchise have been reported, including a date for the season’s opening week on April 27.
One noticeable difference between the AFL and the NFL is the field. In the AFL, it is half the size of a standard NFL field, with only 50 yards between end zones. Additionally, only eight players can be on the gridiron for each team.
Another difference, compared to the previous versions of the Arena Football League, is player salaries. But how big of a gap is there in compensation between the AFL and NFL?
How much does the Arena Football League pay?
Arena Football players used to fetch $1,800 per game in the mid-2000s, but the most recent data suggests that players took a steep pay cut in 2019, with a $940 per game figure.
In comparison, the median per-game value in the NFL is $50,000, while the Canadian Football League offers over $7,000 for each contest.
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However, in the league’s 2024 return, the team salary cap is expected to be $700,000. Based on a 15-player roster, that averages out to $46,666 per player, nearly matching the average of the NFL level.
After closing down in 2019, the Arena Football League has announced plans to relaunch under new ownership.16 teams will take the field in 2024. pic.twitter.com/9Xv9FXZlh7
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 1, 2023
In the 2024 relaunch, there will be 16 franchises, with several US cities welcoming an AFL team to their community.
Which teams are in the Arena Football League?
The 16 teams include:•Albany Firebirds•Minnesota Myth•Nashville Kats•Philadelphia Soul•Georgia Force•Louisiana VooDoo•Orlando Predators•West Texas Desert Hawks•Iowa Rampage•Salina Liberty•Southwest Kansas Storm•Wichita Regulators•Billings Outlaw•Oregon Blackbears•Rapid City Marshals•Washington Wolfpack
After a five-year break, the Arena Football League is set to kick off in April. There is substantial momentum, as a promise of higher wages and better facilities will help entice premium talent to join.
The season will last through the end of June, culminating in the ArenaBowl, where the two best teams will square off for the championship.
The hope is to capitalize on the NFL off-season and the budding interest in American football.