af2s Arena Cup Returns to Highest Seed as Host Format

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - CHICAGO – The ArenaCup, the championship game of arenafootball2, will be held at the venue of the participating team with the best overall record in 2008, the af2 league office announced today. The af2’s decision to return to the highest seed as host format, which was utilized for the league’s first five seasons (2000-04), was made with one overriding factor in mind – the fan.

“Our fans are some of the very best in the world, so when they told us about their wishes to bring ArenaCup back to the site of the highest-seeded participating team, we listened,” af2 President Jerry Kurz said. “This year promises to be one of our most competitive ever and I believe ArenaCup9 will be our best attended championship ever.”

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With the return to the previous format of having the highest seed play host to ArenaCup, the local fan base will not have to travel to the game, therefore significantly reducing their expenses associated with event. The local fan flavor will also add to the overall excitement of the game.

The last three years (2005-07) the af2 held a neutral-site ArenaCup championship game. The 2006 ArenaCup was held in San Juan , Puerto Rico at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico and the 2005 and 2007 championships were held at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City , La. While both destinations were tremendous hosts with top-notch facilities, history has shown that the ArenaCup’s best attended contests were held at the venue of the competing team with the best overall record.

ArenaCup history (2000-07)

Year Winner Site (attendance)

2000 Quad City Moline , Ill. (9,210)

2001 Quad City Moline , Ill. (8,261)

2002 Peoria Peoria , Ill. (7,552)

2003 Tulsa Tulsa , Okla. (7,184)

2004 Florida Estero , Fla. (6,491)

2005 Memphis Bossier City , La. (6,236)

2006 Spokane San Juan , Puerto Rico (5,658)

2007 Tulsa Bossier City , La. (5,107)

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