Professional football is returning to Tallahassee.
The Arena Football League announced on Twitter Tuesday that Tallahassee will be one of 16 cities that will take part in the league’s relaunch in 2024.
The AFL announced its return in February, and this is the first major update from the league in five months.
The league will resume operations under the ownership of F1 Sports & Entertainment, which purchased the rights in January 2022.
The league is scheduled to open in April of 2024, and its website says that both jerseys and mascots will be revealed at a later date.
There has been no announcement on the Tallahassee name, its host venue or ownership group. The teams will play 10 regular season games before postseason play.
Previous indoor football teams in the area − the Tallahassee Thunder (2000 to 2002) and the Tallahassee Titans (2006) −played in the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
“We are elated to come out of hibernation and make this announcement official,”AFL President AnthonyRossi said in the league’s release.
“Our objective when we acquired the AFL was to bring back a storied brand that deserved to be revived and showcased again, globally. We envisioned executing on the old saying ‘Bigger and Better,’ but this time, we want to incorporate the components of a modern-day business – streaming, betting, technology, virtual reality, and immerse fan engagement mixed with good old-fashioned iron-man football.”
The AFL was founded in 1986 and operated until 2009, when the company filed for bankruptcy.
The AFL had a brief revival under new owners in 2010. But less than a decade later the league was caught in a workers compensation lawsuit and disagreements among league owners led to the company folding in 2019.
The AFL joins the United States Football League (USFL) and the XFL as spring football leagues, taking place during the National Football League (NFL) offseason.
These leagues often give players a chance to impress in front of NFL scouts and give players the ability to continue their playing careers.
The AFL grew in popularity due to its fast-paced nature and differences from outdoor football.
Playing on significantly smaller fields than outdoor football teams, games often end with high scores and faster action, a change in pace that fans enjoyed during the glory days of the league.
The locations announced by the league include:
- Minnesota
- Boise, Idaho
- Austin, Texas
- Chicago, Illinois
- Orlando, Florida
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- St. Louis, Missouri
- California
- Louisiana
- Colorado
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Washington
- West Texas
Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
