Post by marinersmedia on Jan 27, 2010 15:19:11 GMT -5
AIFA’s Regional Schedule, National Presence Points to Title Game at East Host
BALTIMORE, MD (January 27, 2010) – With teams stretching from California to New Jersey and Alaska to North Carolina, the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA), which the Baltimore Mariners are a member of, will have a true national presence for the 2010 season. Broken into East and West Conferences, the 13 franchises of the AIFA will play a regional regular season schedule leading up to a national championship game in July.
“In 2010 we switch to the East vs. West conference alignment and I am very thrilled abut it. While the tradition of the North is strong in AIFL/AIFA history, this allows teams to keep rivalries and easy travel schedules,” stated Mariners General Manager Greg Justice.
Along with the Mariners the East Conference will include the Erie Storm, Fayetteville Guard, Harrisburg Stampede, New Jersey Revolution, Reading Express, and Richmond Raiders. The West will consist of the Ogden Knights, San Jose Wolves, Arctic Predators (based north of Anchorage, Alaska), Wenatchee Valley (Washington) Venom, Wyoming Calvary, and the Yakima Valley (Washington) Warriors.
The Mariners will play a 14-game regular season against their East Conference foes, followed by the East Conference playoffs, which should develop strong regional rivalries. Justice, however, leaves no doubt who the Mariners main rival is, “While Harrisburg is our closest team to play, make no mistake the rivalry here is the Reading Express. With so many of us here in Baltimore that has ties as a coach, player, or resident of the Reading area it has become an instant classic every time we face off. Rarely do you find such a fierce passion on the field, yet afterwards great respect and friendship spread as wide as we do here in Baltimore and Reading,” noted Justice. In 2009 the Mariners defeated Reading twice during the regular season, but Reading earned a playoff win against Baltimore en route to the 2009 AIFA Championship.
To earn their championship Reading traveled west to Wyoming. With their alternating East-West championship set-up, this year’s title game will take place at the home of the East champion. Justice’s goal is to have that take place right here in Baltimore. Justice commented, “With the East vs. West alignment, the championship game will be held in the East in 2010. The mission is simple! Take care of business, get to the post season and bring that championship game to Baltimore! If all goes as planned, 1st Mariner Arena could be rocking in July as we set sail for the ring.”
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
BALTIMORE, MD (January 27, 2010) – With teams stretching from California to New Jersey and Alaska to North Carolina, the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA), which the Baltimore Mariners are a member of, will have a true national presence for the 2010 season. Broken into East and West Conferences, the 13 franchises of the AIFA will play a regional regular season schedule leading up to a national championship game in July.
“In 2010 we switch to the East vs. West conference alignment and I am very thrilled abut it. While the tradition of the North is strong in AIFL/AIFA history, this allows teams to keep rivalries and easy travel schedules,” stated Mariners General Manager Greg Justice.
Along with the Mariners the East Conference will include the Erie Storm, Fayetteville Guard, Harrisburg Stampede, New Jersey Revolution, Reading Express, and Richmond Raiders. The West will consist of the Ogden Knights, San Jose Wolves, Arctic Predators (based north of Anchorage, Alaska), Wenatchee Valley (Washington) Venom, Wyoming Calvary, and the Yakima Valley (Washington) Warriors.
The Mariners will play a 14-game regular season against their East Conference foes, followed by the East Conference playoffs, which should develop strong regional rivalries. Justice, however, leaves no doubt who the Mariners main rival is, “While Harrisburg is our closest team to play, make no mistake the rivalry here is the Reading Express. With so many of us here in Baltimore that has ties as a coach, player, or resident of the Reading area it has become an instant classic every time we face off. Rarely do you find such a fierce passion on the field, yet afterwards great respect and friendship spread as wide as we do here in Baltimore and Reading,” noted Justice. In 2009 the Mariners defeated Reading twice during the regular season, but Reading earned a playoff win against Baltimore en route to the 2009 AIFA Championship.
To earn their championship Reading traveled west to Wyoming. With their alternating East-West championship set-up, this year’s title game will take place at the home of the East champion. Justice’s goal is to have that take place right here in Baltimore. Justice commented, “With the East vs. West alignment, the championship game will be held in the East in 2010. The mission is simple! Take care of business, get to the post season and bring that championship game to Baltimore! If all goes as planned, 1st Mariner Arena could be rocking in July as we set sail for the ring.”
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
