Post by marinersmedia on Feb 27, 2010 19:57:27 GMT -5
Six Western Conference Teams Look for Championship Date at Eastern Champ
BALTIMORE, MD (February 27, 2010) – While the American Indoor Football Association’s (AIFA) Eastern Conference is made up of six seasoned clubs and one expansion team, the Western Conference has undergone dramatic expansion during the 2009 offseason. With team’s stretching from the coast of California to inner Alaska, the West promises to forge a fierce title race.
The grand-daddy of the Western Conference is the Wyoming Calvary. Founded in 2000, the Casper, Wyoming club is a veteran of ten indoor football seasons and four title games, but a national championship eludes their grasp. In their two seasons in the AIFA, the Calvary have compiled an impressive 23-5 regular season record, won two consecutive conference championships, but have lost the last two AIFA Bowls to the Eastern champions. Last year, they lost a shootout to the Reading Express 65-42 in Wyoming.
The other veteran of indoor football in the Western Conference is the Ogden (Utah) Knights. The Knights, who call the Golden Spike Arena in Ogden home, made their AIFA debut in 2009. Following a disappointing 0-6 start, fueled by one of the league’s top rushing attacks, the Knights finished the season strong at 4-4 and look to be a player in the Western playoff race.
Filling out the West are four expansion teams, two in Washington state, one in California, and one in Alaska. The two Washington franchises, the Wenatchee Valley Venom and the Yakima Valley Warriors appear to be set for an instant rivalry. Perched in central Washington and about two hours apart, the Venom who will play in the Town Toyota Center and the Warriors who will call the Yakima Sun Dome home, should build a strong fan base with three contests against each other in 2010.
The Arctic Predators, based in Wasilla, Alaska and just 45 minutes north of Anchorage are also a first year club in the AIFA. The Predators will play their home games at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, which already houses the Alaska Avalanche of the North American Hockey League, which also includes the Wenatchee Wild. This hockey history between the two towns may lay the groundwork for a rivalry between the Predators and Venom.
The Predators first game of the season will be against at the San Jose Wolves on March 20th. The Wolves are the AIFA’s final Western Conference expansion team. After years of strong support for the now-defunct San Jose Sabrecats of the Arena Football League, the San Jose area appears ready for their new indoor football team. The Wolves front office has already built a roster full of former AIFA stars.
The Western Conference championship game awaits the top two regular season teams with the number one seed hosting the Western title match. The winners earn a berth in AIFA Bowl IV and a trip east. As July approaches Mariners fans will be hoping that trip east lands the Western Champion in Baltimore.
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
BALTIMORE, MD (February 27, 2010) – While the American Indoor Football Association’s (AIFA) Eastern Conference is made up of six seasoned clubs and one expansion team, the Western Conference has undergone dramatic expansion during the 2009 offseason. With team’s stretching from the coast of California to inner Alaska, the West promises to forge a fierce title race.
The grand-daddy of the Western Conference is the Wyoming Calvary. Founded in 2000, the Casper, Wyoming club is a veteran of ten indoor football seasons and four title games, but a national championship eludes their grasp. In their two seasons in the AIFA, the Calvary have compiled an impressive 23-5 regular season record, won two consecutive conference championships, but have lost the last two AIFA Bowls to the Eastern champions. Last year, they lost a shootout to the Reading Express 65-42 in Wyoming.
The other veteran of indoor football in the Western Conference is the Ogden (Utah) Knights. The Knights, who call the Golden Spike Arena in Ogden home, made their AIFA debut in 2009. Following a disappointing 0-6 start, fueled by one of the league’s top rushing attacks, the Knights finished the season strong at 4-4 and look to be a player in the Western playoff race.
Filling out the West are four expansion teams, two in Washington state, one in California, and one in Alaska. The two Washington franchises, the Wenatchee Valley Venom and the Yakima Valley Warriors appear to be set for an instant rivalry. Perched in central Washington and about two hours apart, the Venom who will play in the Town Toyota Center and the Warriors who will call the Yakima Sun Dome home, should build a strong fan base with three contests against each other in 2010.
The Arctic Predators, based in Wasilla, Alaska and just 45 minutes north of Anchorage are also a first year club in the AIFA. The Predators will play their home games at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, which already houses the Alaska Avalanche of the North American Hockey League, which also includes the Wenatchee Wild. This hockey history between the two towns may lay the groundwork for a rivalry between the Predators and Venom.
The Predators first game of the season will be against at the San Jose Wolves on March 20th. The Wolves are the AIFA’s final Western Conference expansion team. After years of strong support for the now-defunct San Jose Sabrecats of the Arena Football League, the San Jose area appears ready for their new indoor football team. The Wolves front office has already built a roster full of former AIFA stars.
The Western Conference championship game awaits the top two regular season teams with the number one seed hosting the Western title match. The winners earn a berth in AIFA Bowl IV and a trip east. As July approaches Mariners fans will be hoping that trip east lands the Western Champion in Baltimore.
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.