Arena Football League’s Latest Relaunch Marred by Issues and Turmoil

The Arena Football League’s latest relaunch hit some bumps in the road as it kicked off its third iteration on Saturday. The league, originally founded in the 1980s, faced issues with its broadcast partnership with the NFL and drama surrounding the Philadelphia Soul team.

The NFL had announced a partnership to broadcast 30 AFL regular season games on NFL Network, but the first game between the Albany Firebirds and Orlando Predators was instead broadcasted on VYRE Network. The NFL did not respond to requests for comment, and the AFL’s schedule announcement did not include the Philadelphia Soul’s matchup against the Louisiana Voodoo.

The Philadelphia Soul faced a tumultuous start to their season, with head coach Patrick Pimmel stepping down the day before the first game. Many players received release forms, leading to players from the Dallas Falcons filling in on the roster. The team suffered a 53-18 loss in Lafayette, Louisiana, amidst chaos both on and off the field.

The drama extended to the Soul’s hotel, where players were reportedly kicked out and had their luggage locked in a room. The ownership situation of the Soul also added to the turmoil, with a venture group backing out and rumors of the AFL taking ownership of the team.

As the AFL navigates through these challenges in its latest relaunch, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how the league overcomes these obstacles and continues to provide exciting football action.