This is it. Four teams or not, we have arrived at the start of the 2018 season.
Welcome to season 30 of the Arena Football League (AFL). After the 2017 regular season, it has been a crazy offseason with the Tampa Bay Storm, Cleveland Gladiators, and Orlando Predators suspending operations in 2018.
Four Teams help kick off AFL 30
That left only Washington Valor, Baltimore Brigade, and the Philadelphia Soul still in the AFL. Luckily, during the offseason Albany, New York added an AFL team called the Albany Empire. This is the first time Albany has been in the AFL since 2000. As for the regular season and the format of the overall season, teams will take part in the 2018 season. This regular season this year is a little different since the lengthy CBA discussions in the offseason. Here’s how it will work.
2018 Arena Football League Regular Season and Postseason Format:
- All four teams will play in 12 games in a 13-week regular season. (6 at home and 6 on the road).
- After the regular season has concluded, the four teams will be seeded 1-4. The 4th seed will take on the 1st seed and the 3rd seed will take on the 2nd seed in the playoffs.
- In the first round of the postseason, each game will be played twice. One game at each team’s arena. The first team to get two wins moves on to the Arena Bowl. If neither team gets to 2 wins, then the winner will be determined by point differential.
Earlier this week, the Arena Football League announced what games will be aired on CBS Sports Network. Here’s the Schedule
2018 CBS Sports Network AFL Broadcast Schedule – Regular Season Schedule
- Week 1, April 14 – Philadelphia Soul at Albany Empire
- Week 2, April 21 – Baltimore Brigade at Philadelphia Soul
- Week 3, April 28 – Washington Valor at Philadelphia Soul
- Week 4, May 05 – Washington Valor at Albany Empire.
- Week 6, May 19 – Albany Empire at Philadelphia Soul
- Week 7, May 26 – Washington Valor at Albany Empire
- Week 8, June 2 – Washington Valor at Philadelphia Soul
- Week 9, Week 9, June 9 – Baltimore Brigade at Albany Empire
- Week 10, June 15 – Washington Valor at Baltimore Brigade
- Week 10, June 16 – Albany Empire at Philadelphia Soul
- Week 11, June 23 – Albany Empire at Baltimore Brigade
- Week 12, July 7 – Philadelphia Soul at Albany Empire
2018 CBS Sports Network AFL Broadcast Schedule – Postseason Schedule
- Week 1, July 13-15 – #1 seed vs. #4 seed & #2 seed vs. #3 seed
- Week 2, 20-22 – #1 seed vs. #4 seed & #2 seed vs. #3 seed
- ArenaBowl XXXI, July 26-28 – TBA
Also, for fans that do not have CBS Sports Network, the Arena Football League has a streaming service for free called AFL Live, you can get it on the Arena Football League website or your favorite streaming devices like your computer or Roku. AFL Live allows AFL Fans to watch their favorite teams when they are not on broadcast television.
The 2018 Arena Football season kicks off on April 13 and here at Last Word on Sports Indoor Football, we will countdown to kickoff starting on Monday, April 9 with the Philadelphia Soul. Then on April 10, we look at the Baltimore Empire. Next, on April 11, it’s the Washing Valor. Finally, on April 12, it’s the new commers the Albany Empire.
Stay with the Last Word on Sports Indoor Football for more Arena Football coverage. Make sure to follow us on twitter @LWOS_IndoorFB for updates on the AFL and All-Things Indoor Football.
