New Orleans Voodoo Arena Football
The regular NFL football season may be over but, for football fans who can’t get enough of their favorite sport, a new season has already begun: indoors. The New Orleans VooDoo Arena Football League team kicked off its 16-game 2008 season on February 29 in the New Orleans Arena.
The VooDoo is already casting a spell over its opponents with three high-scoring victories in March. After an opening day away game loss to the Los Angeles Avengers, the VooDoo steamrolled over three straight opponents to take a half game lead in their division by March 21. With a 76-48 victory over Tampa Bay on March 16, the VooDoo set franchise records for most points scored in a single quarter (34) and most points in a first half (48). The point total was the second-highest for a single game in the team’s history. More than 13,000 fans packed the Arena to witness the team’s historic performance that afternoon.
With five more home games left on the team’s schedule, there is still plenty of time to catch the indoor action before the season ends on June 21. The remainder of the home schedule is as follows:
- April 5 vs. San Jose Saber Cats. 6 p.m.
- April 25 vs. Utah Blaze. 7:30 p.m.
- May 26 vs. Georgia Force. 7 p.m.
- May 30 vs. Columbus Destroyers. 7:30 p.m.
- June 21 vs. Grand Rapids Rampage. 6 p.m.
The VooDoo compete in the Southern Division of the AFL’s National League. Last year, the team sported a disappointing 5-11 record, following a season in which they did not play due to damage to the Arena from Hurricane Katrina. In its inaugural season of 2004, the VooDoo finished 11-5 atop the Southern Division before losing in the first round of the playoffs. In 2005 they finished 9-7, narrowly missing the playoffs. Last year the New Orleans Arena played host to the Arena Bowl game, the equivalent of the NFL Super Bowl.
Mike Neu has been the team’s head coach since their first season. His coaching record is the same as the team’s, 28-24.
Arena Football is played under drastically different rules than regular professional football. The major difference is that the Arena Football field is only 50 yards long, half the length of an NFL field. Each team fields eight players at a time, as opposed to 11 on an NFL team. Most of each teams’ starters play on offense and defense, with the exception of the quarterback, kicker, and special teams players. No punting is allowed. A team facing fourth down must either go for the first down, a touchdown or a field goal.
Also, on each side of both goalposts are wire mesh nets measuring 30 feet in width and 32 feet in height. Any missed field goals or kickoffs rebounding off the net may be run back by the receiving team. Kickoffs are from the goal line rather than the 20-yard line as is the case in the NFL.
There are other rules and measurement differences, as well, but most of the basic rules that apply to NFL teams also apply to Arena Football teams. Because of the shortness of the Arena playing field and rules that favor the offense, Arena Football games are usually high-scoring affairs for both teams. Fifty, sixty, and seventy point games – a rarity in the NFL – are commonplace in Arena play.
All games are played in the state-of-the-art New Orleans Arena often referred to fans as "The Graveyard." Come cheer alongside the Voodoo Dolls, the team's amazingly talented dance squad, and Bones and Mojo, the team's playful mascots, as the VooDoo casts some gris-gris on their opponents while competing for a playoff spot en route to the Arena Bowl.
For game day tickets or more information about the New Orleans VooDoo call (504) 731-1700 go to www.govoodoo.com.
Arena Bowl XXII To Be Held in New Orleans
For Second Straight Year
For the second straight year, the Arena Football League Championship Game will be played in New Orleans, it was recently announced. ArenaBowl XXII will take place on Sunday, July 27 in the New Orleans Arena between the top two teams in the AFL. Kickoff time is 2 p.m. local time, and it will be televised live on ABC and ABC HD.
In his announcement statement, AFL Commissioner David Baker said, “Last year, ArenaBowl XXI was the first team championship to be played in New Orleans since Katrina. This year, ArenaBowl XXII will be one of many championships and first-class sporting events taking place in the city. That’s progress, and the AFL is proud to have modestly contributed to it. We are hopeful that the well publicized success of ArenaBowl XXI, including its estimated economic impact of nearly $20 million, will convince additional businesses, conventions and events to consider New Orleans, the world’s most courageous city, as their host.”
Last year’s Arena Bowl drew 15,147 spectators who watched as Mark Grieb of the San Jose SaberCats completed 24 of 29 passes and threw for four touchdowns, en route to a 55-33 victory over the Columbus Destroyers. The impressive attendance figures for ArenaBowl XXI helped convince league officials to award the game to New Orleans once again.
Fans who purchased tickets to ArenaBowl XXI and New Orleans VooDoo season-ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase ArenaBowl XXII tickets before they go on sale to the general public. AFL fans throughout the country can immediately go to www.arenabowl.com to register on a priority list for tickets. Save 5% on your tickets to ArenaBowl XXII when you use your Discover Card for your purchase.
New Orleans is the football championship capital of the world having hosted nine Super Bowls, 72 Sugar Bowls and last year’s ArenaBowl, plus the annual Bayou Classic between Southern University and Grambling College.
ArenaBowl XXI weekend was regarded as one of the most successful events in AFL history. This year’s game will return many successful elements including the annual ADT ArenaBall Awards Gala, the Russell Athletic Player Combine, the Mitsubishi Motors Extravaganza and the Discover Card Fan Fest. Significant community relations efforts will also be a part of the events leading up to the game.
by Dean Shapiro |
