The 2014 Arena Football League season was the 27th season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 14, 2014 and ended on July 26, 2014.
League business
Teams The city of Anaheim, California was awarded an expansion team on August 15, 2013. The team, named the Los Angeles Kiss, was the first AFL team to call Los Angeles home since the Los Angeles Avengers in 2008. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, members of the rock band Kiss, were the owners of the expansion franchise.
Two teams that competed in 2013 suspended operations, (Chicago Rush & Utah Blaze) and their rosters were dispersed throughout the league during a dispersal draft on September 6, 2013.
The Milwaukee Mustangs sold their league membership to Terry Emmert, who then started a new franchise in Portland, Oregon named the Portland Thunder.
Television On December 17, 2013 it was announced that ESPN had agreed to a multi-year deal in televising several games, including the ArenaBowl. Additionally, at least 75 games during the season were to be aired on ESPN3, the network's online streaming service. ESPN had owned an equity interest in the former league organization prior to its bankruptcy, and had previously aired games as recently as the 2008 season, prior to the league's hiatus that resulted in the canceled 2009 season.
Realignment With teams expanding, relocating and suspending operations, the AFL announced the divisional alignment for 2014 on October 29, 2013. The two conferences had an even number of teams, and were placed in two divisions.
Conference Division Teams American East Cleveland Gladiators, Iowa Barnstormers, Philadelphia Soul, Pittsburgh Power South Jacksonville Sharks, New Orleans VooDoo, Orlando Predators, Tampa Bay Storm National Pacific Portland Thunder, San Jose SaberCats, Spokane Shock West Arizona Rattlers, Los Angeles Kiss, San Antonio Talons
Regular season standings
American Conference East DivisionTeam(1) Cleveland Gladiators1719917827–112–19–08–1(3) Pittsburgh Power15310157786–211–28–17–2(4) Philadelphia Soul9910219492–57–77–22–7Iowa Barnstormers61284810460–72–103–63–6 South DivisionTeam(2) Orlando Predators11710059577–28–67–24–5Tampa Bay Storm8109049534–37–65–43–6Jacksonville Sharks7118798622–53–84–53–6New Orleans VooDoo31577010112–52–121–82–7
National Conference Pacific DivisionTeam(2) San Jose SaberCats1359997235–19–37–26–3(3) Spokane Shock1179578434–28–46–35–4(4) Portland Thunder5138169650–62–113–62–7 West DivisionTeam(1) Arizona Rattlers15311519054–011–29–06–3San Antonio Talons31574310171–31–50–93–6Los Angeles Kiss3156339571–33–92–71–8
Eight teams qualify for the playoffs: four teams from each conference, of which two are division champions and the other two have the best records of the teams remaining. Green indicates clinched playoff berth Blue indicates division champion Gray indicates division champion and conference's best record
Tie-breakers San Antonio finished in second place in the West Division based on their greater point differential in head-to-head competition with Los Angeles.
Playoffs
Conference semifinals Conference Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap American August 2 7:00 p.m. EDT Philadelphia Soul 37–39 Cleveland Gladiators Quicken Loans Arena National August 2 10:00 p.m. EDT Spokane Shock 28–55 San Jose SaberCats SAP Center at San Jose American August 3 2:00 p.m. EDT Pittsburgh Power 48–56 Orlando Predators CFE Arena National August 3 6:00 p.m. EDT Portland Thunder 48–52 Arizona Rattlers US Airways Center
Conference finals Conference Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap American August 10 3:00 p.m. EDT Orlando Predators 46–56 Cleveland Gladiators Quicken Loans Arena National August 10 8:00 p.m. EDT San Jose SaberCats 56–72 Arizona Rattlers US Airways Center
ArenaBowl XXVII Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap August 23 8:00 p.m. EDT Arizona Rattlers 72–32 Cleveland Gladiators Quicken Loans Arena
All-Arena team
OffensePositionFirst teamSecond teamQuarterbackNick Davila, ArizonaShane Austin, ClevelandFullbackDerrick Ross, PhiladelphiaMykel Benson, San AntonioWide receiverMarco Thomas, IowaRod Windsor, ArizonaDominick Goodman, ClevelandGreg Carr, OrlandoDarius Reynolds, IowaDonovan Morgan, Los AngelesCenterAntonio Narcisse, PittsburghShannon Breen, ClevelandOffensive linemanRich Ranglin, San JoseMichael Huey, ArizonaColin Madison, PittsburghWayne Tribue, Philadelphia DefensePositionFirst teamSecond teamDefensive endJames Ruffin, SpokaneTed Jennings, PhiladelphiaCliff Dukes, ArizonaMike Lewis, IowaNose guardJason Stewart, San JoseWillie McGinnis, ClevelandMiddle linebackerBeau Bell, Los AngelesFrancis Maka, San JoseJack linebackerTanner Varner, OrlandoBryce Peila, PortlandDefensive backMarquis Floyd, ArizonaVarmah Sonie, PortlandMarrio Norman, ClevelandCameron McGlenn, New OrleansKelvin Rodgers, San AntonioRayshaun Kizer, Philadelphia Special teamsPositionFirst teamSecond teamKickerNich Pertuit, San JoseJulian Rauch, PittsburghKick returnerTerrance Sanders, SpokaneLarry Beavers, New Orleans
References