2025 Arena/Indoor Football Leagues Preview
Are you ready for some (indoor) football? The arena/indoor football season is upon us. In fact, one league - the American Indoor Football league - has already started the indoor season. Here are some short previews of the most notable seven indoor leagues which will play this season:
Website: https://goifl.com/
The IFL is the longest active arena/indoor league as it enters its 16th season. Although the league is the premier indoor football league in the United States; however, they continue to have issues with franchise stability as the Duke City Gladiators, Frisco Fighters and Sioux Falls Storm deciding to sit out the 2025 season. The league did add one new team - Fishers Freight - this season. The Arizona Rattlers won the IFL title last season after finishing third in the Western Conference. The Rattlers finished the season on a six-game winning streak. The Rattlers upset the Vegas Knight Hawks 39-38 in the first round then dominated the San Diego Strike Force 58-23. The league will again be divided in two divisions with the Eastern Division: Fishers Freight, Green Bay Blizzard, Iowa Barnstormers, Jacksonville Sharks, Massachusetts Pirates, Quad City Steamwheelers, Tulsa Oilers. Western Division: Arizona Rattlers, Bay Area Panthers, Northern Arizona Wranglers, San Antonio Gunslingers, San Diego Strike Force, Tucson Sugar Skills, Vegas Knight Hawks. The regular season begins March 21st.
National Arena League (NAL)
Website: https://www.nationalarenaleague.com/
The National Arena League (NAL) begins its eighth season and continuing to find stability with teams. This year they will have 10 teams in a single alignment format. The Omaha Beef remains to be top indoor team in the national after winning their second straight title last season. The league added five new teams this season including the Columbus Lions which won the league title in the American Indoor Football league. The league added one new expansion team - the Shreveport Rouxgaroux. The unique nickname is based on the mythical beast of Cajun folklore which is similar to a werewolf. The league recently signed a television contract with Right Now TV, a multicast network. The 2025 roster of teams includes: Beaumont Renegades, Carolina Cobras Colorado Spartans, Columbus Lions, Corpus Christi Tritons, Idaho Horsemen, Omaha Beef, Shreveport Rouxgaroux, Sioux City Bandits, Wheeling Miners The regular season begins March 9th.
American Indoor Football (AIF)
Website: https://aif-arenafootball.com/
The league was thought to be dead after all of their remaining teams left for other leagues after the 2024 season. The third edition of the league now has three teams including the Columbus Lions which won the championship last season then moved to play in the NAL. The AIF operates on a loose membership model in which the league actively encourages scheduling games with teams in other leagues. The season started on February 14th with the Cedar Rapids River Kings, Coralville Chaos and West Michigan Ironmen.
The Arena League (TAL)
Website: https://thearenaleague.football/
Coming off a successful inaugural season last year with four teams, the league kicks off 2025 with two new teams in Hot Springs and Eau Claire joining Ozarks, Iowa, Kansas City and defending champion Duluth. The Kansas City Goats rolled through the regular season with a 7-1 record but was shocked by the fourth place Iowa Woo 59-58 in the semifinals. The Woo almost pulled off an improbable running falling short to the Duluth Harbor Monsters 46-44 in the championship game. It should be another wild season in the TAL. The season begins May 30th.
Arena Football One (AF1)
Website: https://www.theaf1.com/
Here we go again. After the failed relaunch of the Arena Football League a year ago, the surviving members formed a new league during the off-season. Arena Football One (AF1) will attempt to get a footing in the arena football world with 10 teams for this spin-off league from the AFL. The Albany Firebirds, Nashville Kats, Orlando Predators, Salina Liberty, Southwest Kansas Storm, Billings Outlaws and Washington Wolfpack, Corpus Christi Tritons, Arizona Bandits, Oregon Lightning, Stockton Crusaders and Wichita Regulators will form this version. Unfortunately, the league has already gotten off to a familiar start when a planned franchise (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Mavericks) dropped out of the league. The regular season begins March 1.
Entertainment Football Association (ENTFLA)
Website: https://www.goentfla.com/
This is a new regional league this season with teams located in the New York City area. The ENTLFA will have teams in Dansbury, Fitchburg, New Jersey and Long Island. The league wants their product to be more than just football games. They plan to host pre-game tailgate parties, big halftime acts for each game, and postgame autograph sessions — giving fans an opportunity to meet the players and coaching staff. Former Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame receiver Andre Reed is commissioner of the new league which kicks off on June 7
American Arena League (AAL)
Following this league is a bit frustrating with limited information on their social media platforms or their website. The Wheeling Miners won last year's title in the AAL2 league (not sure what happened to the AAL division). Wheeling jumped to the National Arena League. According to their website, the following teams are set to play this season: Carolina Predators, Georgia Indians, Jersey Bearcats, Maryland War Eagles, Michigan Avengerz, Mississippi Wolfpack, New Jersey Roughnecks, New York Smash, Ohio Elite, Pittsburgh Outlaws, Steel City Stampede, Tri-City Rivergators. The season begins in April.
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