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Arena Bowl XXII Headed to New
Orleans Arena in 2008
New Orleans to host second straight AFL championship
posted December 16, 2007 - print
me!
neworleansprofootball.com
courtesy the Arena Football League
New Orleans, a city renowned for hosting sports championships,
will host its second Arena Football League Championship Game when
ArenaBowl XXII is played at New Orleans Arena on Sunday, July
27, 2008 at 2 p.m. CT.
“Last year, ArenaBowl XXI was the first team championship
to be played in New Orleans since Katrina,” said Commissioner
DAVID BAKER. “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.”
Fans who purchased tickets to ArenaBowl XXI and 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 http://www.arenabowl.com to
register on a priority list for tickets.
“Hosting the ArenaBowl last year was a tremendous success
for New Orleans and the AFL, and that is why we have worked so
hard to ensure it would return to our city,” said VooDoo
owner TOM BENSON. “The fans in our region are so passionate
about football, and the national broadcast in July will highlight
all of the positive things that are happening in our area. That’s
where our commitment is when we work to bring major events like
this to New Orleans. The AFL season kicks off in February and
our focus now is to make the ArenaBowl a home game for the VooDoo.”
The AFL’s 2008 season kicks off the weekend of February
29-March 3. Seventeen teams will compete for the right to play
in ArenaBowl XXII. New Orleans Arena hosted ArenaBowl XXI, a contest
that saw the San Jose SaberCats win their third ArenaBowl title,
55-33, over the Columbus Destroyers.
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 upcoming BCS National Championship.
“The efforts of the VooDoo, the Greater New Orleans Sports
Foundation and the State Department of Culture Recreation and
Tourism convinced the league to bring the very successful ArenaBowl
XXI to New Orleans in July 2007,” said JAY CICERO, President
of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. “Not only
are we are world class city for championship event hospitality,
we embraced the ArenaBowl staff and fans as natives, and made
them our front page story. We welcome back the league officials,
the traveling fans, the special events and the live ABC broadcast
of the game. These key elements are essential to the rebuilding
effort of our great city. We are proud the AFL is once again choosing
New Orleans for ArenaBowl XXII and the locals are already looking
forward to celebrating again.”
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.
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