China Arena Football League
|
China Arena Football League | |
| Formerly |
China Arena Football League AFL Global AFL China China American Football League |
|---|---|
| Sport | Arena football |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Martin E. Judge, Jr. |
| Inaugural season | 2016 |
| President | David Niu |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | China |
| Most recent champion(s) | None as of yet |
| Official website | www.caflfootball.com |
The China Arena Football League (CAFL) is a professional developmental arena football league that will play its games in China. It is a project that is designed to be a minor league or developmental league for the Arena Football League, similar to the former af2. It will feature players that did not make AFL rosters as well as utilize players from China or who are of Chinese descent. The league planned to begin play in the fall of 2015; however, this goal will not be met and the league's official website now states that play will begin in 2016.
History
In August 2012, the Arena Football League announced a new project in China, originally known as the China Arena Football League, then AFL Global and then AFL China and the China American Football League.[1][2] The league's name was later eventually changed back to the China Arena Football League. The CAFL project is headed up by ESPN NFL analyst and Philadelphia Soul majority owner and president Ron Jaworski. AFL coaches and trainers traveled to China to help teach the rules of the sport to squads made up of Chinese and American players with the goal of starting an official Chinese arena league.[3] Ganlan Media International were given exclusive rights to the new Chinese league.[4]
AFL China and Ganlan Media were created in 2012 by businessman Martin E. Judge, Jr., founder and owner of The Judge Group. The company, called AFL Global, LLC, looks to introduce and launch professional Arena Football teams and franchises in various locations throughout the world (a la NFL Europe). After their successful trip to China to help promote the game, they formally announced plans to further develop AFL China by the fall of 2014 by starting a comprehensive training program in May 2013 with exhibition games planned for the cities of Beijing and Guangzhou in October. This would be the first time professional football of any kind will be played in China with the support of the Chinese government and the CRFA (Chinese Rugby Football Association).
On November 2, 2013, AFL China and Ganlan Media presented its first exhibition "all-star game" at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, which previously was the home of the af2's Hawaiian Islanders from 2002 to 2004. The East vs. West set-up featured AFL players, led by quarterbacks Dan Raudabaugh (Philadelphia Soul) for the East All-Stars [5] and Nick Davila (Arizona Rattlers) for the West All-Stars. Clint Dolezel (Philadelphia) coached the East and Kevin Guy (Arizona) coached the West.[6] The East won that initial contest 67-63. One week later on November 10, 2013, the second all-star game with the same two teams took place in front of over 6,000 fans at Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, China, making it the first-ever professional football game of any kind, outdoor or indoor, to be played in China. The East won that game 69-52.[7] Ganlan Media has since dropped its corporate name and AFL Global, LLC, has become the sole rights-holder to the league which changed its name from AFL China to the CAFL.[8]
In October 2014, the Chaoyang Sports Center in Beijing hosted the 2014 Chinese Rugby Festival to help continue to showcase the new sport in China. Six teams, the Hebei Nirvana, Shandong Flames, Shenyang Tigers, Tianjin Pirates, Wuhan Nine Headed Birds and Xian North-West Wolves (all composed of collegiate players), played in a round-robin tournament at the first-ever CAFL University Championships to determine the inaugural champion. Shandong defeated Hebei 46-42 to win the trophy and thus cementing the CAFL's plans for a 2015 launch. Despite being marketed as an indoor game, the inaugural games were played outdoors.[9][10]
The first-ever government-sanctioned CAFL games were be played in the fall of 2015; this has now been postponed until next year.[11]
The 2016 regular season will be known as the "Super Series".[12][13] The championship weekend will be called "The China Bowl".[12]
Key personnel
- Martin E. Judge, Jr. – Founder & Chairman
- Ron Jaworski – Partner
- David Niu - President
- Gary R. Morris – Chief Executive Officer
- Ken Bozarth – Head of Football Operations
- Ed Wang – Vice President of Football Development
- Lou Tilley – Vice President of Creative & Broadcast Operations
CAFL teams
- The teams for the inaugural CAFL season were announced on May 3, 2016.[14]
| Team | City | Arena | Head coach | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Lions | Beijing | LeSports Center | Vacant | 2016 |
| Shanghai Skywalkers | Shanghai | Shanghai Oriental Sports Center | Vacant | 2016 |
| Guangzhou Power | Guangzhou | Guangzhou Gymnasium | Vacant | 2016 |
| Shenzhen Naja | Shenzhen | New Shenzhen Arena | Vacant | 2016 |
| Dalian Dragon Kings | Dalian | Dalian Arena | Vacant | 2016 |
| Qingdao Clipper | Qingdao | Guoxin Gymnasium | Vacant | 2016 |
References
- ↑ Hennelly, William (2014). "China to join pro football wars". instantscouting.com. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ↑ Sandomir, Richard (August 14, 2014). "Arena Football Is Crossing Into New Territory: China". mobile.nytimes.com. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ↑ Pro football is heading to China, Mike Florio, NBCSports.com, August 28, 2012
- ↑ Ganlan Media International Receives Exclusive Rights to Establish Professional American Arena Football League in China, NASDAQ XMO GlobeNewswire, August 30, 2012
- ↑ East All-Star roster
- ↑ West All-Star roster
- ↑ American football debut earns rave reviews from Chinese fans, Murray Creig, China Daily, November 11, 2013
- ↑ About CAFL, CAFLFootball.com
- ↑ CAFL Video: Game Day, CAFL website
- ↑ China to join pro football wars, William Hennelly, China Daily USA, October 31, 2014
- ↑ SHANDONG FLAMES WIN INAUGURAL CHINA UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS, CAFL website, October 23, 2014
- 1 2 Tilley, Lou (May 5, 2016). "China Arena Football League Announces 2016 Schedule". americanfootballinternational.com. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ↑ "China Super Series to Kick Off Historic Season". caflfootball.com. April 29, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Meet the Super Six! The CAFL’s Teams, Names and Official Logos". caflfootball.com. May 3, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.