AFL, ESPN Announce 2016 Television Schedule

Story URL: http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/020316aae.html

LAS VEGAS (February 3, 2021) — Arena Football League action will once again return to ESPN networks in 2016, the League office announced today. Eight regular-season games will be televised on ESPN2, while nearly 40 games will be streamed live on ESPN3.

This season, ESPN will present each round of the AFL postseason, including ArenaBowl XXIX, which will air Friday, August 26, at 8 p.m. ET, live on ESPN. The regular season schedule kicks off on Saturday, April 2, with a Week 1 matchup between the Jacksonville Sharks and LA KISS on ESPN2.

"We are excited to be once again partnering with ESPN as this year promises expanded coverage on ESPN2 and what we believe will be our most competitive season ever," AFL Commissioner Scott C. Butera said. "ESPN is the clear leader in sports entertainment through their work and their commitment to the Arena Football League is a great testament to the highly entertaining nature of our game.'

All games on ESPN television networks will also be available on WatchESPN.com on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through connected devices. The ESPN video player will also be available on the AFL's website, www.arenafootball.com

ESPN3 kicks off its schedule of AFL games with two contests on opening weekend, including the first game of the 2016 season - an American Conference matchup between the Philadelphia Soul and their rival Cleveland Gladiators, slated to kickoff at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April l. The "War on 1-4" adds another chapter to its storied rivalry will also kickoff the season when the Orlando Predators travel to Amalie Arena to play the Tampa Bay Storm on Friday, April l, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

ESPN’s 2016 AFL TELECAST SCHEDULE

WEEK          DATE                            GAME                                                        TIME

1                     Saturday, April 2        Jacksonville at Los Angeles          9 p.m.

2                     Saturday, April 9        Arizona at Los Angeles                    11 p.m.

3                     Sunday, April 17        Portland at Philadelphia                 4 p.m.

12                   Friday, June 17          Philadelphia at Arizona                   10 p.m.

13                   Saturday, June 25     Cleveland at Jacksonville               7 p.m.

16                   Saturday, July 16      Philadelphia at Tampa Bay             4 p.m.

17                   Sunday, July 24          Cleveland at Arizona                          9 p.m.

18                   Sunday, July 31         Tampa Bay at Jacksonville               5 p.m.

PS                   Sunday, August 7      FIRST ROUND                                        6 p.m.

PS                   Sunday, August 14     SEMIFINALS                                           6 p.m.

PS                   Friday, August 26        ARENABOWL XXIX                               8 p.m.

*All Times Eastern and Regular Season Games on ESPN2

ABOUT ESPN

ESPN, the world's leading sports entertainment company, features more than 50 assets — eight U.S. television networks, ESPN International, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by The Hearst Corporation.

ABOUT THE AFL

Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports Network nationally broadcast AFL games each week, culminating with the ArenaBowl on ESPN.

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