The 2024 TAL season is the upcoming inaugural season of The Arena League (TAL). The regular season is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2024, with the regular season ending on July 27, 2024.[1][2][3][4]
The first city announced was Springfield[5] with Duluth being the second city.[6]Waterloo was announced on May 4 as the third team.[7]Kansas City was the fourth and final team announced for the inaugural 2024 season.
On October 19, 2023 the Waterloo Woo announced their owners and changed their team name to the Iowa Woo.[8]
Teams will have 15-player rosters with the game being played with six offensive players against six defensive players. The league will follow a one-platoon system with offensive and defensive players playing both sides of the ball. There are no restrictions on defense.
On December 5, 2023, the Lunkers signed Matt Rush, the first player to sign with a TAL team.[9]
The inaugural season of The Arena League will have a nine-week regular season schedule with each team receiving one bye week with playoffs to follow. The season will run from June to August 2024.[1] In September The AL released the 2024 schedule.[10]
The field will be traditional arena football size, measuring 50 yards long and 85 feet wide enclosed by padded walls.
Teams will have 15-player rosters with the game being played with six offensive players against six defensive players. The league will follow a one-platoon system with offensive and defensive players playing both sides of the ball. There are no restrictions on defense.
Play clock is reduced to 20 seconds (the teaser video did not mention whether this will be measured from the spotting of the ball, as in the Canadian Football League, or the end of the previous play). No offensive huddles are allowed unless a timeout is called.
All offensive players are eligible receivers with three players initially lined up in an offensive line position. The quarterback cannot run the ball past the line of scrimmage.
All players and coaches will communicate with helmet communication systems that fans will be able to listen to in real time.
Kickoffs will be replaced with a quarterback throwoff, with an onside conversion option.
All forms of kicking the ball are prohibited, including punts and field goals.
There will only be one on-field official to mark and set the ball and make penalty announcements. There will be sky judges watching live video feeds to decide penalties in real time. Coaches and fans will have access to the referee interactions.[12] After each game, fans can give feedback on the referees performance.
Former IFL Commissioner, Tommy Benizio, an advisor for the league and his corporation will operate and run the teams,[15] while J.R. Bond leads a small group financing the league; Bond is a political advisor in Kansas City and has served as owner of several professional sports teams including the Sioux City Bandits, Topeka Tropics, and Topeka Golden Giants.[16] The league would later announce owners for all four locations.[17][18][19][8]
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