ArenaBowl XXIII
Encyclopedia
NAPA Auto Parts ArenaBowl XXIII was an arena football
game between the National Conference champion, Spokane Shock
and the American Conference Champion, Tampa Bay Storm
. The Spokane Shock won the game successfully defending ArenaCup X
of the former af2. The game was played on August 20, 2010
, and was held at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
in Spokane, Washington
, the first non-neutral site since 2004 (ArenaBowl XVIII
). The game was shown live on the NFL Network
, as well as a tape delay on Eurosport 2
. The corporate sponsor was NAPA Auto Parts.
Looking for their sixth championship in franchise history, and first since ArenaBowl XVII
in 2003
, the Tampa Bay Storm succeeded in their first season back since 2008. Led by quarterback Brett Dietz
, who threw for 5,054 yards and 106 touchdowns in the regular season (both franchise records), they finished 11–5, 2nd in the South division, and 3rd in the American Conference.
The Spokane Shock, fresh off their ArenaCup X
victory in what would be the last arenafootball2 season, earned their spot in the postseason by going 13–3 in the regular season, the AFL's best record in 2010, which gave them home field advantage throughout the entire playoffs. It's the Shock's first ArenaBowl in franchise history, having three previous ArenaCup
appearances in af2.
and Spokane
only.
Denmark
In the opening round of the playoffs, Spokane defeated the Arizona Rattlers
57–49, while the Storm took care of the Tulsa Talons
68–38. In the National Conference Championship game, Spokane edged out the Milwaukee Iron
60–57. In another close contest, the Storm knocked off rival Orlando
63–62 in the first playoff meeting of The War on I-4 since 2003
, winning the American Conference Championship and punching their ticket to ArenaBowl XXIII.
Spokane scored the next three touchdowns to take a 20–7 lead. Huey Whittaker caught the first one from Kyle Rowley
, and Markee White
grabbed the next two, both from four yards out.
Tampa Bay finally answered with 5:49 left in the first half, another rushing score by Ortiz to make the score 20–14.
After Markee White's third receiving touchdown gave the Shock a 27–14 lead, Tampa Bay scored consecutive touchdowns to take a 28–27 lead. But Spokane got the last points of the half. White's fourth touchdown from Rowley made it 34–28. Tampa had a chance to add three points as the first half expired, but Garrett Rivas
's field goal was blocked.
In the fourth quarter, the Shock just wanted to keep the clock running and force the Storm to play catch up. Both teams traded touchdowns through the entire quarter, and Tampa Bay could not make up the deficit. The Storm got the game's last score with 44 seconds left, making it 69–57, the closest it got all quarter.
Spokane did not have a 100 yard receiver but Markee White caught nine passes for 99 yards and four scores. Huey Whittaker had four touchdown receptions as well to go along with eight catches for 82 yards.
The Shocks' Mervin Brookins and Travis Williams
each recorded an interception.
For Tampa Bay, quarterback Brett Dietz
threw for 306 yards on 29 of 40 passing. He had four touchdown passes and two interceptions. The Storm's Hank Edwards
led the game with 11 catches for 132 yards. He caught two of Dietz's scoring passes. Tyrone Timmons also had eight receptions for 107 yards and a score.
in 2005. That game between the Georgia Force
and Colorado Crush
was the AFL's first neutral site ArenaBowl with 10,822 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center
in Las Vegas, Nevada
.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
game between the National Conference champion, Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
and the American Conference Champion, Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
. The Spokane Shock won the game successfully defending ArenaCup X
ArenaCup X
ArenaCup X was the tenth and final edition of arenafootball2's championship game in which the National Conference Champions Spokane Shock defeated the American Conference Champions Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, 74-27. The game was held on Saturday, August 22, 2009...
of the former af2. The game was played on August 20, 2010
2010 Arena Football League season
The 2010 Arena Football League season was the twenty-third season in the history of the league. The regular season began on April 2, 2010 and ended on July 31...
, and was held at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena a multi-purpose arena, located in Spokane, Washington, USA.It is home to the Spokane Chiefs, of the WHL and the Spokane Shock, of the AFL.-Construction:...
in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, the first non-neutral site since 2004 (ArenaBowl XVIII
ArenaBowl XVIII
ArenaBowl XVIII saw the San Jose SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers competing for the 2004 Arena Football League championship. Until 2010, this game marked the last time the ArenaBowl was held at the home arena of the higher-seeded team, rather than a neutral site, and 17,391 fans packed the sold-out...
). The game was shown live on the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
, as well as a tape delay on Eurosport 2
Eurosport 2
Eurosport 2 is a European sports television network. It is a sister channel to Eurosport and Eurosport News. Several different versions of the channel exist across Europe, where television rights for sport differ.-Launch:...
. The corporate sponsor was NAPA Auto Parts.
Tampa Bay Storm
See: 2010 Tampa Bay Storm season2010 Tampa Bay Storm season
The 2010 Tampa Bay Storm season was the 23rd season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Tim Marcum and played their home games at the St. Pete Times Forum.-Regular season schedule:...
Looking for their sixth championship in franchise history, and first since ArenaBowl XVII
ArenaBowl XVII
ArenaBowl XVII was played on June 22, 2003 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida before a sellout crowd of 20,496. The Tampa Bay Storm earned their AFL record fifth ArenaBowl title, by defeating the Arizona Rattlers, 43-29...
in 2003
2003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...
, the Tampa Bay Storm succeeded in their first season back since 2008. Led by quarterback Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz is an American football quarterback currently a free agent. He was signed by the Turku Trojans as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Hanover. Dietz has also played for the Cincinnati Marshals, Louisville Fire, Tampa Bay Storm and California Redwoods...
, who threw for 5,054 yards and 106 touchdowns in the regular season (both franchise records), they finished 11–5, 2nd in the South division, and 3rd in the American Conference.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 3 | Tulsa Talons Tulsa Talons The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2... |
Away | L 48–54 |
| 2 | Bye | |||
| 3 | April 16 | Dallas Vigilantes Dallas Vigilantes The Dallas Vigilantes were an Arena Football League team based in Dallas, Texas. Like its AFL predecessor, the Dallas Desperados, the Vigilantes played at the American Airlines Center. The Vigilantes and the Jacksonville Sharks began play in the 2010 season, the first after the league's... |
Home | W 54–41 |
| 4 | April 25 | Milwaukee Iron Milwaukee Iron The Milwaukee Mustangs are a professional arena football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 during the league's restructuring... |
Away | L 61–72 |
| 5 | May 1 | Arizona Rattlers Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center... |
Home | W 62–61 |
| 6 | May 7 | Jacksonville Sharks Jacksonville Sharks The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football... |
Home | L 43–46 |
| 7 | May 15 | Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings | Away | W 48–44 |
| 8 | May 22 | Bye | ||
| 9 | May 28 | Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
Away | W 62–50 |
| 10 | June 5 | Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz was a member of the new Arena Football League. The team began play as a 2004 expansion team of the original Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2... |
Home | W 50–48 |
| 11 | June 12 | Alabama Vipers | Away | W 61–55 |
| 12 | June 19 | Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :... |
Away | W 65–40 |
| 13 | June 25 | Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings | Home | W 78–39 |
| 14 | July 2 | Chicago Rush Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the... |
Home | W 68–60 |
| 15 | July 9 | Dallas Vigilantes Dallas Vigilantes The Dallas Vigilantes were an Arena Football League team based in Dallas, Texas. Like its AFL predecessor, the Dallas Desperados, the Vigilantes played at the American Airlines Center. The Vigilantes and the Jacksonville Sharks began play in the 2010 season, the first after the league's... |
Away | W 56–34 |
| 16 | July 16 | Jacksonville Sharks Jacksonville Sharks The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football... |
Away | L 47–49 |
| 17 | July 24 | Alabama Vipers | Home | W 53–49 |
| 18 | July 30 | Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
Home | L 60–75 |
| – | August 7 | Tulsa Talons Tulsa Talons The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2... |
Road | W 68–38 |
| – | August 14 | Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
Home | W 63–62 |
Spokane Shock
See: 2010 Spokane Shock season2010 Spokane Shock season
The 2010 Spokane Shock season was the fifth season for the franchise, and the first in the current incarnation of the Arena Football League, coming from the AF2, which dissolved following the 2009 season...
The Spokane Shock, fresh off their ArenaCup X
ArenaCup X
ArenaCup X was the tenth and final edition of arenafootball2's championship game in which the National Conference Champions Spokane Shock defeated the American Conference Champions Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, 74-27. The game was held on Saturday, August 22, 2009...
victory in what would be the last arenafootball2 season, earned their spot in the postseason by going 13–3 in the regular season, the AFL's best record in 2010, which gave them home field advantage throughout the entire playoffs. It's the Shock's first ArenaBowl in franchise history, having three previous ArenaCup
ArenaCup
The ArenaCup is the af2's championship game. For the league's first five years, it was held at the arena of the higher seeded team. However, the 2005 ArenaCup was the first to be played at a neutral site in Bossier City, Louisiana. The 2006 ArenaCup was played in Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San...
appearances in af2.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 2 | Milwaukee Iron Milwaukee Iron The Milwaukee Mustangs are a professional arena football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 during the league's restructuring... |
Home | L 62–74 |
| 2 | April 9 | Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :... |
Away | W 68–34 |
| 3 | April 17 | Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings | Home | W 78–70 |
| 4 | Bye | |||
| 5 | May 1 | Cleveland Gladiators | Home | L 68–72 |
| 6 | May 7 | Arizona Rattlers Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center... |
Away | W 63–56 |
| 7 | May 16 | Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz was a member of the new Arena Football League. The team began play as a 2004 expansion team of the original Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2... |
Away | W 68–63 |
| 8 | May 22 | Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :... |
Home | W 77–28 |
| 9 | May 29 | Jacksonville Sharks Jacksonville Sharks The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football... |
Home | W 67–57 |
| 10 | Bye | |||
| 11 | June 12 | Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
Away | W 53–52 |
| 12 | June 18 | Tulsa Talons Tulsa Talons The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2... |
Home | W 63–42 |
| 13 | June 26 | Milwaukee Iron Milwaukee Iron The Milwaukee Mustangs are a professional arena football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 during the league's restructuring... |
Away | W 62–48 |
| 14 | July 2 | Arizona Rattlers Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center... |
Home | W 37–36 |
| 15 | July 10 | Cleveland Gladiators | Away | W 62–56 (OT) |
| 16 | July 16 | Iowa Barnstormers Iowa Barnstormers The Iowa Barnstormers are an arena football team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 following the organization's restructuring... |
Away | W 62–61 |
| 17 | July 23 | Chicago Rush Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the... |
Home | W 63–49 |
| 18 | July 30 | Jacksonville Sharks Jacksonville Sharks The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football... |
Away | L 49–64 |
| – | August 6 | Arizona Rattlers Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center... |
Home | W 57–49 |
| – | August 12 | Milwaukee Iron Milwaukee Iron The Milwaukee Mustangs are a professional arena football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 during the league's restructuring... |
Home | W 60–57 |
Broadcasting
ArenaBowl XXIII was televised on the NFL Network and Eurosport 2. It was available in 48 countries worldwide. Radio broadcasts were available in the local markets of Tampa BayTampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
and Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
only.
NFL Network
NFL Network delivered live coverage outside of the United States to these countries:Eurosport 2
The AFL had a taped delayed broadcast available in the following countries: DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Radio
These were the radio broadcasting groups present:- Spokane- 700am ESPN RadioESPN RadioESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
700 ESPN The Ticket
:Tampa Bay- 1250am Impact Radio WHNZ Tampa Bay
Playoffs
This was the 2010 playoff grid to determine ArenaBowl Champion:In the opening round of the playoffs, Spokane defeated the Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
57–49, while the Storm took care of the Tulsa Talons
Tulsa Talons
The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...
68–38. In the National Conference Championship game, Spokane edged out the Milwaukee Iron
Milwaukee Iron
The Milwaukee Mustangs are a professional arena football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 during the league's restructuring...
60–57. In another close contest, the Storm knocked off rival Orlando
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
63–62 in the first playoff meeting of The War on I-4 since 2003
2003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...
, winning the American Conference Championship and punching their ticket to ArenaBowl XXIII.
First Half
The Tampa Bay Storm received the opening kickoff, driving 45 yards in 11 plays to take a 7–0 lead on a three-yard run by Eric Ortiz. But this would be the only time in the game the Storm would lead by more than one point.Spokane scored the next three touchdowns to take a 20–7 lead. Huey Whittaker caught the first one from Kyle Rowley
Kyle Rowley
Kyle Rowley is an American quarterback from Brown University who has played in the af2 and the AFL. He is currently a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Power.-College:...
, and Markee White
Markee White
Markee White is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
grabbed the next two, both from four yards out.
Tampa Bay finally answered with 5:49 left in the first half, another rushing score by Ortiz to make the score 20–14.
After Markee White's third receiving touchdown gave the Shock a 27–14 lead, Tampa Bay scored consecutive touchdowns to take a 28–27 lead. But Spokane got the last points of the half. White's fourth touchdown from Rowley made it 34–28. Tampa had a chance to add three points as the first half expired, but Garrett Rivas
Garrett Rivas
-College career:As a freshman for the 2003 Wolverines, he was the regular kicker for the team from the start, making four point after touchdowns in the first game of the season...
's field goal was blocked.
Second Half
The Storm took its final lead of the game 35–34 to open the third quarter on Ortiz's third rushing touchdown. But Spokane would score the next three touchdowns. The Shock led 48–35 at the end of the third quarter and expanded it to 55–35 at the beginning of the final quarter.In the fourth quarter, the Shock just wanted to keep the clock running and force the Storm to play catch up. Both teams traded touchdowns through the entire quarter, and Tampa Bay could not make up the deficit. The Storm got the game's last score with 44 seconds left, making it 69–57, the closest it got all quarter.
Game Notes
Spokane Shock quarterback Kyle Rowley was named the games MVP. He went 24 for 32 with 237 yards. He threw nine touchdown passes without an interception and added another touchdown on the run. The nine touchdowns he threw for set an ArenaBowl record.Spokane did not have a 100 yard receiver but Markee White caught nine passes for 99 yards and four scores. Huey Whittaker had four touchdown receptions as well to go along with eight catches for 82 yards.
The Shocks' Mervin Brookins and Travis Williams
Travis Williams (linebacker)
Travis Stephon Williams is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
each recorded an interception.
For Tampa Bay, quarterback Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz
Brett Dietz is an American football quarterback currently a free agent. He was signed by the Turku Trojans as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Hanover. Dietz has also played for the Cincinnati Marshals, Louisville Fire, Tampa Bay Storm and California Redwoods...
threw for 306 yards on 29 of 40 passing. He had four touchdown passes and two interceptions. The Storm's Hank Edwards
Hank Edwards
Henry Albert Edwards born in Elmwood Place, Ohio was an Outfielder for the Cleveland Indians , Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago White Sox and St...
led the game with 11 catches for 132 yards. He caught two of Dietz's scoring passes. Tyrone Timmons also had eight receptions for 107 yards and a score.
Attendance
The announced attendance for ArenaBowl XXIII was 11,017. The game was a sellout, at 102% capacity given Spokane Arena's 10,771 capacity. However, it was the second lowest attended ArenaBowl in league history, second only to ArenaBowl XIXArenaBowl XIX
ArenaBowl XIX was the 2005 championship game of the Arena Football League , and was played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first-ever neutral-site title game in AFL history drew 10,822 fans to see the Colorado Crush defeat the Georgia Force 51–48 to claim the Foster ArenaBowl...
in 2005. That game between the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
and Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
was the AFL's first neutral site ArenaBowl with 10,822 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center
Thomas & Mack Center
The Thomas & Mack Center is an arena, located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. For ring events, the capacity is 19,522, for basketball, the capacity is 18,776.-History:...
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.