Expansion And Relocation: Update Part 4

This has been one of the most positive off-seasons we have seen in arena and indoor football this decade. The 2026 off-season is proving to be a major up tick in excitement, fueled by (mostly) stable, well planned out expansion. Every single league is up more than down, outside of the IFL, who has maintained at least fourteen teams for the past two years.

If this offseason is any indication of the direction the sport is headed, it’s going to start feeling like 2005 all over again! The following is the latest round of expansion between the six pro Leagues! But before you read, you have to get caught up! Read our first three 2024-2026 expansion updates linked Below:

Expansion:

Oceanside Bombers

Owners: Vernon Pertelle,Felix Berry,Joshua Tiller,Greg Anderson & George Qualls

Home Arena: Front Wave

League: AF1

In more of the wildest expansion moves of this offseason we get the Bombers. The AF1’s approach to expansion has been quality if possible, quantity is a must and this was evident in this move. Why you ask? Well the franchise is playing not only in the same city, but the same arena as the IFLs San Diego Strike Force. This has never been attempted since the sports inception in 1987.

Like others on this we aren’t as concerned with if the team will make it through a season, but more if they will have a suitable roster in place come kickoff. The plan behind coach Cree Morris is to gather local talent. While this approach makes sense for a smaller leauge team like the AIF, it will get you beat by 70 in a Leauge like the AF1.

Not only that, this team feels rushed and not entirely sure of it’s self as we creep closer to spring of ‘26. The truth is there is time to get it together, but a lot of polishing is needed. Keep your eyes out on socials for signings, there is enough local talent to grab them a couple of wins.

If you’re a fan of drama, this is where you need to keep your eyes, the Rivalry between the two top dog leagues will only grow as we see the dual team arena playout!

Michigan Arsenal

Owners: George Bradford

Location: Saginaw, Michigan

Home Arena: Dow Event Center

League: AF1

Absolutely Solid.. the best way to describe what we will be getting out of Michigan. If the press conference and general confidence by the owner, George Bradford, is any indication. The former Google executive and life long enthusiast of the game plans on taking the challenge of Arena Ownership head on. While this is an expansion team, it feels as if they have things in place to make sure they are set up for success.

The team he has assembled to help run the franchise is very vocal. This ownership group seems anything but dishonest. Taking time to do a well presented announcement, and the owner going on several podcast. Even starting one dedicated to the team on “The World of Football” platform.

The learning curve will be there, but the coaching hire was second to none! Shawn Liotta comes with years of experience as a head coach, and offensive play caller. He was named the Head Coach for a 2025 expansion team named the Wilkes Barre Mavericks, that folded before kickoff. Liotta is no stranger to expansion teams, or the challenges that come with them.

Liotta however had a back-up plan and returned to the Wheeling Miners as their Offensive Coordinator for the 2025 NAL season. Coach Liotta comes with an eye for talent, and a keen ability to develop talent. He will bring his Air Raid style offense with him in 2026, opponents of the Arsenal can expect it to be bombs away in Michigan this season.

The Location, while not a huge metropolitan area, does have major colleges and a decent history with the indoor game. Overall this is a very underrated move by the AF1 and we hope to see more expansion like this In the future.

If you want a good debate… Claim to fans or front office staff that the logo is Ai… the banter is exhausting and fairly entertaining.

Memphis TAL Football Team

Owners: League owned

Location: Memphis,TN

Home Arena: Memphis Sports & Events Center

League: The Arena League

Similar to the next team on this list there is not much information public about this franchise. They do have a home arena locked, and will be completely owned by the TAL. There is a plan in place to have local ownership take over once the team is established. The name and branding with come later on this year and early next year, as the league has launched a name the team contest in the community.

The TAL business model focuses on regional play, ease of travel, and cost of operation. With a all-in budget of $300,000 for annual cost, relatively they are one of the cheaper leagues to operate in. TAL also handles expansion differently, instead of waiting for potential owners to come to them, they pick a market, build an foundation, then find an ownership group.

One of the ways the league cuts costs is the lack of a kicking game, meaning they have much more flexibility in venue decisions than other leagues when looking at expansion. Logistics can kill or carry a team, and the TAL attempts to remove some of the guess work on this by catering their ruleset to their business model.

The smaller venue is on par with the smaller arenas that the TAL is able to pick up. In our opinion it’s a good move and if they can get community awareness up, they may be able to fill a gap the previous Arena teams in the area haven’t.

Nebraska TAL Team

Owners: League Owned

Location: Grand Island,NE

Home Arena: Heartland Events Center

League: The Arena League

Just like Memphis this one has very little information to run off of. Indoor football returns to a market in Grand Island, Nebraska that once proudly supported the Nebraska Danger in the IFL. While the move to Grand Island could prove to have it’s challenges, as outlined on our most recent episode of Around the Indoor Football World by former Nebraska Danger Head Coach Mike Davis.

While this market may be a bit of gamble, it has been years since the Danger shut down, and this market seems ripe for a new expansion team. One interesting note is the early leader in fan voting for a team name: Nebraska Danger.

Maybe the TAL will have to see if they can lure the Bosselman family out of retirement from the indoor game. On second thought….maybe that would not be so difficult. Still to this day the Danger have an active website, and a link that will allow you to express your interest in sponsoring the team.

All signs indicate that expansion isn’t quite over despite only having a short runway to the 2026 season. We will bring you one last expansion Update one the AF1 and TAL finalize everything to do with their final few teams!

Relocation

Minnesota Moves to AF1 From TAL

This move isn’t exactly an “expansion” move but it has been a complete reworking of the former Duluth Harbor Monsters. Overall nothing looks or feels like it did during the back to back Arena Mania titles, all the way down to arena and branding. Though they will be in the same building, it will he in a different part of the same arena large enough for rebound nets.

The rumors began getting loud in mid September before the unthinkable, a 7 man indoor team leaving to become a 8 man arena team. Needless to say this move will have it’s challenges, and we have already seen them. They over signed talent, parted ways with their head coach and then released most of the talent.

Overall the move looks great from the outside, but the on feild product may not transfer as well from the TAL to the AF1 in year one. The biggest goal fot this franchise in 2026 should be more to prove they belong & financially become viable, not winning at all cost.

The 2026 season will mostly depend on who is calling plays and finding lineman, something this team has only ever had one of. The payroll seems as if it is up in the air so watch the transactions and hope for the best. They won’t be the best, but let’s hope they can take advantage of the other expansion teams with little to no Arena experience.

Rouxgaroux Relocate and Rename

This was a much more quiet move, but one that was definitely needed. While the nickname stays the same the ownership and city name will not. Keith Carter took complete ownership in September and Immediately made changes.Since then the socials have been more on the up and up, they have moved home game to Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, LA. The end of the 2025 season was an unmitigated disaster, leaving most to believe this franchise was a one (season) and done.

This season should see a much more polished product, for the now Louisiana Rouxgaroux.

It’s not confirmed but an update to uniforms, field and fan experience is in the works. They have even combined efforts to work with AAL & AAL2 teams to do a player showcase. With the complete overhaul that has commenced this offseason we at Shady Sports (outside of Krish) believe the Rouxgaroux will have a solid 2026 run and be around for the foreseeable future.

Mass No more, Pirates Relocate to Orlando

This was the worst kept secret in all of indoor and arena ball. The rumors began before the IFL National Championship opponents had been decided, and ended just recently.

The Move was announced from the KIA Center in Orlando. Just before that the slightly upgraded branding was leaked. All In all this is a good move for the IFL and yet to be see for Jawad and Company. Though they will have a very regional playing partner they will have a huge arena to pay for and direct competition with the newly created Orlando Storm of the UFL.

The opportunity to take some of the biggest threats to success and turn them into the Pirates biggest strengths is very much there, only time will tell!No matter the case we hope to see this franchise around for a long time, but they will have to step up outreach and heavy community awareness.

Saying Goodbye

Sadly Losing franchises is as much apart of the gane as playing the games themselves, this offseason hasn’t been nearly as bad as some in the past but we still lost a few. Here are the brand you saw take the feild you won’t see in 2026:

Billings Outlaws – AF1

This one was obvious, the owner Steven Titus was looking for a buyer during the end of the season. No owner was found and after a long gap they announced. Drama would plage this one, as Titus used said announcement as a way to bash the local government and the fanship in Billings

Corpus Christi Tritons – AF1

This one almost happened mid-season, bur the current owner of the Kentucky Barrels stepped in and helped them limp to the end of the season. Good riddance to a over promising, under performing group that ultimately doesn’t belong in the Indoor Ecosystem.

Bay Area Panthers – IFL

Like most they have mentioned a comeback, but the road back is rough. If they do it probably won’t be in California. The current economic situation with workers comp isn’t exactly inviting to potential owners.

Idaho Horsemen – NAL

The writing was on the wall, but out of the three this one actually has a path back. The new NAL shop accidentally leaked merch branded “Arizona” instead of Idaho. The comeback could be a reality, but we won’t know anything concrete until post season or late season 2026.

Overall, like mentioned above, the entire landscape of the sport is on an upward trajectory. The massive expansion, the TV deals and overall just better, more stable footing is good feeling for anyone watching or working within the indoor football world. Check back in the coming weeks and keep your eyes on The Arena League and Arena Football One.

The NAL and IFL have publicly stated they are done for the 2025-2026 Offseason. Coming into the offseason we have 4 stable pro leagues, with 36 teams. Thus far in the Off-season we have *5 stable pro leagues with 41 confirmed teams, with possibly as many as 4 to come, long live Arena ball!

*This stat line excludes the AIF due to its relative instability.

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