The Arena Football League (AFL) is set to conduct its 33rd ArenaBowl Championship at American Dream Retail and Entertainment Center in East Rutherford this Friday. The championship will feature a heated showdown between the Albany Firebirds and the Billings Outlaws.
The 2024 ArenaBowl comes after a five-year hiatus when the league declared bankruptcy. Friday’s championship game will bring back the excitement and fervor that all AFL fans have come to know and love.
The ONNJ team attended the 2024 AFL ArenaBowl Media Day to get a closer look at the behind-the-scenes magic that makes the game come to life.
Team players, coaches, and team owners shared their excitement with the crowd as they detailed their experiences with the game and shared their hopes for Friday’s championship. Darius Prince, Wide Receiver for the Albany Firebirds, took to the stage to share his excitement and urge everyone to “soak all the [excitement] in . . . [and] carry it on for a lifetime.” Offensive Linemen Jamezz Kimbrough of the Billings Outlaws commented on the importance of teamwork, describing his fellow players as a “great group” and his coaches who “make sure [the players] know what to do.”
The newly appointed Commissioner Jeff Fisher, who rose to the leadership quickly and helped strengthen the league, spoke with ONNJ’s Lisa Marie Falbo, describing that he is “very, very passionate about [the game].” He remarked that the AFL “has come a long way” and that he “feels good [they] made it to this point.”
Fisher also commented on the AFL’s strategic collaboration with American Dream, speaking highly of the “beautiful venue” and center’s role in providing the Arena with a platform.
With American Dream serving as the chosen site for the Arena’s biggest event of the season, Gregg Schwartz, PR for American Dream, discussed the importance of being “a home” to unite fans, players, and different aspects of the sports entertainment industry. Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, for which seven games will be played at MetLife Stadium, American Dream will serve as a hub for the “activations . . . retail and events leading up to the [soccer games].”
With the countdown to the kickoff occurring, ONNJ inquired if the AFL may find a home in New Jersey. Fisher provides some hope, seeking to “figure something out” and “welcome franchises with open arms.”
Tune into CBS Sports Network at 5:30 on Friday, July 19 to watch the 33rd AFL ArenaBowl Championship.
About the Author
Maddy Grieco
Reporter
Maddy Grieco is a Reporter for ONNJ. She researches and writes the news stories that help bring the show together. In addition to writing, she also works to bolster the social media content for ONNJ, creating ideas to increase engagement on Instagram and TikTok.
She is a rising junior at Bucknell University, where she plans to graduate with a BA in English – Literary Studies. Following graduation, she seeks to enter the literary publishing world and further develop her analytical and editing skills.
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