The ever-changing AFL announced today that they’re throwing out the playoff format we’ve been told for seven months will provide “exciting” and “interesting” postseason matchups, and are returning to the traditional conference format.
In the structure announced last December, all eight teams in the playoffs would be reseeded 1-8, with the top seed playing the bottom seed, and so on. Now, with just a little over two weeks remaining before playoff fever heats up, the league announced in a press release today that we are going back to the conference playoff format.
Here is the press release:
Arena Football League Board of Directors announced today that the postseason for the 2016 Season will return to the traditional conference format. The American and National Conference Championship games will be played the weekend of August 13-14.
"In light of the season's results, teams will be seeded by conference for first two rounds. This will enhance strong regional rivalries and make it convenient for our loyal fans deciding to follow their team on the road," AFL Commissioner Scott C. Butera said.
The Arizona Rattlers (12-3) have already clinched the National Conference regular-season title and will face the Portland Steel (2-12) on Saturday, August 6 at 10 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network) in the First Round. The Los Angeles KISS (7-7) and Cleveland Gladiators (7-8) will face in the other National Conference postseason game with the site and date still to be determined.
In the American Conference, the Philadelphia Soul (12-3) and
Orlando Predators (12-3) will face in the final week of the regular season on
Saturday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET (WatchESPN) for the regular-season conference
title. The winner will host the Tampa Bay Storm (1-13), while the other will
host the Jacksonville Sharks (5-9) in the postseason.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
W L
1. * Philadelphia 12 3
2. * Orlando 12 3
3. Jacksonville 5 9
4. Tampa Bay 1 13
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
W L
1. x Arizona 12 3
2. Los Angeles 7 7
3. Cleveland 7 8
4. Portland 2 12
x Clinched the Conference Regular Season Title
* Clinched a First Round Home Postseason Game
This came just one day after the Rattlers defeated the Orlando Predators to take the top seed in the league, and the change guarantees that Orlando will host either Jacksonville or Tampa Bay in the first round.
Arizona looked to be hosting the Tampa Bay Storm in the first round, who handed the Rattlers one of their three losses early this season, but now they will host Portland instead.
This is a much different narrative than Commissioner Butera had back in December, when he was
quoted in a press release discussing the playoff format as saying:
"We felt this was a perfect opportunity to try a different approach to the postseason,” AFL Commissioner Scott Butera said. “Other leagues have discussed re-seeding options. We felt that a reduced number of teams and regular season games provided us the chance to try a different structure that has been discussed on the Rules and Competition Committee for a while. It will provide exciting and interesting postseason matchups that we haven’t historically seen.”
So how will this affect the Soul?
It’s all still dependent on what happens in two weeks, of course. The Soul will travel to Orlando in the final week of the regular season, where the winner will get the top seed in the American Conference playoffs.
It’s pretty simple for Philadelphia: Win, and host Tampa Bay. Lose, and host the Jacksonville Sharks.
The change does make sense from an economical stand point, as the only changes to the picture will be who gets to host the Portland Thunder.
The Soul were originally in place to host Portland in the first round, if Philadelphia had defeated Orlando. Now Arizona will get that fortune.
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