COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arena
Football League announced today the Columbus Destroyers as the
official name of the new team in Columbus, Ohio, the most recent addition to
the League. Also announced was former AFL player and coach, Matthew
Sauk, as the Destroyers' head coach. The Destroyers will begin play
in April at the start of the 2019 AFL season.
"Columbus was a very successful AFL
organization in the past, with its incredibly strong market," said
Randall Boe, Commissioner of the
AFL. Judging by the enthusiasm we've seen since over the last
several weeks, their future is looking incredibly bright. The fans
are excited to have an AFL team back in Columbus – it's going to be a great season for
Arena Football."
The Destroyers return in a big way to Columbus, Ohio, in 2019 after having built a
strong history in its five years as the Columbus Destroyers from
2004-2008, when it averaged over 14,000 fans per game. Upon the
AFL's initial announcement in early February of the return of a
team in Columbus, Ohio, the
national reaction showed excitement and promise for the future of
the League.
Matthew Sauk adds to this excitement after being named the head
coach for the Columbus Destroyers. Sauk was a quarterback in the
AFL until 2008, when he began his coaching career. He was the
offensive coordinator for the AFL's Utah Blaze from 2011 to 2013,
and was the head coach of the Portland Thunder in 2014. Sauk
returns to the AFL after most recently coaching an IFL team in
2017, and brings extensive experience that sets him up well for
success in Columbus.
Columbus proved itself to be one of
the strongest markets previously in the AFL. For its return to the
AFL, the decision was made to implement a logo similar to the
original one with which many identify with, while modernizing its
elements to reflect the direction of the Arena Football League. The
color scheme includes black, white and gray. The color scheme
allows for a sharp, clean look that evokes a modern feeling,
following the direction of the League as a future-driven
entity.
The League's movement toward the future is fueled by an already
action-packed game, and will be even more so as technological
innovations advance over time. The AFL is working to take advantage
of such advances as a way to make its game engaging in a new way
for fans.
Season ticket plans are on sale, and fans may go to
www.columbusdestroyers.com to place a deposit. Seating preferences
will be determined by the order in which deposits are received.
Fans can follow the Columbus team on
Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at their new handle,
@AFLDestroyers.
About the Arena Football League
The Arena Football
League enters its 32nd season in 2019. Since its inception in 1987,
the AFL showcases a fast-paced, exciting game to millions of fans
in a myriad of markets. With the addition of two new teams in
Atlantic City, N.J., and
Columbus, O.H., the League totals six
teams for 2019: Albany, Atlantic City,
Columbus, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Each team will play 12
regular-season games in 2019. One can find the League can on
Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using the handle @OfficialAFL.
About Nationwide Arena
Nationwide Arena is a
multipurpose arena, built in 2002, and is home to the NHL Columbus
Blue Jackets and some of the biggest concerts in the world. Named
one of the best arenas in the NHL, the facility opened to great
fanfare in September of 2000, and has since hosted the NHL All-Star
Game; regular season and playoff hockey; NCAA championships; local,
regional and national conferences; and a multitude of concerts and
other touring events.
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SOURCE Arena Football League