Arizona Bandits

Last updated
Arizona Bandits
Established 2023
Play in Phoenix, Arizona
AZBanditsAFL.com
Arizona Bandits.png
League/conference affiliations
Current uniform
Team colorsBurnt Orange, Black & Silver
   
Personnel
Owner(s)Matthew Mason, David Glynn and Tim Carbajal
PresidentScott McKibben
General managerDarren Arbet
Head coach Darren Arbet
Team history
  • Arizona Bandits (2025–future)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)
  • TBD (2025–present)

The Arizona Bandits are a future professional indoor football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They were announced as one of the inaugural teams for the revived Arena Football League (AFL), but will begin play in 2025.

Contents

History

The Bandits are slated to be the second official Arizona-based team to play in the AFL and the first since the Arizona Rattlers (now of the Indoor Football League) who played in the AFL from 1992 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2015.

Birth of the Bandits and future

Four years after the AFL folded for the second time, it was announced on February 1, 2023, that the league intended on relaunching in 2024. [1] On July 18, the 16 intended market cities were announced, including Arizona. [2]

On September 6, 2023, the Bandits launched their Facebook and Instagram pages with new logos and news about the ownership group, which is led by local businessmen Matthew Mason and David Glynn, along with Bakersfield, California-based semi-professional team owner Tim Carbajal. Carbajal had originally been in line to own the California Grizzlies, but was unable to secure a lease with Bakersfield's Mechanics Bank Arena. [3] Their head coach and general manager is former San Jose SaberCats and Bay Area Panthers head coach Darren Arbet, who won four ArenaBowl championships with the SaberCats before that franchise abruptly folded in 2015. [4] [5] On November 16, 2023, the Bandits were among the team that attended a special AFL Launch Party in New York City. However, as of press time, the Bandits are on hiatus until 2025 and have yet to announce where they will play.

In an interview with KTVK 3TV and KPHO CBS 5, co-owner Matthew Mason announced that the Bandits will be playing in a new state-of-the-art arena in either Phoenix or Scottsdale that could also host a potential revival of the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League. [6]

On May 14, 2024, the league fired commissioner Lee Hutton and contracted to 10 teams, leaving the Bandits' future existence in doubt. [7]

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References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Jaylon (February 1, 2023). "Arena Football League announces it's returning for 2024 season with 16 teams". USA Today . Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. ↑ David Griswold, Danny Spewak (July 18, 2023). "Arena Football League announces Minnesota will have one of 16 teams in 2024 return". KARE . Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  3. ↑ McKenna, Dave (August 1, 2023). "Arena Football League Relaunch Comes As Surprise To Cities That Will Allegedly Have Teams". Defector . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Bandits staff (September 6, 2023). "Arizona Bandits". Facebook . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  5. ↑ Arizona Bandits Instagram reel, November 17, 2023
  6. ↑ Extra Point Podcast: Does the Valley have room for 2 indoor football teams, AZ Family/Arizona News YouTube, April 22, 2024
  7. ↑ FISHER IN AS AFL COMMISSIONER. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
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