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CHICAGO (July 14, 1999) -- Arena Football League Commissioner C. David Baker has announced today that ArenaBowl XIII, the AFL's championship game, has been moved to Saturday, August 21, 1999 from 3:00-6:00 PM, EST.. ArenaBowl XIII will be played at the venue of the team who has earned the best win-loss record for the season. Heading into Week 13, the top four playoff seeds are Phoenix (Rattlers), Des Moines (Barnstormers), Albany (Firebirds), and Tampa Bay (Storm). The top eight teams make the playoffs.
For a second consecutive season, ABC Sports will televise the game live. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, August 22. The Arena Football League made its debut on national network television on ABC on August 23, 1998 with the live telecast of ArenaBowl XII -- won 62-31 by the Orlando Predators over the Tampa Bay Storm. An estimated television audience of more than two million watched the Predators earn their first-ever World Championship by defeating the Storm before 17,222 fans in Tampa's Ice Palace. The game earned a 1.6 rating.
The Arena Football League, in its 13th season, has eclipsed the one million-attendance mark three straight seasons (1996-98). Fifteen teams are competing in 1999, with the Los Angeles Avengers set to begin play in April of 2000. New Orleans and Chicago will join the league in 2001.
On Feb. 8, 1999, the NFL acquired an exclusive option to purchase up to 49.9 percent of the Arena Football League. The option can be exercised over the next three years, and is subject to the approval of NFL owners. According to a 1998 ESPN Chilton Sports poll, more than 72 million Americans are fans of the Arena Football League. In addition, Arena Football was named as one of the "hottest new sports" that has emerged in the United States over the last 10 years.
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