Arena Football One’s Schedule Release Shows a Commitment to Viability & Player Safety

The league continues to demonstrate a commitment to long-term success and avoiding the temptations of moving too fast

As it prepares for its inaugural season, Arena Football One (AF1) has been hard at work to flesh out the framework of the league. There have been three new teams added to the fray with the Arizona Bandits, Corpus Christi Tritons, and Oregon Lightning joining the league for the 2025 season.

Meanwhile, previously announced teams in Stockton and Monterrey have delayed their entry into the league by one season, intending to join the league in 2026. With the teams finalized for 2025, the league has announced the schedule for its inaugural season.

Some interesting things to note are that the league is opting for a three-division format with four teams per division, with three division champions and three wild card teams qualifying for the playoffs. The schedule has also loaded up on inter-divisional matchups while also adding two bye weeks in a 14-week season.

These decisions have been made with an eye on geographics, player recovery, and rivalry building. This focus speaks to an understanding by the league of what it needs to do to properly build this league into something viable for both its teams and fans.