Western Division (AFL)
Encyclopedia
The Western Division is one of four divisions that make up the Arena Football League
. The Western Division was formed in 1992 when the AFL first split into three divisions. The League used only conferences in 1993 and 1994, but returned to division play in 1995.
Creation of the Western Division. Arizona, Sacramento, and San Antonio are enfranchised. San Antonio folded in 1993 as the AFL realigned into the American/National conference format, suspending the Western Division (for two years) as well. Also in the 1993 season, Sacramento Attack joined the National Conference as they move to Miami, Florida
as the Hooters.
1995
The Western Division returned as an American Conference division. San Jose SaberCats enfranchised.
1996
Las Vegas moved to Anaheim as the Piranhas. Minnesota Fighting Pike enfranchised.
1997
Minnesota folded.
1998 and 1999
Anaheim folded. Portland moved in from the American Conference's Central Division.
2000
Los Angeles Avengers enfranchised. Portland moved to Oklahoma City
as Oklahoma Wranglers.
2001
Houston moved in from the Central Division.
2002
Dallas Desperados enfranchised. Houston and Oklahoma folded.
2003
Colorado Crush enfranchised. Dallas moved to Central Division
2004 and 2005
Colorado moved to Central Division. Las Vegas moved in from National Conference's Eastern Division.
2006 and 2007
Utah Blaze enfranchised.
2008
Las Vegas moved to Cleveland, rejoining the Eastern Division. In 2009, the AFL was put on a one-year hiatus as Los Angeles Avengers folded, San Jose suspended, and Utah played for the AIFA's 2009 season.
2010
The Western Division moved to the National Conference. Spokane moved in from the now-defunct af2
. Utah moved back from AIFA.
2011
San Jose returned.
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. The Western Division was formed in 1992 when the AFL first split into three divisions. The League used only conferences in 1993 and 1994, but returned to division play in 1995.
Division lineups
1992- Arizona RattlersArizona RattlersThe Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
- Dallas TexansDallas Texans (Arena)The Dallas Texans was an Arena Football League team that played from 1990 to 1993.-History:The team was based in Dallas, Texas. They played their home games in the Reunion Arena, which they shared with the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. The team made the ArenaBowl their...
- Sacramento AttackFlorida BobcatsThe Florida Bobcats are a defunct Arena Football League team. They had been previously known as the Sacramento Attack and the Miami Hooters.-Sacramento Attack :...
- San Antonio ForceSan Antonio ForceThe San Antonio Force was an Arena Football League team that competed in the 1992 season only. They played their home games at HemisFair Arena, then the home of the San Antonio Spurs...
Creation of the Western Division. Arizona, Sacramento, and San Antonio are enfranchised. San Antonio folded in 1993 as the AFL realigned into the American/National conference format, suspending the Western Division (for two years) as well. Also in the 1993 season, Sacramento Attack joined the National Conference as they move to Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
as the Hooters.
1995
- Arizona Rattlers
- Las Vegas Sting
- San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
The Western Division returned as an American Conference division. San Jose SaberCats enfranchised.
1996
- Anaheim PiranhasAnaheim PiranhasThe Anaheim Piranhas were a professional arena football team that played in the Arena Football League from 1994 - 1997. They played their home games at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The team was originally known as the Las Vegas Sting, prior to moving to Anaheim in 1996. The team was owned...
- Arizona Rattlers
- Minnesota Fighting PikeMinnesota Fighting PikeThe Minnesota Fighting Pike were an American football team that played one season in the Arena Football League. The team played at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
- San Jose SaberCats
Las Vegas moved to Anaheim as the Piranhas. Minnesota Fighting Pike enfranchised.
1997
- Anaheim Piranhas
- Arizona Rattlers
- San Jose SaberCats
Minnesota folded.
1998 and 1999
- Arizona Rattlers
- Portland Forest Dragons
- San Jose SaberCats
Anaheim folded. Portland moved in from the American Conference's Central Division.
2000
- Arizona Rattlers
- Los Angeles AvengersLos Angeles AvengersThe Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...
- Oklahoma WranglersOklahoma WranglersThe Oklahoma Wranglers was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League that had previously played as the Memphis Pharaohs and Portland Forest Dragons...
- San Jose SaberCats
Los Angeles Avengers enfranchised. Portland moved to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
as Oklahoma Wranglers.
2001
- Arizona Rattlers
- Houston Thunderbears
- Los Angeles Avengers
- Oklahoma Wranglers
- San Jose SaberCats
Houston moved in from the Central Division.
2002
- Arizona Rattlers
- Dallas DesperadosDallas DesperadosThe Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
Dallas Desperados enfranchised. Houston and Oklahoma folded.
2003
- Arizona Rattlers
- Colorado CrushColorado CrushColorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
Colorado Crush enfranchised. Dallas moved to Central Division
2004 and 2005
- Arizona Rattlers
- Las Vegas Gladiators
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
Colorado moved to Central Division. Las Vegas moved in from National Conference's Eastern Division.
2006 and 2007
- Arizona Rattlers
- Las Vegas Gladiators
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
- Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze enfranchised.
2008
- Arizona Rattlers
- Los Angeles Avengers
- San Jose SaberCats
- Utah Blaze
Las Vegas moved to Cleveland, rejoining the Eastern Division. In 2009, the AFL was put on a one-year hiatus as Los Angeles Avengers folded, San Jose suspended, and Utah played for the AIFA's 2009 season.
2010
- Arizona Rattlers
- Spokane ShockSpokane ShockThe Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
- Utah Blaze
The Western Division moved to the National Conference. Spokane moved in from the now-defunct af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
. Utah moved back from AIFA.
2011
- Arizona Rattlers
- San Jose SaberCats
- Spokane Shock
- Utah Blaze
San Jose returned.
Division Champions
- 1992: Dallas TexansDallas Texans (Arena)The Dallas Texans was an Arena Football League team that played from 1990 to 1993.-History:The team was based in Dallas, Texas. They played their home games in the Reunion Arena, which they shared with the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. The team made the ArenaBowl their...
(5-5) - 1995: San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(8-4) - 1996: Arizona RattlersArizona RattlersThe Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
(11-3) - 1997: Arizona RattlersArizona RattlersThe Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
(12-2) - 1998: Arizona RattlersArizona RattlersThe Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
(10-4) - 1999: Arizona RattlersArizona RattlersThe Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
(10-4) - 2000: San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(12-2) - 2001: San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(10-4) - 2002: San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(13-1) - 2003: San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(12-4) - 2004: Arizona RattlersArizona RattlersThe Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
(11-5) - 2005: Los Angeles AvengersLos Angeles AvengersThe Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...
(10-6) - 2006: San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(10-6) - 2007: San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(13-3) - 2008: San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCatsThe San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
(11-5) - 2010: Spokane ShockSpokane ShockThe Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
(13-3)