Indoor Football League facts for kids
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| Sport | Arena football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| Inaugural season | 2009 |
| Commissioner | Todd Tryon |
| Claim to fame | America's longest continuously running indoor football league |
| No. of teams | 16 |
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters | Grand Island, Nebraska |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Bay Area Panthers (1st title) |
| Most titles | Sioux Falls Storm (7) |
| TV partner(s) | YouTube CBS Sports Network |
| Related competitions |
Direct: XFL/UFL, IFL, UIF Other: FCF, NAL, CIF |
| Official website | goifl.com |
The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league. It was started in 2008. The league was formed when two other leagues, the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football, joined together.
The IFL has many active teams, more than most other indoor football leagues. For the 2024 season, there are 16 teams. These teams are split into two groups called conferences. Each team plays 16 games over 19 weeks.
The IFL has been running for a long time under the same name. It is the oldest active professional indoor football league in North America. Its history goes back to 2003, through the Intense Football League.
Players in the IFL earn money for each game they play. They also get a bonus if their team wins. Some teams even help their players with housing during the season. The IFL works with the UFL. The IFL acts like a minor league for the UFL, helping players develop.
Contents
History of the IFL
| Season | # Teams |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | 16 |
The IFL was formed in 2008. This happened when the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football decided to combine. This big news was shared right before a championship game. That game was between the champions of the two leagues. The Sioux Falls Storm (from United) beat the Louisiana Swashbucklers (from Intense) 54–42.
Early Seasons: 2009-2012
The First Season: 2009
In 2009, 14 teams from the old leagues joined the IFL. Three more teams came from another league. Two brand new teams also started in the IFL. The Billings Outlaws won the first-ever IFL championship. They beat the RiverCity Rage 71–62 in the United Bowl.
Growth and Changes: 2010-2012
In 2010, the IFL grew to 25 teams. Some teams left, but many new ones joined. The Billings Outlaws won the championship again. In 2011, seven new teams joined, and the league had 22 teams. The Sioux Falls Storm won the championship that year.
By 2012, the league had 16 teams. All the Texas teams, except one, left to form a new league. A famous football player, Terrell Owens, even joined the Allen Wranglers team for a short time. The league also got a new interim Commissioner.
Mid-2010s: 2013-2017
Team Changes and New Additions
In 2013, some teams left the IFL for other leagues. The league planned to have a new team, the Cheyenne Warriors, but their owner sadly passed away. In 2014, the league added the Bemidji Axemen, bringing the total to 10 teams. However, another team left, so the IFL ended up with nine teams.
In 2015, the Iowa Barnstormers joined the IFL. They were a big team that moved from another league. This showed that the IFL was becoming a strong league.
New Rules and More Teams: 2016-2017
In 2016, the IFL started new rules about how many experienced players a team could have. The Spokane Shock, another well-known team, also joined the IFL. They changed their name to the Spokane Empire. Two new teams, the Minnesota Havok and Minnesota Axemen, were announced but later removed from the league before playing.
In 2017, the Tri-Cities Fever took a break from playing. A new group called Project FANchise created a team, the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles. Fans could help make decisions for this team. They also bought the Colorado Crush. The Billings Wolves left the league. The Arizona Rattlers, a very successful team from another league, joined the IFL.
Late 2010s: 2018-2019
League Challenges and Growth: 2018
After 2017, the Colorado Crush and Salt Lake Screaming Eagles teams folded. The Spokane Empire also stopped playing. This left the IFL with fewer teams. The Sioux Falls Storm and Wichita Falls Nighthawks left the IFL for another league.
However, the IFL quickly added new teams. The Bloomington Edge and West Michigan Ironmen joined. The Sioux Falls Storm later returned to the IFL. The Cedar Rapids Titans team was sold and changed its name.
Expansion and New Rivals: 2019
In 2019, the IFL continued to grow. The Tucson Sugar Skulls, Quad City Steamwheelers, and Bismarck Bucks all joined the league. The San Diego Strike Force was also added. These new teams helped create more local rivalries, especially for the Arizona Rattlers.
2020s: Recent Seasons
Pandemic Impact: 2020-2021
In 2020, more teams joined, including the Duke City Gladiators and Oakland Panthers. The Spokane Shock also returned. A new team, the Frisco Fighters, was added in Texas. However, the 2020 season was stopped early due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later cancelled.
In 2021, the Massachusetts Pirates became the first East Coast team in the IFL. The Northern Arizona Wranglers and Louisville Xtreme also joined. Some teams, like the Oakland Panthers, took a break due to the pandemic. The Louisville Xtreme team was removed from the league during the season. The IFL also started showing a "Game of the Week" on the Stadium sports network.
Continued Expansion: 2022-2024
In 2022, the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team bought a new IFL team, the Vegas Knight Hawks. The Spokane Shock were removed from the league. In 2023, the Tulsa Oilers joined. The Bay Area Panthers won the 2023 championship. The IFL also partnered with the XFL for player development.
For the 2024 season, the league grew to 16 teams. The Jacksonville Sharks and San Antonio Gunslingers joined from another league. The IFL also announced a new team in Indianapolis for 2025, called the Fishers Freight.
Teams in the IFL
Current Teams
For the 2024 season, the IFL teams are divided into two conferences.
| Conference | Team | Location | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | Frisco Fighters | Frisco, TX | Comerica Center | 3,500 | 2019 | 2020 | Andre Coles |
| Green Bay Blizzard | Ashwaubenon, WI | Resch Center | 8,600 | 2003 | 2010 | Corey Roberson | |
| Iowa Barnstormers | Des Moines, IA | Wells Fargo Arena | 15,181 | 1995 | 2015 | Dave Mogensen | |
| Jacksonville Sharks | Jacksonville, FL | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena | 13,011 | 2009 | 2024 | Jason Gibson | |
| Massachusetts Pirates | Lowell, MA | Tsongas Center | 6,003 | 2017 | 2021 | Rod Miller | |
| Quad City Steamwheelers | Moline, IL | Vibrant Arena | 9,200 | 2017 | 2019 | Cory Ross | |
| Sioux Falls Storm | Sioux Falls, SD | Denny Sanford Premier Center | 10,678 | 2000 | 2009 | Andre Fields | |
| Tulsa Oilers | Tulsa, OK | BOK Center | 16,582 | 2022 | 2023 | Marvin Jones | |
| Western Conference | Arizona Rattlers | Glendale, AZ | Desert Diamond Arena | 19,000 | 1992 | 2017 | Kevin Guy |
| Bay Area Panthers | San Jose, CA | SAP Center | 17,562 | 2019 | 2020 | Rob Keefe | |
| Duke City Gladiators | Rio Rancho, NM | Rio Rancho Events Center | 6,000 | 2015 | 2020 | Fred Griggs | |
| Northern Arizona Wranglers | Prescott Valley, AZ | Findlay Toyota Center | 6,000 | 2020 | 2021 | Les Moss | |
| San Antonio Gunslingers | San Antonio, TX | Freeman Coliseum | 9,800 | 2020 | 2024 | Tom Menas | |
| San Diego Strike Force | San Diego, CA | Pechanga Arena | 12,000 | 2018 | 2019 | Taylor Genuser | |
| Tucson Sugar Skulls | Tucson, AZ | Tucson Convention Center | 8,962 | 2018 | 2019 | Billy Back | |
| Vegas Knight Hawks | Henderson, NV | Lee's Family Forum | 5,567 | 2021 | 2022 | Mike Davis |
| Team | Location | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Wild Dogs | Columbus, OH | Nationwide Arena | 19,500 | 2020 | 2025 | Bobby Olive |
| Dakota Bucks | Bismarck, ND | Bismarck Event Center | 10,100 | 2016 | 2019; 2025 |
Vacant |
| Fishers Freight | Fishers, IN | Fishers Event Center | 6,500 | 2023 | 2025 |
Map of Teams
Former Teams
Many teams have played in the IFL over the years but are no longer active. Here are some of them:
- Abilene Ruff Riders – Left the IFL and later folded.
- Alaska Wild – Stopped playing during the 2010 season.
- Amarillo Venom – Left the IFL for another league.
- Arizona Adrenaline – Stopped playing before the 2011 season ended.
- Austin Turfcats – Folded after the 2010 season.
- Bismarck Bucks – Stopped playing in 2022.
- Billings Outlaws – Owner stopped the team in 2011.
- Billings Wolves – Owner could not find a buyer after the 2016 season.
- Bloomington Edge – Left the IFL, rejoined, then left again.
- Bricktown Brawlers – Stopped playing before the 2011 season ended.
- Cedar Rapids Titans/River Kings – Played from 2012 to 2020, then folded.
- Charlotte Speed – Planned to play in the IFL but joined another league.
- Cheyenne Warriors – Owner passed away before the 2013 season.
- Chicago Slaughter – Left the IFL for another league.
- Colorado Crush – Stopped playing after the 2017 season.
- Columbus Wild Dogs – Planned to start playing but kept delaying.
- Corpus Christi Hammerheads – Left the IFL for another league.
- El Paso Generals – Owners tried to sell the team and it never returned.
- Everett Raptors – Team folded after the 2012 season.
- Fairbanks Grizzlies – Owner stopped the team in 2012.
- Frisco Thunder – Planned to join but never did.
- La Crosse Spartans – Owners started a new team instead.
- Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – Left the IFL for another league.
- Louisville Xtreme – Joined in 2021 but was removed during the season.
- Maryland Maniacs – Owner stopped the team in 2011.
- Minnesota Axemen – Removed by the league for not meeting requirements.
- Minnesota Havok – Announced for 2016 but removed before playing.
- Nebraska Danger – Owner put the team up for sale and no buyer was found.
- New Mexico Stars – Left the IFL for another league.
- Omaha Beef – Left the IFL for another league.
- Reading Express – Took a season off and never returned.
- Richmond Revolution – Owner stopped the team in 2012.
- RiverCity Rage – Owner stopped the team to focus on another.
- Rochester Raiders – Owner stopped the team in 2011.
- Saginaw Sting – Left for another league.
- Salt Lake Screaming Eagles – Could not find new owners after their group left the league.
- San Angelo Stampede Express – Owner stopped the team in 2011.
- Sioux City Bandits – Left the IFL for another league.
- Spokane Empire – Stopped playing after 2017.
- Spokane Shock – Returned in 2020 but was removed in 2022.
- Texas Revolution – Left the IFL and is now gone.
- Tri-Cities Fever – Took a break after 2016 and has not returned.
- West Michigan Ironmen – Tried to join the IFL but was not allowed.
- West Michigan ThunderHawks – Owner stopped the team in 2011.
- Wenatchee Valley Venom – Owner stopped the team in 2012.
- West Texas Roughnecks – Left the IFL for another league.
- Wichita Falls Nighthawks – Left for another league but then folded.
- Wichita Wild – Left the IFL for another league and later folded.
- Wyoming Cavalry – Owner stopped the team in 2014.
Timeline of Teams
IFL Championship Game
The IFL Championship Game is the big final game of each season. It used to be called the United Bowl. The current champions are the Bay Area Panthers, who won in 2023. They beat the Sioux Falls Storm. The Storm is a very successful team, winning six championships in a row from 2011 to 2016.
The name "United Bowl" came from the United Indoor Football league. That league merged with the Intense Football League to create the IFL. The United Indoor Football league had its own United Bowl games before the merger. The Sioux Falls Storm won all four of those early United Bowls. The IFL used the "United Bowl" name until 2021. Since 2022, the championship game is called the IFL National Championship Game. It is played in Henderson, Nevada.
Championship Game Results
| Game | Date | Winning team | Losing team | MVP | Site | Attendance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | August 15, 2009 | Billings Outlaws | 71 | RiverCity Rage | 62 | Chris Dixon | Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark | 8,351 | ||
| 2010 | July 17, 2010 | Billings Outlaws | 43 | Sioux Falls Storm | 34 | Chris Dixon (2) | Billings Sports Plex | 2,500 | ||
| 2011 | July 16, 2011 | Sioux Falls Storm | 37 | Tri-Cities Fever | 10 | Chris Dixon (3) | Sioux Falls Arena | 4,696 | ||
| 2012 | July 14, 2012 | Sioux Falls Storm | 59 | Tri-Cities Fever | 32 | Jeremiah Price | Sioux Falls Arena | 4,901 | ||
| 2013 | June 29, 2013 | Sioux Falls Storm | 43 | Nebraska Danger | 40 | Terrance Bryant | Sioux Falls Arena | 5,202 | ||
| 2014 | June 28, 2014 | Sioux Falls Storm | 63 | Nebraska Danger | 46 | Chris Dixon (4) James Terry |
Sioux Falls Arena | 4,500 | ||
| 2015 | July 11, 2015 | Sioux Falls Storm | 62 | Nebraska Danger | 27 | Brandon Johnson-Farrell | Denny Sanford Premier Center | 9,245 | ||
| 2016 | July 23, 2016 | Sioux Falls Storm | 55 | Spokane Empire | 34 | Lorenzo Brown | Denny Sanford Premier Center | 9,000 | ||
| 2017 | July 8, 2017 | Arizona Rattlers | 50 | Sioux Falls Storm | 41 | Justin Shirk | Denny Sanford Premier Center | |||
| 2018 | July 7, 2018 | Iowa Barnstormers | 42 | Sioux Falls Storm | 38 | Ryan Balentine | Wells Fargo Arena | |||
| 2019 | July 13, 2019 | Sioux Falls Storm | 56 | Arizona Rattlers | 53 | Lorenzo Brown (2) | Gila River Arena | 14,635 | ||
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||
| 2021 | September 12, 2021 | Massachusetts Pirates | 37 | Arizona Rattlers | 34 | Alejandro Bennifield (1) | Footprint Center | 6,385 | ||
| 2022 | August 13, 2022 | Northern Arizona Wranglers | 47 | Quad City Steamwheelers | 45 | Jaquan Artis (1) | Dollar Loan Center | 4,149 | ||
| 2023 | August 5, 2023 | Bay Area Panthers | 51 | Sioux Falls Storm | 41 | Dalton Sneed | Dollar Loan Center | 3,674 | ||
Championship Results by Team
| Appearances | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Year(s) Won | Year(s) Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sioux Falls Storm | 7 | 4 | .636 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019 | 2010, 2017, 2018, 2023 |
| 3 | Nebraska Danger | 0 | 3 | .000 | 2013, 2014, 2015 | |
| 3 | Arizona Rattlers | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2017 | 2019, 2021 |
| 2 | Billings Outlaws | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 2009, 2010 | |
| 2 | Tri-City Fever | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2011, 2012 | |
| 1 | RiverCity Rage | 0 | 3 | .000 | 2009 | |
| 1 | Spokane Empire | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2016 | |
| 1 | Iowa Barnstormers | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2018 | |
| 1 | Massachutsetts Pirates | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2021 | |
| 1 | Northern Arizona Wranglers | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2022 | |
| 1 | Quad City Steamwheelers | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2022 | |
| 1 | Bay Area Panthers | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2023 |
How to Watch IFL Games
In 2021, the IFL started a deal with Stadium. This means Stadium shows the "IFL Game of The Week" on TV. In 2023, the IFL made a new deal with CBS Sports Network. This deal means the next three IFL National Championship games will be shown on CBS Sports Network. Other IFL games might also be shown on CBS.
Most other IFL games can be watched online through YouTube. Some teams also have their own deals with local TV or radio stations.
IFL Hall of Fame
The Indoor Football League Hall of Fame honors important people in the IFL. This includes players, coaches, and others who have helped the league a lot. The Hall of Fame started in 2014. Each year, a few people are chosen to join. There were no new members in 2020, but four were added in 2021.
The IFL was formed from two older leagues: United Indoor Football and Intense Football League. People who played well in those leagues before the merger can also be chosen for the IFL Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame is only for people from the IFL and its past leagues. It does not include people from other indoor football leagues.
There is no physical building for the IFL Hall of Fame. It's like an online list of honored people.
Who Can Join the Hall of Fame?
To be chosen for the IFL Hall of Fame, a person must have helped the league in a big way. There are no strict rules like needing a certain number of points. They just need to have made a significant contribution to a team that played in the IFL, United Indoor Football, or Intense Football League.
Hall of Fame Game
Starting in 2021, the IFL began a new tradition. The first game of each season is now a Hall of Fame game. This game celebrates the new Hall of Fame members for that year. Before this, new members were honored during the championship game.
Hall of Fame Inductees
Here are the people who have been inducted into the IFL Hall of Fame up to 2022.
| Inductee | Class | Position | Team(s) | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Benizio | 2014 | Commissioner, Owner, Co-founder | Odessa Roughnecks | 2004–2008 |
| Commissioner | 2008–2012 | |||
| Rich Roste | 2014 | Announcer | Sioux Falls Storm | 2000–2021 |
| Terrance Bryant | 2014 | Quarterback | Sioux Falls Storm | 2005–2010, 2013 |
| LaRon Council | 2015 | Running Back | La Crosse Spartans | 2011 |
| Green Bay Blizzard | 2012 | |||
| Cedar Rapids Titans | 2013–2014 | |||
| Chris Dixon | 2015 | Quarterback | Black Hills Red Dogs | 2005 |
| Billings Mavericks/ Outlaws | 2005–2010 | |||
| Sioux Falls Storm | 2011–2012, 2014, 2019 | |||
| B. J. Hill | 2015 | Defensive back/Kick return | Green Bay Blizzard | 2010–2013, 2018–2019 |
| Mark Blackburn | 2016 | Linebacker | Sioux Falls Storm | 2003–2010 |
| Lionell Singleton | 2016 | Defensive back | Tri-Cities Fever | 2010–2015 |
| Tom Wigley | 2016 | Owner | Colorado Ice/ Crush | 2010–2016 |
| Robert Fuller | 2017 | Head Coach | Omaha Beef | 2005–2006 |
| Fairbanks Grizzlies | 2011 | |||
| Green Bay Blizzard | 2012–2013 | |||
| Bemidji Axemen | 2014 | |||
| Cory Johnsen | 2017 | Defensive lineman | Sioux Falls Storm | 2006–2015 |
| James Terry | 2017 | Wide receiver | Sioux Falls Storm | 2006–2015 |
| Pig Brown | 2018 | Linebacker | RiverCity Rage | 2009 |
| Nebraska Danger | 2012–2015 | |||
| Charlie Sanders | 2018 | Offensive lineman | Billings Outlaws | 2010 |
| Sioux Falls Storm | 2011–2016 | |||
| Jameel Sewell | 2018 | Quarterback | Green Bay Blizzard | 2011 |
| Nebraska Danger | 2012–2016 | |||
| Javicz Jones | 2019 | Linebacker | Texas Revolution | 2014 |
| Iowa Barnstormers | 2015–2017 | |||
| Myniya Smith | 2019 | Offensive lineman | Billings Outlaws | 2009–2010 |
| Sioux Falls Storm | 2011–2017 | |||
| Bryan Pray | 2019 | Wide receiver | West Michigan ThunderHawks | 2010 |
| La Crosse Spartans | 2011 | |||
| Green Bay Blizzard | 2012 | |||
| Ceder Rapids Titans | 2013–2015 | |||
| Iowa Barnstormers | 2016 | |||
| Spokane Empire | 2017 | |||
| Fred Jackson | 2021 | Running back | Sioux City Bandits | 2004–2005 |
| Heron O'Neal | 2021 | Head coach | Billings Outlaws | 2006–2010 |
| Colorado Ice/ Crush | 2012–2016 | |||
| John Pettit | 2021 | General manager/vice president | Iowa Barnstormers | 2008–2020 |
| Kurtiss Riggs | 2021 | Head coach | Sioux Falls Storm | 2003–2023 |
| Charlie Bosselman | 2022 | Owner | Nebraska Danger | 2010–2019 |
| Nate Fluit | 2022 | Defensive lineman | Sioux Falls Storm | 2003–2007 |
| Carl Sims | 2022 | Wide receiver | Bloomington Extreme | 2009 |
| Sioux City Bandits | 2010 | |||
| Billings Outlaws | 2010 | |||
| Sioux Falls Storm | 2011–2012 | |||
| Cedar Rapids Titans | 2013–2015 | |||
| Billings Wolves | 2015 | |||
| Green Bay Blizzard | 2015 | |||
| Spokane Empire | 2016–2017 | |||
| Nebraska Danger | 2017 | |||
| Parker Douglass | 2023 | Kicker | Sioux Falls Storm | 2009–2021 |
| Xzavie Jackson | 2023 | Defensive lineman | RiverCity Rage | 2009 |
| La Crosse Spartans | 2010–2011 | |||
| Cedar Rapids Titans | 2012–2016 | |||
| Nebraska Danger | 2017–2018 | |||
| Tyler Knight | 2023 | Linebacker | Arkansas Diamonds | 2010 |
| Sioux Falls Storm | 2011, 2013–2017 |
Images for kids
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The Frisco Fighters played their first home game against the Duke City Gladiators in 2021.
