Best of 2007: Arena Cup Title Game and Fan Convention

The Arena Football League’s developmental league, the AF2, held the league title game in Bossier City-Shreveport, Louisiana this past season.  The three-day event, hosted by Binion’s Casino, was what each and every professional sport should aspire to give their league’s fans.

With fans from across the country planning to attend the event, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for me to meet some people I had gotten to know via the Internet.

With Tulsa Oklahoma’s team participating in the event, of course the Talons faithful would be on hand.  However, fans from Illinois, South Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma City, Arkansas and even some fans from Tulsa’s opponents in Scranton, Pennsylvania were gathering at the Econo Lodge in Bossier City.

The first night we arrived, the meet-and-greet began at the hotel for the fan clubs, and the owners meeting was held at the casino.  From the hotel, the fans migrated to the casino where they met with team owners and coaches, ate dinner and talked at the bars.  You wouldn’t find Jerry Jones and Mike Holmgren doing something like that.

Another thing you won’t see in the NFL is owners, players, and office personnel thanking individual fans by name for coming to the awards banquet.  As Florida defensive back Levy Brown accepted his award for Defensive Player of the Year, he thanked Sterling Jackson for being the loyal friend and fan he’d been throughout the season.

The league also reserved a private dining area on the eve of the game for an af2 Fan Club Convention.  You don’t see Roger Goodell making arrangements for the NFL’s biggest fans.

However the most important thing to me happened on the morning of the game.  With all the events going on, and all the people that needed to be talked with and all of the arrangements that needed to be made, the President of the league took time off of his schedule to eat breakfast with the fan club convention attendees, and answered questions concerning the league and it’s stability.

Now, on to the fun part—the pre-game.  With corn hole being played all over the tailgate area and a large restaurant’s barbeque pit preparing food for the party, you couldn’t find a better atmosphere—yet.  The fellowship of fans from rival teams coming together to enjoy the excellent niche sport of Arena Football was amazing. 

The final stanza of the excitement was the game itself—and what a final chapter it was.

The Tulsa Talons were crowned league champions, but not without a dramatic ending. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback and league MVP Ryan Vena found a wide-open receiver across the middle as time expired, only to see the ball graze his fingertips and fall innocently to the turf to preserve the Talons second championship.

Without a doubt, the most fan friendly atmosphere I’ve ever been associated with in any sport.  That is why the af2’s Arena Cup is my best sports story of 2007.