Philly Sports Jabronis
Report From AFL
LAS VEGAS – The Arena Football League’s 30th Anniversary Season is set to begin as the 2017 AFL television schedule was officially released today. Expansion teams will kick off the season at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., when the Washington Valor host the Baltimore Brigade on Friday, April 7 at 7 p.m., ET on CBS Sports Network.
CBS Sports Network returns as the AFL’s television partner for the fifth consecutive season. The Network will televise a slate of 18 regular season games and one semifinal contest. The complete schedule is listed below.
“CBS Sports Network has been a long-time partner and we are pleased to have AFL games televised on the Network for our 30th Anniversary season,” AFL Commissioner Scott C. Butera said.
2017 AFL ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK SCHEDULE
| WEEK | DATE | GAME | LOCATION | *TIME |
| 1 | Friday, April 7 | Baltimore at Washington | Verizon Center | 7 p.m. |
| 2 | Saturday, April 15 | Philadelphia at Tampa Bay | Amalie Arena | 7 p.m. |
| 3 | Saturday, April 22 | Cleveland at Tampa Bay | Amalie Arena | 7 p.m. |
| 4 | Saturday, April 29 | Baltimore at Philadelphia | Wells Fargo Center | 7 p.m. |
| 5 | Sunday, May 7 | Tampa Bay at Baltimore | Royal Farms Arena | 1 p.m. |
| 6 | Saturday, May 13 | Tampa Bay at Washington | Verizon Center | 7 p.m. |
| 7 | Saturday, May 20 | Cleveland at Philadelphia | Wells Fargo Center | 7 p.m. |
| 8 | Saturday, May 27 | Cleveland at Baltimore | Royal Farms Arena | 7 p.m. |
| 9 | Saturday, June 3 | Cleveland at Washington | Verizon Center | 7 p.m. |
| 10 | Saturday, June 10 | Washington at Tampa Bay | Amalie Arena | 7 p.m. |
| 11 | Saturday, June 17 | Tampa Bay at Philadelphia | Wells Fargo Center | 7 p.m. |
| 12 | Saturday, June 24 | Philadelphia at Cleveland | Quicken Loans Arena | 7 p.m. |
| 13 | Saturday, July 1 | Washington at Tampa Bay | Amalie Arena | 7 p.m. |
| 14 | Saturday, July 8 | Philadelphia at Baltimore | Royal Farms Arena | 7 p.m. |
| 15 | Saturday, July 15 | Washington at Philadelphia | Wells Fargo Center | 7 p.m. |
| 16 | Saturday, July 22 | Cleveland at Tampa Bay | Amalie Arena | 7 p.m. |
| 17 | Saturday, July 29 | Cleveland at Washington | Verizon Center | 7 p.m. |
| 18 | Saturday, August 5 | Tampa Bay at Philadelphia | Wells Fargo Center | 7 p.m. |
| PS | Saturday, August 12 | Semifinals | TBD | 4 p.m. |
CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule, and channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
Schedule Highlights Include:
- Opening Weekend will have two expansion teams – Baltimore Brigade and Washington Valor – face off at the Verizon Center on April 7. Former AFL MVP QB Erik Meyer and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Tracy Belton lead the Valor, while former All-Arena performers DL Khreem Smith and WR Reggie Gray spark the Brigade.
- Week 2 features the defending champion Philadelphia Soul and former AFL MVP QB Dan Raudabaugh starting their title defense on the road against QB Randy Hippeard and the Tampa Bay Storm on CBS Sports Network.
- Week 3 offers a battle of new head coaches, as Ron Selesky and his Cleveland Gladiators face new head coach Ron James and his Tampa Bay Storm. Cleveland’s returning QB Arvell Nelson will look to hook up with 2016 Playmaker of the Year WR Brandon Thompkins, while Tampa Bay’s Randy Hippeard has a new target with 2016 Offensive Player of the Year WR Joe Hills.
- Week 12 features a showdown at “The Q” between rivals Philadelphia and Cleveland. AFL Head Coach of the Year Clint Dolezel guides the Soul against Selesky and the Gladiators. Possible star matchup has former All-Arena performers – Soul WR Darius Reynolds and Gladiators DB Rayshaun Kizer – lining up against each other.
