TULSA – The Arena Football League announced the 2012 regular season schedule, which will begin on Friday, March 9, 2012 on NFL Network. The final day of the 2012 regular season is scheduled for Sunday, July 22, 2012.

The AFL will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary during the 2012 season and will continue playing an enhanced, 18-game schedule. The League moved from a 16 to 18-game schedule in 2011.

“Arena Football Friday” on NFL Network will open the League’s Silver Anniversary on March 9 featuring the Pittsburgh Power against the Orlando Predators from the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. Two games are scheduled on Saturday, March 10 including the Arizona Rattlers visiting the San Jose SaberCats and the Utah Blaze visiting the San Antonio Talons. One game is scheduled for Sunday with the Tampa Bay Storm facing the Chicago Rush on the road. Opening weekend concludes on Monday, March 12, 2012 when the Cleveland Gladiators visit the Georgia Force and the Iowa Barnstormers face the Spokane Shock in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

The past two League champions, Spokane (ArenaBowl XXIII, 2010) and Jacksonville (ArenaBowl XXIV, 2011) will square off in a Week 8 matchup on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

After relocating from Tulsa to San Antonio, the Talons will play their home games in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Tx. and join the National Conference’s Central Division. The Central Division also consists of the Chicago Rush, Iowa Barnstormers and Kansas City Command. The West Division will round out the National Conference, which includes the Arizona Rattlers, San Jose SaberCats, Spokane Shock and Utah Blaze.

The American Conference’s South Division includes the Georgia Force, Jacksonville Sharks, New Orleans VooDoo, Orlando Predators and Tampa Bay Storm; while the East Division features the Cleveland Gladiators, Milwaukee Mustangs, Philadelphia Soul and Pittsburgh Power.

The AFL will continue for its third consecutive season on NFL Network during the 2012 season with a weekly broadcast of the national game of the week on “Arena Football Friday.” Notable NFL Network games include Ron Jaworski’s Philadelphia Soul vs. Lynn Swann’s Pittsurgh Power on Friday, March 23; the San Jose SaberCats vs. Spokane Shock on March 30; the Jacksonville Sharks vs. Orlando Predators on Friday, May 25; and the “War on I-4” featuring the Tampa Bay Storm at Orlando Predators on Friday, June 15.

2012 AFL SCHEDULE

NOTE: NFL NETWORK GAMES IN BOLD

ARENA FOOTBALL FRIDAY ON NFL NETWORK: BOLD