2021 Indoor Football League season
2021 IFL season | |
---|---|
League | Indoor Football League |
Sport | Indoor football |
Duration | March 28 – August 20 |
The 2021 Indoor Football League season is scheduled to be the thirteenth (and twelfth complete) season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The league is set to play the season with twelve teams, down from thirteen the previous season, by adding one expansion team, one team from the National Arena League, one team from the American Arena League, and four teams going on hiatus. In addition, three existing teams make their IFL on-field debut after the 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Offseason
On June 26, 2020, the Columbus Wild Dogs announced it would not begin play until 2022.[2] On August 19, 2020, the Massachusetts Pirates, formerly of the National Arena League, were added to the IFL for the 2021 season as the league's first East Coast-based team.[3] On August 25, the league added the Northern Arizona Wranglers in Prescott Valley, Arizona, for the 2021 season, joining the Arizona Rattlers and Tucson Sugar Skulls as the third IFL team to be based in Arizona for 2021.[4] On November 6, the Louisville Xtreme of Louisville, Kentucky, was added.[5] The 2020 expansion Oakland Panthers,[6] as well as the Cedar Rapids River Kings, Quad City Steamwheelers, and the San Diego Strike Force withdrew from the season due to the effects of the pandemic.[7][8]
Teams
Standings
Playoffs
The top eight teams are set to make the IFL playoffs, with the quarterfinals consisting of the top seed hosting the eighth seed, the second seed hosting the seventh seed, the third seed hosting the sixth seed, and the fourth hosting the fifth seed. In the semifinals, the highest remaining seed will host the lower remaining seed and the next-highest hosts the next-lowest from the quarterfinals. The semifinal winners are set to meet in the 2021 United Bowl on the weekend of August 20.[9]
References
- ^ "IFL Cancels Remaining 2020 Games". IFL. April 13, 2020.
- ^ "Columbus' reborn arena football team postpones first season until 2022". Columbus Business First. June 26, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ Bonner, Michael (August 19, 2020). "'An anchor team to build towards': Worcester Pirates become first east-coast team to join Indoor Football Leage, ink 3-year extension at DCU Center". The Republican. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ Obert, Richard (August 25, 2020). "Indoor Football League expansion team officially coming to Prescott Valley". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- ^ "LOUISVILLE JOINS IFL FOR 2021". Indoor Football League. November 6, 2020.
- ^ "OAKLAND PANTHERS TO GO DORMANT FOR THE 2021 SEASON". Oakland Panthers. September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Quad City Steamwheelers cancel 2021 season". KWQC. October 23, 2020.
- ^ "2021 IFL SCHEDULE RELEASED". IFL. November 17, 2020.
- ^ "2021 IFL Schedule Released". Indoor Football League. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.