East Division (AFL)
| Formerly | Eastern Division, as a member of the National Conference |
|---|---|
| Conference | American Conference |
| League | Arena Football League |
| Sport | Arena Football |
| Founded | 1995 |
| First season | 1995 |
| No. of teams | |
| Most recent champion(s) | Philadelphia Soul (4th title) |
| Most titles | Albany Firebirds (5 titles) |
The American Conference - East Division is a division of the Arena Football League's American Conference. There are currently three teams that reside in the division: Cleveland Gladiators of Cleveland, New Orleans VooDoo of New Orleans and the Philadelphia Soul of Philadelphia. It was first formed in 1995 as part of the National Conference when expansion brought up the current divisions.
Since the division's enfranchisement in 1995, the division has represented in 5 ArenaBowls and won 2 of them, with the most recent during the 2008 Arena Football League season by the Philadelphia Soul. The most recent appearance in the ArenaBowl by an East team was the Soul in ArenaBowl XXVI.
Division lineups
1995 and 1996
Creation of the Eastern Division as part of National Conference. Albany moved in from American Conference. Connecticut Coyotes enfranchised.
1997
- Albany Firebirds
- Nashville Kats
- New Jersey Red Dogs
- New York Cityhawks
Charlotte and Connecticut folded. Nashville, New Jersey, and New York are enfranchised.
1998
- Albany Firebirds
- New Jersey Red Dogs
- New York Cityhawks
Nashville moved to National Conference's Southern Division.
1999 and 2000
- Albany Firebirds
- Buffalo Destroyers
- New England Sea Wolves
- New Jersey Red Dogs
Buffalo Destroyers enfranchised. New York moved to Hartford, Connecticut as New England Sea Wolves.
2001
- Buffalo Destroyers
- Carolina Cobras
- New Jersey Gladiators
- New York Dragons
- Toronto Phantoms
As Indiana Firebirds, Albany moved to Indianapolis, Indiana as part of the American Conference's Central Division. Carolina moved in from Southern Division. Iowa Barnstormers moved to Uniondale, New York as New York Dragons. New England moved to Toronto as the Phantoms. New Jersey Red Dogs renamed the Gladiators.
2002
- Buffalo Destroyers
- New Jersey Gladiators
- New York Dragons
- Toronto Phantoms
Carolina moved back to Southern Division.
2003
- Buffalo Destroyers
- Detroit Fury
- Las Vegas Gladiators
- New York Dragons
Detroit moved in from Central Division. New Jersey moved to Las Vegas. Toronto Phantoms folded.
2004
- Carolina Cobras
- Columbus Destroyers
- Dallas Desperados
- New York Dragons
- Philadelphia Soul
Buffalo moved to Columbus, Ohio. Dallas moved in from Central Division. Detroit moved back to Central Division as well. Las Vegas moved to American Conference's Western Division. Philadelphia Soul enfranchised.
2005–2007
- Columbus Destroyers
- Dallas Desperados
- New York Dragons
- Philadelphia Soul
Carolina Cobras folded.
2008
- Cleveland Gladiators
- Columbus Destroyers
- Dallas Desperados
- New York Dragons
- Philadelphia Soul
Las Vegas moved back from Western Division as Cleveland Gladiators. After the 2008 season, Columbus, Dallas, and New York folded while Philadelphia is suspended and the AFL is put on a one-year hiatus. Also, the Cleveland Gladiators joined the Central Division (now part of the National Conference) for the 2010 season when that division was known as the Midwest Division.
2010
The Eastern Division moved to the American Conference as Southwest Division for this season. Dallas Vigilantes enfranchised while the other three teams come from the defunct af2.
2011 and 2012
- Cleveland Gladiators
- Milwaukee Mustangs
- Philadelphia Soul
- Pittsburgh Power
The Southwest Division changed its name back to Eastern Division. Bossier-Shreveport moved to New Orleans as the VooDoo. Cleveland Gladiators and Milwaukee Iron (renamed Mustangs) moved in from the Central Division (known as Midwest in 2010). Dallas and Tulsa moved to Central Division. Oklahoma City folded. Philadelphia Soul returned. Pittsburgh Power enfranchised.
2013
- Cleveland Gladiators
- Philadelphia Soul
- Pittsburgh Power
Milwaukee Mustangs suspended operations.
2014
- Cleveland Gladiators
- Iowa Barnstormers
- Philadelphia Soul
- Pittsburgh Power
Iowa joined the East Division after the League's expansion into Los Angeles and Portland, and the removal of the Utah Blaze and Chicago Rush.
2015
- Cleveland Gladiators
- New Orleans VooDoo
- Philadelphia Soul
Iowa left to play in the Indoor Football League and Pittsburgh folded because of low attendance.
After 2015 Both conferences no longer have divisions. Philadelphia remains in the American Conference, but Cleveland moves to the National Conference. New Orleans folded due to lack of ownership.
Division champions
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Albany Firebirds | 7-5 | Won AFL Quarterfinals, Lost AFL Semifinals |
| 1996 | Albany Firebirds | 10-4 | Won AFL Quarterfinals, Lost AFL Semifinals |
| 1997 | Nashville Kats | 10–4 | Lost AFL Quarterfinals |
| 1998 | Albany Firebirds | 10–4 | Lost AFL Quarterfinals |
| 1999 | Albany Firebirds | 11–3 | Won AFL Quarterfinals, Won AFL Semifinals, Won ArenaBowl XIII |
| 2000 | Albany Firebirds | 9-5 | Lost AFL Quarterfinals |
| 2001 | New York Dragons | 8-6 | Lost Wild Card |
| 2002 | New Jersey Gladiators | 9–5 | Lost AFL Quarterfinals |
| 2003 | New York Dragons | 8-8 | Won Wild Card, Lost AFL Quarterfinals |
| 2004 | New York Dragons† | 9-7 | |
| 2005 | New York Dragons | 10–6 | Lost NC Semifinals |
| 2006 | Dallas Desperados | 13-3 | Won NC Semifinals, Lost NC Championship |
| 2007 | Dallas Desperados | 15-1 | Lost NC Semifinals |
| 2008 | Philadelphia Soul | 13-3 | Won NC Divisional, Won NC Championship, Won ArenaBowl XXII |
| 2010 | Tulsa Talons | 10-6 | Lost AC Semifinals |
| 2011 | Cleveland Gladiators[1] | 10-8 | Lost AC Semifinals |
| 2012 | Philadelphia Soul[2] | 15-3 | Won AC Semifinals, Won AC Championship, Lost ArenaBowl XXV |
| 2013 | Philadelphia Soul[3] | 12–6 | Won AC Semifinals, Won AC Championship, Lost ArenaBowl XXVI |
| 2014 | Cleveland Gladiators[4] | 17-1 | Won AC Semifinals, Won AC Championship, Lost ArenaBowl XXVII |
| 2015 | Philadelphia Soul | 15-3 | Won AC Semifinals, Lost AC Championship |
- † – Despite winning the division in 2004, the New York Dragons failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Wild Card qualifiers
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | New Jersey Red Dogs | 9-5 | Lost AFL Quarterfinals |
| 1998 | New Jersey Red Dogs | 8–6–0 | Won AFL Quarterfinals, Lost AFL Semifinals |
| 2000 | New England Sea Wolves Buffalo Destroyers |
8–6 5-9 |
Lost Wild Card Lost Wild Card |
| 2001 | Toronto Phantoms Carolina Cobras |
8-6 7-7 |
Won Wild Card, Lost AFL Quarterfinals Lost Wild Card |
| 2002 | Buffalo Destroyers | 6-8 | Lost Wild Card |
| 2003 | Detroit Fury Las Vegas Gladiators |
8-8 8-8 |
Won Wild Card, Lost AFL Quarterfinals Lost Wild Card |
| 2006 | New York Dragons Philadelphia Soul |
10–6 9-7 |
Lost NC Wild Card Won NC Wild Card, Lost NC Semifinals |
| 2007 | Philadelphia Soul Columbus |
8-8 7-9 |
Won NC Wild Card, Lost NC Semifinals Won Wild Card, Won NC Semifinals, Won NC Championship, Lost ArenaBowl XXI |
| 2008 | Dallas Desperados Cleveland Gladiators New York Dragons |
12-4 9-7 8-8 |
Lost NC Wild Card Won NC Wild Card, Won NC Divisional, Lost NC Championship Won Wild Card, Lost NC Divisional |
References
- ^ Dennis Manoloff (July 15, 2011). "Cleveland Gladiators clinch division, playoff spot with win over Pittsburgh Power". www.cleveland.com. Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ "Philadelphia Soul clinch home-field advantage". www.mcall.com. The Morning Call. June 19, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ "Soul win fourth straight, clinch East Division". www.csnphilly.com. Comcast Sportsnet Philly L.P. June 29, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ "Cleveland Gladiators to host first-round playoff game". www.cleveland.com. Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC. July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.