The 2015 Arena Football League season was the 28th season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 27, 2015 and ended on August 8, 2015.
League business
Teams The city of Las Vegas, Nevada was awarded an expansion team on June 18, 2014. The team, named the Las Vegas Outlaws, was the first AFL team to call Las Vegas home since the Las Vegas Gladiators in 2007. Vince Neil, lead singer of the rock band Mötley Crüe, was the majority owner of the expansion franchise. The Outlaws' expansion draft took place on December 22, 2014.
Two teams that competed in 2014 suspended operations (Pittsburgh Power and San Antonio Talons), and their rosters became signable upon offseason assignment process held on December 23, 2014.
The Iowa Barnstormers were the third and final team to leave the AFL for the 2015 season when they joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) on August 27, 2014. In 2015 all games were televised, most on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, and especially on ESPN3 (available online through WatchESPN) and some on the CBS Sports Network.
On July 15, the league took over the daily operations of the Las Vegas Outlaws and New Orleans VooDoo after financial problems and declining attendance. As a result, their game against each other (which was set to be played on the 25th) was cancelled and declared a tie, only the 3rd in AFL history and the only cancellation in league history. The league ran both teams to the end of the season with the intent of looking for new ownership in the offseason but on August 9, the day following the conclusion of the regular season, both teams ceased operations. Las Vegas had qualified for a playoff spot, the final one in the National Conference, but the league's board of directors voted against their inclusion in the postseason, considering that with no team ownership, there was no funding for the team. The Outlaws were replaced in the playoffs by the Portland Thunder, who had finished last in their division but had the better record of the two remaining non-playoff National Conference teams, meaning that all teams in the Pacific Division made the playoffs.
Alignment Conference Division Teams American East Cleveland Gladiators, New Orleans VooDoo, Philadelphia Soul South Jacksonville Sharks, Orlando Predators, Tampa Bay Storm National Pacific Portland Thunder, San Jose SaberCats, Spokane Shock West Arizona Rattlers, Las Vegas Outlaws, Los Angeles Kiss
Regular season standings
Playoffs
Conference semifinals Conference Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap National August 14 11:00 p.m. EDT Portland Thunder 28–55 San Jose Sabercats SAP Center at San Jose American August 15 5:00 p.m. EDT Cleveland Gladiators 35–47 Philadelphia Soul Wells Fargo Center American August 15 7:30 p.m. EDT Jacksonville Sharks 55–33 Orlando Predators Amway Center National August 15 9:00 p.m. EDT Spokane Shock 41–72 Arizona Rattlers Talking Stick Resort Arena
Conference finals Conference Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap National August 22 8:00 p.m. EDT Arizona Rattlers 67–70 San Jose SaberCats Stockton Arena American August 23 5:00 p.m. EDT Jacksonville Sharks 61–56 Philadelphia Soul Wells Fargo Center
ArenaBowl XXVIII
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap August 29 7:00 p.m. EDT Jacksonville Sharks 47–68 San Jose SaberCats Stockton Arena
All-Arena team
OffensePositionFirst teamSecond teamQuarterbackDan Raudabaugh, PhiladelphiaErik Meyer, San JoseFullbackDerrick Ross, JacksonvilleTommy Taggart, PhiladelphiaWide receiverReggie Gray, San JoseDonovan Morgan, Los AngelesAnthony Jones, JacksonvilleRod Windsor, ArizonaJoe Hills, JacksonvilleMarco Thomas, PhiladelphiaCenterShannon Breen, PhiladelphiaJohn Collins, PortlandOffensive linemanMoqut Ruffins, JacksonvilleAdam Smith, PhiladelphiaRich Ranglin, San JosePatrick Afif, Spokane DefensePositionFirst teamSecond teamDefensive endJoe Sykes, JacksonvilleJames Ruffin, SpokaneMike McAdoo, ArizonaBryan Robinson, PhiladelphiaNose guardJason Stewart, San JoseWillie McGinnis, ClevelandMiddle linebackerTyre Glasper, ArizonaFrancis Maka, San JoseJack linebackerAlvin Ray Jackson, JacksonvilleTerence Moore, OrlandoDefensive backJeremy Kellem, ArizonaJames Romain, PhiladelphiaGreg Reid, JacksonvilleKen Fontenette, San JoseJames Harrell, Tampa BayRayshaun Kizer, Los Angeles Special teamsPositionFirst teamSecond teamKickerTommy Frevert, PhiladelphiaMark Lewis, OrlandoKick returnerDuane Brooks, PortlandBrandon Thompkins, Orlando
References