Shock open with road trips
The Spokane Shock will open the 2013 Arena Football League season with three consecutive road games, beginning with Cleveland on Sunday, March 24.
Spokane, 10-8 last season in coach Andy Olson’s first year, visits Chicago in Week 2 and Iowa in Week 3. The Shock’s home opener will be Friday, April, 12, against defending AFL champion Arizona.
Spokane is planning on remaining in the Midwest for the first three weeks, busing from one game to the next instead of flying back and forth to Spokane, to save on travel costs.
Spokane’s bye will come in Week 15.
AFL TV deal
The AFL has signed a two-year agreement with the CBS Sports Network after spending the last two seasons on NFL Network. The game of the week will move from Friday to Saturday and will air in prime time. The TV schedule will be released later.
CBS Sports Network will televise 19 regular-season games and two playoff games. CBS will air the ArenaBowl XXVI on Saturday, August 17, at 10 a.m. Pacific.
“One of the many noteworthy aspects of this partnership is that we will have an increased ability to showcase our West Coast teams,” commissioner Jerry Kurz said.
“Closing the season with ArenaBowl XXVI on CBS is something that our millions of fans can look forward to with great anticipation.”
| March 24 | at Cleveland | 10 a.m. |
| March 31 | at Chicago | 1 p.m. |
| April 5 | at Iowa | 5:05 p.m. |
| April 12 | Arizona | 7 p.m. |
| April 19 | at San Jose | 7:30 p.m. |
| April 27 | Tampa Bay | 7 p.m. |
| May 4 | at Utah | 6 p.m. |
| May 11 | Orlando | 7 p.m. |
| May 17 | New Orleans | 7 p.m. |
| May 24 | at San Antonio | 5:30 p.m. |
| June 1 | San Jose | 7 p.m. |
| June 8 | Jacksonville | 7 p.m. |
| June 15 | at Arizona | 6 p.m. |
| June 21 | Utah | 7 p.m. |
| July 6 | at Tampa Bay | 4:30 p.m. |
| July 13 | at Jacksonville | 4 p.m. |
| July 19 | San Antonio | 7 p.m. |
| July 26 | Pittsburgh | 7 p.m. |