NAL Announces it's 2022 Schedule

Fifth Season to Kick Off April 23

ATLANTA, GA – The National Arena League announced today it’s official schedule for the 2022 season including it’s regular season games followed by it’s postseason schedule. The NAL’s fifth season will feature six teams including five returning NAL franchises the Albany Empire, Carolina Cobras, Columbus Lions, Jacksonville Sharks, and Orlando Predators. The league’s latest expansion franchise, the San Antonio Gunslingers, will be joining in on the action for their National Arena League debut. The 2022 season will also mark the NAL’s launch of ironman football, an original & exciting form of arena football. The new rules will have the majority of the players playing dual positions, meaning they will play on both the offensive & defensive side of the ball each game.

This season will feature 14 weeks of regular season play and one playoff weekend, which will be followed by the 2022 NAL championship. The league will continue to use it’s four team playoffs system advancing the top four teams with the top two seeds earning home field advantage. Winners of both playoff games will advance to the 2022 NAL Championship, with the highest seeded winner hosting the NAL’s fifth championship game in league history. 

“We are excited to return for our 5th season and the return of Ironman football,” said NAL Commissioner Chris Siegfried. “We are equally happy to add the San Antonio Gunslingers to our roster of teams. San Antonio is a great city, and I look forward to seeing the product they put on the field in 2022.”  Siegfried went on to discuss the rule change, “as for Ironman, it has been a long time coming for the return of the two-way player. This is how the Arena game was meant to be played, and we believe the fans and players will embrace the “new” rule for 2022.  Further, I have been flooded with calls and texts from some former arena greats, both players and coaches, expressing their enthusiasm for bringing back the two-way player. 2022 looks to be the best yet for the NAL.”   

The league will kick off the 2022 season with a three game matchup on Saturday, April 23. The entire 2022 NAL Schedule can be found below. For any questions about the 2022 NAL season please contact media@nationalarenaleague.com .

2022 NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE SCHEDULE

WEEK 1
Sat. April 23 - Jacksonville @ Albany
Sat. April 23 - Carolina @ Columbus
Sat. April 23 - Orlando @ San Antonio

WEEK 2
Sat. April 30 - Orlando @ Carolina
Sat. April 30 - Columbus @ Jacksonville

BYE: San Antonio, Albany

WEEK 3
Sat. May 7 - Jacksonville @ Carolina
Sat. May 7 - Albany @ Orlando 
Mon. May 9 - Columbus @ San Antonio

WEEK 4 
Sat. May 14 - Albany @ Jacksonville
Sun. May 15 - Columbus @ Orlando
Sun. May 15 - San Antonio @ Carolina

WEEK 5
Sat. May 21 - Carolina @ Albany
Sun. May 22 - Jacksonville @ San Antonio

BYE: Columbus, Orlando 

WEEK 6 
Sat. May 28 - San Antonio @ Columbus  
Sat. May 28 - Albany @ Orlando 
Sat. May 28 - Jacksonville @ Carolina 

WEEK 7 
Fri. June 3 - San Antonio @ Jacksonville
Fri. June 3 - Carolina @ Orlando
Sun. June 5 -  Columbus @ Albany 

WEEK 8 
Fri. June 10 - Orlando @ Columbus
Sat. June 11 - Albany @ San Antonio
Sat. June 11 - Carolina @ Jacksonville 

WEEK 9 
Fri. June 17 - Jacksonville @ Columbus
Fri. June 17 - San Antonio @ Orlando
Sat. June 18 - Albany @ Carolina 

WEEK 10
Fri. June 24 - Columbus @ Jacksonville 
Sat. June 25 - Carolina @ San Antonio
Sun. June 26 - Orlando @ Albany

WEEK 11 
Fri. July 1 - Jacksonville @ Orlando 
Sat. July 2 - Columbus @ Carolina

BYE: Albany, San Antonio

WEEK 12
Fri. July 8 - Albany @ Columbus
Sat. July 9 - Orlando @ San Antonio 
Sat. July 9 - Carolina @ Jacksonville

WEEK 13 
Sat. July 16 - San Antonio @ Carolina
Sat. July 16 - Jacksonville @ Albany 

BYE: Orlando, Columbus

WEEK 14
Sat. July 23 - Carolina @ Columbus
Sat. July 23 - Orlando @ Jacksonville
Sat. July 23 - San Antonio @ Albany

NAL PLAYOFFS 
Sat. July 30 - TBD @ TBD

Sat. July 30 - TBD @ TBD

NAL Championship 
Sat. August 13 - TBD @ TBD

ABOUT NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE

The National Arena League was founded in 2016 and hosted its inaugural season in 2017 as the premier league in arena football. For more information regarding expansion opportunities or partnerships, contact Commissioner Chris Siegfried at chris@nationalarenaleague.com . For more information about the NAL visit www.nationalarenaleague.com, facebook.com/nationalarenaleauge, twitter.com/NALfootball, Instagram.com/nationalarenaleague.