Arena_Football_League

context: The Arena Football League (AFL) is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster, making it the third longest-running professional football league in North America, after the Canadian Football League and the National Football League. It is played indoors on a 68-yard field (about half the distance of an NFL field), resulting in a faster-paced and higher-scoring game. The sport was invented in the early 1980s and patented by Foster, a former executive of the United States Football League and the National Football League.
qas: answers: 1987
question: When was the football league established?

answers: indoors
question: Where is football played?

answers: Arena Football League
question: What does AFL sand for?

answers: Jim Foster
question: Who founded The AFL?

answers: 1987
question: In what year was the AFL founded?

answers: 1980s
question: In what decade was AFL sport invented?

answers: Jim Foster
question: Who was the founder of the Arena Football League?

answers: 1987
question: What was the inaugural year of the AFL?

answers: third
question: Where does the Arena Football League rank amongst professional football leagues in North America by longevity?

answers: 68
question: In yards, how large is an arena football field?

answers: half
question: What fraction of the size of an NFL football field is an arena football field?

context: For its 2015 season, the league consisted of 12 teams, all from the United States; however, upon the completion of the regular season, the league announced that the two teams it had assumed operation of during the season would cease all operations effective immediately; a regular season game slated between the two had previously been canceled and declared a tie. Subsequently, one of the remaining teams, the Spokane Shock, severed its ties with the league to join the competing IFL. The AFL is divided into two conferences  –  the American Conference and National Conference. Starting 2016, each conference will have only four teams as the champion San Jose SaberCats announced in November 2015 that they were ceasing activity for "reasons not associated with League operations."
qas: answers: 12
question: How many teams were there in the 2015 season?

answers: 2
question: How many conferences does the AFL have?

answers: American Conference and National Conference
question: What are these conferences in the AFL named?

answers: San Jose SaberCats
question: Which team was the Champion in the 2015 season?

answers: 12
question: How many teams played in the Arena Football League in the 2015 season?

answers: Spokane Shock
question: What team left the AFL after the 2015 season to join another league?

answers: IFL
question: What league did the Spokane Shock join after the 2015 season?

answers: National Conference
question: Along with the American Conference, what is the other conference in the AFL?

answers: four
question: As of 2016, how many teams does each conference have?

context: The 2016 regular season consists of an 18-week schedule during which each team plays 16 games and two bye weeks. Each team plays two or three games against the teams within its own conference, and two games (home/road) against each team interconference-wise. The 2015 season started during the last week of March and ran weekly into late August. At the end of the regular season, all teams from each conference (the conference winner and three wild card teams) play in the AFL playoffs, an eight-team single-elimination tournament that culminates with the championship game, known as the ArenaBowl. From 1987 to 2004, 2010 and 2011 and again starting in 2014, the game was played at the site of the higher seeded team. From 2005 to 2008, the games were at neutral sites, Las Vegas and New Orleans. In 2012, the league championship returned to a neutral site and ArenaBowl XXV was held at the New Orleans Arena; ArenaBowl XXVI was held in Orlando. The 2016 season will begin April 1, 2016.
qas: answers: 16
question: As of 2016, how many regular season games does an AFL team play?

answers: 18-week
question: How long is the AFL regular season?

answers: March
question: In what month did the 2015 AFL season begin?

answers: August
question: What month did the 2015 AFL season end?

answers: ArenaBowl
question: What is the name of the AFL championship game?

context: From 2000 to 2009, the AFL had its own developmental league, the af2. The AFL played 22 seasons from 1987 to 2008; internal issues caused the league to cancel its 2009 season, though the af2 did play. Later that year both the AFL and af2 were dissolved and reorganized as a new corporation comprising teams from both leagues, and the AFL returned in 2010. The Arena Football League has its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
qas: answers: af2
question: What was the name of the AFL development league?

answers: 2000
question: When did the AFL development league begin?

answers: 1987
question: When was the first AFL season played?

answers: 2009
question: What Arena Football League season was cancelled?

answers: Chicago, Illinois
question: In what city and state is the Arena Football League based?

context: Jim Foster, a promotions manager with the National Football League, conceived of indoor football while watching an indoor soccer match at Madison Square Garden in 1981. While at the game, he wrote his idea on a 9x12 envelope, with sketches of the field and notes on gameplay. He presented the idea to a few friends at the NFL offices, where he received praise and encouragement for his concept. After solidifying the rules and a business plan, and supplemented with sketches by a professional artist, Foster presented his idea to various television networks. He reached an agreement with NBC for a "test game".
qas: answers: the National Football League
question: Who was Jim Foster's employer prior to his founding the Arena Football League?

answers: an indoor soccer match
question: What was Jim Foster viewing when he came up with the idea for arena football?

answers: Madison Square Garden
question: Where was Jim Foster when he came up with the idea for arena football?

answers: 1981
question: In what year did Jim Foster conceive of the idea of arena football?

answers: NBC
question: What television network agreed to broadcast an arena football test game?

context: Plans for arena football were put on hold in 1982 as the United States Football League was launched. Foster left the NFL to accept a position in the USFL. He eventually became executive vice-president with the Chicago Blitz, where he returned to his concept of arena football. In 1983, he began organizing the test game in his spare time from his job with the Blitz. By 1985, the USFL had ceased football operations and he began devoting all his time to arena football, and on April 27, 1986, his concept was realized when the test game was played.
qas: answers: the United States Football League
question: What football league began in 1982?

answers: Chicago Blitz
question: What team in the USFL did Jim Foster work for?

answers: 1985
question: When did the USFL shut down?

answers: April 27, 1986
question: On what date was the arena football test game played?

answers: executive vice-president
question: What was Foster's job title with the Chicago Blitz?

context: The test game was played in Rockford, Illinois, at the Rockford MetroCentre. Sponsors were secured, and players and coaches from local colleges were recruited to volunteer to play for the teams, the Chicago Politicians and Rockford Metros, with the guarantee of a tryout should the league take off. Interest was high enough following the initial test game that Foster decided to put on a second, "showcase", game. The second game was held on February 26, 1987 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago with a budget of $20,000, up from $4,000 in the test game. Foster also invited ESPN to send a film crew to the game; a highlights package aired on SportsCenter.
qas: answers: Rockford, Illinois
question: In what city and state did the arena football test game take place?

answers: Rockford MetroCentre
question: At what venue did the test game occur?

answers: Chicago Politicians
question: Along with the Rockford Metros, what was the name of the other team that played in the test game?

answers: February 26, 1987
question: On what date did the second test game take place?

answers: Rosemont Horizon
question: The second test game was played in what arena?

context: Following the successes of his trial-run games, Foster moved ahead with his idea for arena football. He founded the Arena Football League with four teams: the Pittsburgh Gladiators, Denver Dynamite, Washington Commandos, and Chicago Bruisers. Foster appointed legendary Darrel "Mouse" Davis, godfather of the "run and shoot" and modern pro offenses, as executive director of football operations. Davis hired the original coaches and was the architect of the league's original wide-open offensive playbooks.
qas: answers: four
question: How many teams did the Arena Football League originally have?

answers: Washington Commandos
question: Along with the Chicago Bruisers, Denver Dynamite and Pittsburgh Gladiators, what team was one of the original AFL teams?

answers: executive director of football operations
question: What was the title of Darrell Davis in the AFL?

answers: Mouse
question: What was Darrell Davis' nickname?

answers: Davis
question: Who was responsible for hiring the first coaches of the AFL teams?

context: The first game in Arena Football League history was played on June 19, 1987, between the Gladiators and Commandos at Pittsburgh Civic Arena in front of 12,117 fans. The game was deliberately not televised so that it could be analyzed and any follies and failures would not be subject to national public scrutiny. Following the inaugural game, tweaks and adjustments were made, and the first season continued. The Dynamite and Bruisers played in the first-ever televised AFL game the next night, on June 20, 1987, at the Rosemont Horizon in suburban Chicago on ESPN with Bob Rathbun and Lee Corso calling the play. The broadcast showed a short clip of the Commandos-Gladiators game. Each team played six games, two against each other team. The top two teams, Denver and Pittsburgh, then competed in the first-ever AFL championship game, ArenaBowl I.
qas: answers: June 19, 1987
question: On what date was the inaugural game of the AFL played?

answers: Gladiators
question: Along with the Commandos, who played in the first Arena Football League game?

answers: 12,117
question: How many spectators watched the first Arena Football League game?

answers: June 20, 1987
question: On what date was the first AFL game that aired on television?

answers: the Rosemont Horizon
question: At what venue did the first televised Arena Football League game occur?

context: On September 30, 1987, Foster filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to patent his invented sport. The patent application covered the rules of the game, specifically detailing the goalposts and rebound netting and their impact on gameplay. Foster's application was granted on March 27, 1990. The patent expired on September 30, 2007.
qas: answers: September 30, 1987
question: On what date did Foster apply for a patent on arena football?

answers: March 27, 1990
question: When did the United States Patent and Trademark Office grant Foster's patent?

answers: September 30, 2007
question: On what date was the expiration of Foster's patent?

answers: the United States Patent and Trademark Office
question: With whom did Foster file his patent?

context: From the 1987 season until the late 1990s, the most exposure the league would receive was on ESPN, which aired tape-delayed games, often well after midnight, and often edited to match the alloted time slot. The league received its first taste of wide exposure in 1998, when Arena Bowl XII was televised nationally as part of ABC's old Wide World of Sports.
qas: answers: ESPN
question: In 1987, what television station sometimes showed arena football games?

answers: midnight
question: In the early years of arena football, after what hour were games often aired?

answers: Arena Bowl XII
question: What AFL game was broadcast on ABC?

answers: 1998
question: In what year did ABC broadcast an Arena Football League game?

answers: Wide World of Sports
question: On what ABC program was an AFL game shown?

context: On Saturday, July 23, 1989, much of America learned of the AFL for an unintended reason, when the Pittsburgh Gladiators' head coach, Joe Haering, made football history by punching commissioner Jim Foster during a game with the Chicago Bruisers. The national media ran with the story, including a photo in USA Today. The game was played between the two teams in Sacramento's Arco Arena, as part of the AFL's 'Barnstorming America' tour. Foster had walked onto the field of play to mediate an altercation between the two teams when Haering, a former NFL assistant, punched him in the jaw. Haering was suspended without pay.
qas: answers: Joe Haering
question: Who was the coach of the Pittsburgh Gladiators in 1989?

answers: Saturday
question: What day of the week was July 23, 1989?

answers: Jim Foster
question: Who was the commissioner of the AFL in 1989?

answers: USA Today
question: What paper featured a photograph of the head coach of the Gladiators punching the commissioner of the AFL?

answers: Arco Arena
question: In what arena were the Gladiators playing the Bruisers on July 23, 1989?

context: One of the league's early success stories was the Detroit Drive. A primary team for some of the AFL's most highly regarded players, including George LaFrance and Gary and Alvin Rettig, as well as being a second career chance for quarterback Art Schlichter, the Drive regularly played before sold out crowds at Joe Louis Arena, and went to the ArenaBowl every year of their existence (1988–1993). The AFL's first dynasty came to an end when their owner, Mike Ilitch (who also owned Little Caesars Pizza and the Detroit Red Wings) bought the Detroit Tigers baseball team and sold the AFL team.
qas: answers: Detroit Drive
question: What team did Art Schlichter play for?

answers: Joe Louis Arena
question: Where did the Detroit Drive play their home games?

answers: 1988
question: In what year did the Drive go to their first Arena Bowl?

answers: Mike Ilitch
question: Who owned the Detroit Drive in this period?

answers: Detroit Tigers
question: What team did the owner of the Detroit Drive buy that led him to sell the Drive?

context: Although the Drive moved to Massachusetts for the 1994 season, the AFL had a number of other teams which it considered "dynasties", including the Tampa Bay Storm (the only team that has existed in some form for all twenty-eight contested seasons), their arch-rival the Orlando Predators, the now-defunct San Jose SaberCats of the present decade, and their rivals the Arizona Rattlers.
qas: answers: Massachusetts
question: Where did the Drive franchise relocate to?

answers: 1994
question: Before what season did the Drive move to a different state?

answers: Storm
question: What is the name of the AFL team based in Tampa Bay?

answers: Orlando Predators
question: What team is cited as a rival of the Tampa Bay franchise?

answers: San Jose SaberCats
question: What team was the rival of the Arizona Rattlers?

context: In 1993, the league staged its first All-Star Game in Des Moines, Iowa, the future home of the long-running Iowa Barnstormers, as a fundraiser for flood victims in the area. The National Conference defeated the American Conference 64–40 in front of a crowd of 7,189. The second Allstar game was in Oct. 2013, with two games, the first in Honolulu, Hawai'i, the second being in Beijing, China.
qas: answers: first All-Star Game
question: What notable event in the AFL first occurred in 1993?

answers: Des Moines, Iowa
question: In what city and state did the 1993 All-Star Game occur?

answers: Iowa Barnstormers
question: What AFL team would be based in Des Moines?

answers: American Conference
question: What conference lost the first All-Star Game?

answers: 64
question: How many points did the National Conference score in the first All-Star Game?

context: While some teams have enjoyed considerable on-field and even financial success, many teams in the history of the league have enjoyed little success either on or off of the field of play. There are a number of franchises which existed in the form of a number of largely-unrelated teams under numerous management groups until they folded (an example is the New York CityHawks whose owners transferred the team from New York to Hartford to become the New England Sea Wolves after two seasons, then after another two seasons were sold and became the Toronto Phantoms, who lasted another two seasons until folding). There are a number of reasons why these teams failed, including financially weak ownership groups, lack of deep financial support from some owners otherwise capable of providing it, lack of media exposure, and the host city's evident lack of interest in its team or the sport as a whole.
qas: answers: New England Sea Wolves
question: What team did the New York CityHawks become after moving to Hartford?

answers: Toronto
question: What city did the Sea Wolves move to?

answers: two
question: How many seasons were the CityHawks in New York?

answers: two seasons
question: How long did the Sea Wolves stay in Hartford?

answers: two
question: How many seasons did the Toronto Phantoms last?

context: The year 2000 brought heightened interest in the AFL. Then-St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, who was MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV, was first noticed because he played quarterback for the AFL's Iowa Barnstormers. While many sports commentators and fans continued to ridicule the league, Warner's story gave the league positive exposure, and it brought the league a new television deal with TNN, which, unlike ESPN, televised regular season games live. While it was not financially lucrative, it helped set the stage for what the league would become in the new millennium. Also, the year also brought a spin-off league, the AF2, intended to be a developmental league, comparable to the National Football League's NFL Europe. There was a lot of expansion in the 2000s. Expansion teams included the Austin Wranglers, Carolina Cobras, Los Angeles Avengers, Chicago Rush, Detroit Fury, Dallas Desperados, Colorado Crush, New Orleans VooDoo, Philadelphia Soul, Nashville Kats, Kansas City Brigade, New York Dragons and Utah Blaze. Some of these teams, including the Crush, Desperados, Kats, and VooDoo, were owned by the same group which owned the NFL teams in their host cities. The NFL purchased, but never exercised, an option to buy a major interest the AFL. Of all of these teams, only the Soul still compete in the AFL as of now.
qas: answers: Iowa Barnstormers
question: What AFL team did Kurt Warner play for?

answers: Super Bowl XXXIV
question: Kurt Warner was the Most Valuable Player in what Super Bowl?

answers: St. Louis Rams
question: What NFL team did Kurt Warner play for?

answers: TNN
question: What television network did the AFL sign a deal with in 2000?

answers: VooDoo
question: What was the name of the AFL team based in New Orleans?

context: In 2003, the season expanded to 16 games. There were also several rule changes in this period. In 2005, players were no longer allowed to run out of bounds. The only way for a player to go out of bounds presently is if he is tackled into or deliberately contacts the side boards. This was also the first year the ArenaBowl was played at a neutral site. In 2007, free substitution was allowed, ending the "iron man" era of one-platoon football. And in 2008, the "jack" linebacker was allowed to go sideboard to sideboard without being penalized for "illegal defense".
qas: answers: 16
question: How many games made up the AFL season in 2003?

answers: 2005
question: In what year did the rules first forbid players running out of bounds?

answers: 2005
question: In what year was the ArenaBowl first played at a neutral location?

answers: 2007
question: What year introduced the free substitution rule?

answers: 2008
question: What year saw a rules change that had an impact on the role of the "jack" linebacker?

context: After 12 years as commissioner of the AFL, David Baker retired unexpectedly on July 25, 2008, just two days before ArenaBowl XXII; deputy commissioner Ed Policy was named interim commissioner until Baker's replacement was found. Baker explained, "When I took over as commissioner, I thought it would be for one year. It turned into 12. But now it's time."
qas: answers: David Baker
question: Who was the commissioner of the Arena Football League for the first half of 2008?

answers: 12
question: For how many years did David Baker serve as commissioner of the AFL?

answers: July 25, 2008
question: On what date did Baker step down as commissioner of the AFL?

answers: ArenaBowl XXII
question: What Arena Football League event occurred two days after Baker's resignation?

answers: Ed Policy
question: Who temporarily served in the commissioner's post after Baker's departure?

context: In October 2008, Tom Benson announced that the New Orleans VooDoo were ceasing operations and folding "based on circumstances currently affecting the league and the team". Shortly thereafter, an article in Sports Business Journal announced that the AFL had a tentative agreement to sell a $100 million stake in the league to Platinum Equity; in exchange, Platinum Equity would create a centralized, single-entity business model that would streamline league and team operations and allow the league to be more profitable. Benson's move to shut down the VooDoo came during the Platinum Equity conference call, leading to speculation that he had folded because of the deal.
qas: answers: New Orleans VooDoo
question: What team shut down in October 2008?

answers: Tom Benson
question: Who made the announcement that the VooDoo were shutting down?

answers: Platinum Equity
question: What business wanted to buy a stake in the AFL?

answers: $100 million
question: How large a stake did Platinum Equity want to buy in the AFL?

answers: Sports Business Journal
question: What publication announced the Platinum Equity business deal?

context: Because of the sudden loss of the New Orleans franchise, the league announced in October that the beginning of the free agency period would be delayed in order to accommodate a dispersal draft. Dates were eventually announced as December 2 for the dispersal draft and December 4 for free agency, but shortly before the draft the league issued a press release announcing the draft had been postponed one day to December 3. Shortly thereafter, another press release announced that the draft would be held on December 9 and free agency would commence on December 11. However, the draft still never took place, and instead another press release was issued stating that both the draft and free agency had been postponed indefinitely. Rumors began circulating that the league was in trouble and on the verge of folding, but owners denied those claims. It was soon revealed the players' union had agreed to cut the salary cap for the 2009 season to prevent a total cessation of operations. However, the announced Platinum Equity investment never materialized.
qas: answers: December 2
question: On what date was the dispersal draft first scheduled to occur?

answers: December 3
question: To what date was the dispersal draft first delayed?

answers: December 9
question: After the second delay, when was the dispersal draft schedule to occur?

answers: December 4
question: When was free agency first scheduled to begin?

answers: December 11
question: When was free agency scheduled to begin after the delay?

context: Although the Arenafootball2 league played its tenth season in 2009, a conference call in December 2008 resulted in enough votes from owners and cooperation from the AFLPA for the AFL to suspend the entire 2009 season in order to create "a long-term plan to improve its economic model". In doing so, the AFL became the second sports league to cancel an entire season, after the National Hockey League cancelled the 2004-05 season because of a lockout. The AFL also became the third sports league to lose its postseason (the first being Major League Baseball, which lost its postseason in 1994 because of a strike). Efforts to reformat the league's business model were placed under the leadership of Columbus Destroyers owner Jim Renacci and interim commissioner Policy.
qas: answers: tenth
question: What numbered season did Arenafootball2 in 2009?

answers: December 2008
question: In what month and year was it decided to suspend the 2009 Arena Football League season?

answers: 2004-05
question: What National Hockey League season was cancelled?

answers: a lockout
question: What led the National Hockey League to cancel the 2004-2005 season?

answers: Jim Renacci
question: Who owned the Columbus Destroyers in 2008?

context: High hopes for the AFL waned when interim commissioner Ed Policy announced his resignation, citing the obsolescence of his position in the reformatted league. Two weeks later, the Los Angeles Avengers announced that they were formally folding the franchise. One month later, the league missed the deadline to formally ratify the new collective bargaining agreement and announced that it was eliminating health insurance for the players. Progress on the return stalled, and no announcements were made regarding the future of the league.
qas: answers: interim commissioner
question: What was the job title of Ed Policy?

answers: Los Angeles Avengers
question: After Ed Policy resigned, what franchise closed?

answers: Two
question: How many weeks after Policy's resignation did the Avengers fold?

answers: One month
question: How long after the shuttering of the Avengers did the league fail to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement?

answers: the obsolescence of his position in the reformatted league
question: What reason did Policy give for his resignation?

context: On July 20, 2009, Sports Business Journal reported that the AFL owed approximately $14 million to its creditors and were considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In early August 2009, numerous media outlets began reporting that the AFL was folding permanently and would file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The league released a statement on August 4 to the effect that while the league was not folding, it was suspending league operations indefinitely. Despite this, several of the league's creditors filed papers to force a Chapter 7 liquidation if the league did not do so voluntarily. This request was granted on August 7, though converted to a Chapter 11 reorganization on August 26.
qas: answers: July 20, 2009
question: On what date was it reported that the AFL was considering bankruptcy?

answers: Sports Business Journal
question: What publication reported that the Arena Football League was thinking about filing bankruptcy?

answers: $14 million
question: How much debt was the AFL reported to have as of July 20, 2009?

answers: Chapter 11
question: What type of bankruptcy was the league reportedly thinking about filing in July 2009?

answers: August 4
question: On what date did the AFL announce that it was not shutting down?

context: Following the suspension of the AFL's 2009 season, league officials and owners of af2 (which had played its season as scheduled) began discussing the future of arena football and the two leagues. With its 50.1 percent ownership of af2, the AFL's bankruptcy and dissolution prompted the dissolution of af2 as well. That league was formally considered disbanded on September 8, 2009, when no owner committed his or her team to the league's eleventh season by that deadline. For legal reasons, af2 league officials and owners agreed to form a new legal entity, Arena Football 1 (AF1), with former AFL teams the Arizona Rattlers and Orlando Predators joining the former af2.
qas: answers: 50.1
question: What percent of af2 was owned by the AFL?

answers: September 8, 2009
question: On what date was af2 regarded as disbanded?

answers: Arena Football 1
question: What legal entity was created by af2 league owners?

answers: Arizona Rattlers
question: Along with the Orlando Predators, what former Arena Football League team joined af2?

answers: 2009
question: What Arena Football League season was suspended?

context: All assets of the Arena Football League were put up for auction. On November 11, 2009, the new league announced its intention to purchase the entire assets of the former AFL; the assets included the team names and logos of all but one of the former AFL and af2 teams. The lone exception was that of the Dallas Desperados; Desperados owner Jerry Jones had purposely designed the Desperados' properties around those of the Dallas Cowboys, making the two inseparable. The auction occurred on November 25, 2009. The assets were awarded to Arena Football 1 on December 7, 2009, with a winning bid of $6.1 million.
qas: answers: Jerry Jones
question: Who owned the Dallas Desperados?

answers: November 11, 2009
question: When was an auction announced for the Arena Football League's assets?

answers: November 25, 2009
question: When did the auction for the Arena Football League's assets take place?

answers: Arena Football 1
question: Who won the auction for the AFL's assets?

answers: $6.1 million
question: What was the purchase price for the Arena Football League's assets?

context: On February 17, 2010, AF1 announced it would use the "Arena Football League" name. The league announced plans for the upcoming season and details of its contract with NFL Network to broadcast AFL games in 2010. AF1 teams were given the option of restoring historical names to their teams. In addition to the historical teams, the league added two new expansion franchises, the Dallas Vigilantes and the Jacksonville Sharks.
qas: answers: February 17, 2010
question: On what date did AF1 announce that it would be called the Arena Football League?

answers: NFL Network
question: What television network was contracted to show Arena Football League games in 2010?

answers: two
question: How many expansion teams were announced in 2010?

answers: Jacksonville Sharks
question: Along with the Dallas Vigilantes, what expansion team was announced in 2010?

context: For the 2011 season, the Philadelphia Soul, Kansas City Brigade, San Jose SaberCats, New Orleans VooDoo, and the Georgia Force returned to the AFL after having last played in 2008. However, the Grand Rapids Rampage, Colorado Crush, Columbus Destroyers, Los Angeles Avengers, and the New York Dragons did not return. The league added one expansion team, the Pittsburgh Power. Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann was one of the team's owners. It was the first time the AFL returned to Pittsburgh since the Pittsburgh Gladiators were an original franchise in 1987 before becoming the Tampa Bay Storm. The Brigade changed its name to the Command, becoming the Kansas City Command. Even though they were returning teams, the Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings moved to New Orleans as the Voodoo, the identity formerly owned by New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson. The Alabama Vipers moved to Duluth, Georgia to become the new Georgia Force (the earlier franchise of that name being a continuation of the first Nashville Kats franchise). On October 25, 2010 the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz did not return. The Milwaukee Iron also changed names to the Milwaukee Mustangs, the name of Milwaukee's original AFL team that had existed from 1994 to 2001.
qas: answers: San Jose SaberCats
question: Along with the New Orleans VooDoo, Kansas City Brigade, Philadelphia Soul and Georgia Force, what former team returned for the 2011 season?

answers: New York Dragons
question: Along with the Grand Rapids Rampage, Colorado Crush, Columbus Destroyers and Los Angeles Avengers, what team did not return for the 2011 season?

answers: Pittsburgh Power
question: What expansion team joined the league in 2011?

answers: Pittsburgh Steelers
question: For what NFL team did Lynn Swann play?

answers: Pittsburgh Gladiators
question: What was the former name of the Tampa Bay Storm?

context: In 2012, the AFL celebrated its silver anniversary for its 25th season of operations. The season kicked off on March 9, 2012. The Tulsa Talons moved to San Antonio, Texas and Jeffrey Vinik became owner of the Tampa Bay Storm. The Dallas Vigilantes were left off the schedule for the 2012 season with no announcement from the management, raising speculations that either the team had suspended operations for the season or was ceasing operations altogether. (Apparently the latter was the case as the organization did not field a team for the 2013 season or any subsequent one either.) Like the National Football League, the AFL postponed the free agency period to October 31 due to Hurricane Sandy.
qas: answers: 25th
question: What anniversary did the Arena Football League celebrate in 2012?

answers: March 9, 2012
question: What was the first day of the 2015 AFL season?

answers: San Antonio
question: To what city did the Tulsa Talons relocate?

answers: Jeffrey Vinik
question: Who bought the Tampa Bay Storm in 2012?

answers: Hurricane Sandy
question: What event resulted in the postponement of the AFL free agency period?

context: It was announced on December 12, 2012, that the AFL reached a partnership agreement with NET10 Wireless to be the first non-motorsports-related professional sports league in the United States to have a title sponsor, renaming it the NET10 Wireless Arena Football League. The redesigned website showed the new logo which incorporated the current AFL logo with the one from NET10 Wireless. The title sponsorship agreement ended in 2014 after a two-year partnership.
qas: answers: December 12, 2012
question: On what date did the AFL announce its title sponsorship deal?

answers: NET10 Wireless
question: What business was the title sponsor of the AFL?

answers: NET10 Wireless Arena Football League
question: What was the league renamed after the title sponsorship deal?

answers: 2014
question: When did the AFL title sponsorship deal come to an end?

answers: two
question: How many years did the AFL title sponsorship deal last?

context: In 2013, the league expanded with the addition of two new franchises to play in 2014, the Los Angeles Kiss (owned by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the legendary rock band Kiss) and the Portland Thunder.
qas: answers: Kiss
question: What was the name of the Los Angeles-based team added in 2013?

answers: Gene Simmons
question: Along with Paul Stanley, who owned the Los Angeles Kiss?

answers: Portland Thunder
question: Other than the Los Angeles Kiss, what expansion team entered in the league in 2013?

answers: Kiss
question: Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are members of what musical group?

context: In 2014, the league announced the granting of a new franchise to former Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil, previously part-owner of the Jacksonville Sharks. That franchise, the Las Vegas Outlaws, were originally to play in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2015, but instead played their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center, previous home to the Las Vegas Sting and Las Vegas Gladiators. After 20 years as a familiar name to the league, an AFL mainstay, the Iowa Barnstormers, departed the league to join the Indoor Football League. The San Antonio Talons folded on October 13, 2014, after the league (which owned the team) failed to find a new owner. On November 16, 2014, despite a successful season record-wise, the Pittsburgh Power became the second team to cease operations after the 2014 season. This resulted from poor attendance. It was later announced by the league that the Power would go dormant for 2015 and were looking for new ownership.
qas: answers: Mötley Crüe
question: What band was Vince Neil a part of?

answers: Outlaws
question: What was the name of the Las Vegas team owned by Vince Neil?

answers: MGM Grand Garden Arena
question: What was the original intended home field of the Las Vegas Outlaws?

answers: the Thomas & Mack Center
question: Where did the Outlaws play their home games?

answers: Las Vegas Sting
question: Along with the Las Vegas Gladiators, what prior AFL team played its home games at the Thomas & Mack Center?

context: Jerry Kurz also stepped down as commissioner of the AFL as he was promoted to be the AFL's first president. Former Foxwoods CEO Scott Butera was hired as his successor as commissioner.
qas: answers: Jerry Kurz
question: Who was the first president of the AFL?

answers: commissioner
question: What was Jerry Kurz's job title prior to being president of the AFL?

answers: Scott Butera
question: Who became commissioner of the AFL after Jerry Kurz?

answers: Foxwoods
question: Where did Scott Butera work prior to becoming AFL commissioner?

answers: CEO
question: What was Scott Butera's job title prior to becoming AFL commissioner?

context: On August 9, 2015, ESPN reported that the New Orleans VooDoo and Las Vegas Outlaws had ceased operations, effective immediately, a claim which was subsequently validated on the AFL website. On September 1, 2015, the Spokane Shock officially left the AFL and joined the IFL under the new name Spokane Empire, becoming the fifth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since bankruptcy (Iowa Barnstormers, Tri-Cities Fever, Green Bay Blizzard and Arkansas Twisters—now the Texas Revolution—left previously).
qas: answers: August 9, 2015
question: On what date was it reported that the Las Vegas Outlaws were shutting down?

answers: ESPN
question: Who first reported the closure of the New Orleans VooDoo?

answers: September 1, 2015
question: On what date did the Spokane Shock leave the AFL?

answers: IFL
question: What rival league did the Spokane Shock join?

answers: Spokane Empire
question: What was the name of the Spokane Shock after they joined the IFL?

context: Rumors began swirling with regards to bringing the AFL back to Austin and San Antonio, Texas. Both cities have hosted franchises in the past (Austin Wranglers, San Antonio Force and San Antonio Talons), but an AFL spokesman, BJ Pickard, was quoted as saying, "News to me." Announcements have yet to be made on any sort of expansion plans. An expected "big announcement" on Friday, October 30 at a San Antonio Spurs game never came to fruition.
qas: answers: Friday
question: What day of the week was October 30, 2015?

answers: San Antonio Spurs
question: At what team's game was an announcement by the AFL supposed to happen on October 30?

answers: BJ Pickard
question: Who worked as an AFL spokesman during this period?

answers: Austin Wranglers
question: What prior AFL franchise was based in Austin?

answers: San Antonio Force
question: Along with the San Antonio Talons, what AFL franchise did San Antonio host at one time?

context: On November 12, the league announced the defending champion San Jose SaberCats would be ceasing operations due to "reasons unrelated to League operations". A statement from the league indicated that the AFL is working to secure new, long-term owners for the franchise. This leaves the AFL with eight teams for 2016.
qas: answers: San Jose SaberCats
question: Who were the defending champions of the Arena Football League?

answers: November 12
question: When was it announced that the SaberCats would be shutting down?

answers: reasons unrelated to League operations
question: What was the reason given for the closing of the SaberCats?

answers: eight
question: How many AFL teams are operating as of 2016?

context: On January 6, 2016, the league took over "ownership and operational control" of the Portland Thunder from its previous owners. The AFL stated this move was made after months of trying work out an arrangement "to provide financial and operational support." On February 3, 2016, it was announced that the franchise will start from scratch and no longer be called the "Thunder" as the name and trademarks belong to former franchise owner Terry Emmert (similar to the Jerry Jones move with the Desperados). AFL commissioner Scott Butera announced that a new identity will be announced at a later date.
qas: answers: January 6, 2016
question: On what date did the AFL take control of one of its teams?

answers: Portland Thunder
question: What team did the league take control of?

answers: Terry Emmert
question: Who owned the trademark to the Portland Thunder?

answers: Jerry Jones
question: Who owned the Desperados trademarks?

answers: Scott Butera
question: Who is commissioner of the Arena Football League?

context: The league's 2016 schedule, announced on the league's website on December 10, 2015, shows an eight-team league playing a 16-game regular season over 18 weeks, with two bye weeks for each team, one on a rotational basis and the other a "universal bye" for all teams during the Independence Day weekend, the first weekend in July. All teams will qualify for the postseason, meaning that the regular season will serve only to establish seeding.
qas: answers: December 10, 2015
question: On what date did the league announce its schedule for 2016?

answers: eight
question: How many teams are active in the AFL for 2016?

answers: 16
question: How many regular season games will each team play in 2016?

answers: 18
question: How many weeks will the 2016 regular season last?

answers: Independence Day
question: On the weekend of what holiday will all teams have a bye?

context: From the league's inception through ArenaBowl XVIII, the championship game was played at the home of the highest-seeded remaining team. The AFL then switched to a neutral-site championship, with ArenaBowls XIX and XX in Las Vegas. New Orleans Arena, home of the New Orleans VooDoo, served as the site of ArenaBowl XXI on July 29, 2007. This was the first professional sports championship to be staged in the city since Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. The San Jose SaberCats earned their third championship in six years by defeating the Columbus Destroyers 55–33. ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans was deemed a success, and the city was chosen to host ArenaBowl XXII, in which the Philadelphia Soul defeated the defending champion San Jose Sabercats. In 2010, the location returned to being decided by which of the two participating teams was seeded higher. In ArenaBowl XXIII, the Spokane Shock defeated the Tampa Bay Storm at their home arena, Spokane Arena, in Spokane, Washington. In ArenaBowl XXIV, the Jacksonville Sharks, coming off of a victory in their conference final game four nights earlier, traveled to US Airways Center in Phoenix and defeated the Arizona Rattlers 73–70. ArenaBowl XXV returned to a neutral site and was once again played in New Orleans, where the Rattlers returned and defeated the Philadelphia Soul. Since 2014 the ArenaBowl has been played at the higher-seeded team.
qas: answers: Las Vegas
question: Where did ArenaBowl XX take place?

answers: New Orleans Arena
question: What arena was ArenaBowl XXI played in?

answers: July 29, 2007
question: On what date was ArenaBowl XXI played?

answers: August 2005
question: In what month and year did Hurricane Katrina occur?

answers: San Jose SaberCats
question: What team won ArenaBowl XXI?

context: The practice of playing one or two preseason exhibition games by each team before the start of the regular season was discontinued when the NBC contract was initiated, and the regular season was extended from 14 games, the length that it had been since 1996, to 16 from 2001 to 2010, and since 2016. From 2011 to 2015, the regular season league expanded to 18 games, with each team having two bye weeks and the option of two preseason games.
qas: answers: NBC
question: A contract with what television network led to the discontinuation of exhibition games in the preseason?

answers: 14
question: How many games was the regular season in 1996?

answers: 16
question: How many games were played in the 2001 regular season?

answers: 18
question: How many games long was the 2011 regular season?

answers: 16
question: How many games will each team play in the 2016 regular season?

context: In August 2012, the AFL announced a new project into China, known as the China American Football League. The CAFL project is headed up by ESPN NFL analyst and Philadelphia Soul majority owner president Ron Jaworski. The plans were to establish a six-team league that would play a 10-week schedule that was slated to start in October 2014. The AFL coaches and trainers will travel to China to help teach the rules of the sport to squads made up of Chinese and American players with the goal of starting an official Chinese arena league. Ganlan Media International were given exclusive rights to the new Chinese league.
qas: answers: the China American Football League
question: What league did the AFL found in China?

answers: August 2012
question: When was the AFL's China project announced?

answers: Ron Jaworski
question: Who is leading the China American Football League?

answers: ESPN
question: What television network does Ron Jaworski work for?

answers: Philadelphia Soul
question: What team is Ron Jaworski the majority owner of?

context: AFL Global and Ganlan Media were created in 2012 by businessman Martin E. Judge, founder and owner of the Judge Group. The company, called AFL Global, LLC, looks to introduce and launch professional Arena Football teams and franchises in various locations throughout the world (like NFL Europe). After their successful trip to China to help promote the game, they formally announced plans to further develop AFL China by the fall of 2014 by starting a comprehensive training program in May 2013 with exhibition games planned for the cities of Beijing and Guangzhou in October. This is the first time professional football of any kind will be played in China with the support of the Chinese government and the CRFA (Chinese Rugby Football Association). Key persons involved include founder and CEO. Martin E. Judge, partner Ron Jaworski, CAFL CEO Gary Morris and president David Niu. Ganlan Media has since dropped this name and will carry the league's name as its corporate identity.
qas: answers: Martin E. Judge
question: Who created Ganlan Media?

answers: the Judge Group
question: What company is Martin Judge the founder of?

answers: 2012
question: In what year was AFL Global created?

answers: October
question: In what month was an exhibition game planned for Guangzhou?

answers: Gary Morris
question: Who is the Chief Executive Officer of the China American Football League?

context: The 2014 scheduled beginning proved to be too ambitious for the group; its official website now cites an anticipated beginning of professional play in 2016 and shows photos from a six-team collegiate tournament staged in early November, 2015
qas: answers: 2016
question: When does the CAFL plan on start its first season?

answers: 2014
question: When was the abortive first CAFL season supposed to have taken place?

answers: six
question: How many teams participated in the 2015 CAFL tournament?

answers: November
question: In what month did the CAFL tournament occur?

context: Beginning with the 2003 season, the AFL made a deal with NBC to televise league games, which was renewed for another two years in 2005. In conjunction with this, the league moved the beginning of the season from May to February (the week after the NFL's Super Bowl) and scheduled most of its games on Sunday instead of Friday or Saturday as it had in the past. In 2006, because of the XX Winter Olympic Games, the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Daytona 500, NBC scaled back from weekly coverage to scattered coverage during the regular season, but committed to a full playoff schedule ending with the 20th ArenaBowl. NBC and the Arena Football League officially severed ties on June 30, 2006, having failed to reach a new broadcast deal. Las Vegas owner Jim Ferraro stated during a radio interview that the reason why a deal failed is because ESPN refused to show highlights or even mention a product being broadcast on NBC.
qas: answers: May
question: In what month did the AFL season originally begin?

answers: February
question: After the TV deal, when was the start of the AFL season moved to?

answers: Friday or Saturday
question: What days were AFL games traditionally played on before the TV deal?

answers: Sunday
question: When were most of the AFL's games played after the TV deal?

answers: June 30, 2006
question: On what date did the business relationship between the AFL and NBC end?

context: On December 19, 2006, ESPN announced the purchase of a minority stake in the AFL. This deal included television rights for the ESPN family of networks. ESPN would televise a minimum of 17 regular season games, most on Monday nights, and nine playoff games, including ArenaBowl XXI on ABC. The deal resulted in added exposure on ESPN's SportsCenter. However, after the original AFL filed for bankruptcy, this arrangement did not carry over to the new AFL, which is a separate legal entity.
qas: answers: December 19, 2006
question: On what date did ESPN buy a minority share of the AFL?

answers: 17
question: At minimum, how many regular season games did the AFL agree to broadcast?

answers: Monday
question: On what day would most of the games televised on the ESPN networks be played?

answers: ABC
question: What network broadcast ArenaBowl XXI?

answers: nine
question: Under the deal, how many AFL playoff games did ESPN broadcast each year?

context: The AFL also had a regional-cable deal with FSN, where FSN regional affiliates in AFL markets carried local team games. In some areas, such as with the Arizona Rattlers, Fox Sports affiliates still carry the games.
qas: answers: Fox Sports
question: Affiliates of what network broadcast Arizona Rattlers games?

answers: FSN
question: What cable network did the AFL sign a regional contract with?

context: After its return in 2010, the AFL had its national television deal with the NFL Network for a weekly Friday night game. All AFL games not on the NFL Network could be seen for free online, provided by Ustream.
qas: answers: 2010
question: After a hiatus, in what year did the AFL begin operations again?

answers: NFL Network
question: What cable television network signed a broadcast deal with the AFL in 2010?

answers: Friday
question: On what day would AFL games be shown on NFL Network?

answers: Ustream
question: What streaming service broadcast AFL games that were not on NFL Network?

answers: free
question: What was the cost to watch AFL games on Ustream?

context: The NFL Network ceased airing Arena Football League games partway through the 2012 season as a result of ongoing labor problems within the league. Briefly, the games were broadcast on a tape delay to prevent the embarrassment that would result should the players stage a work stoppage immediately prior to a scheduled broadcast. (In at least once incidence this actually happened, resulting in a non-competitive game being played with replacement players, and further such incidents were threatened.) Once the labor issues were resolved, the NFL Network resumed the practice of broadcasting a live Friday night game. NFL Network dropped the league at the end of the 2012 season.
qas: answers: 2012
question: In what year did AFL games temporarily cease to be broadcast on NFL Network?

answers: ongoing labor problems
question: Why did the temporary cessation of game broadcasts occur?

answers: the labor issues were resolved
question: Why did the NFL Network begin to broadcast games again?

answers: Friday
question: On what day was an AFL game broadcast live on NFL Network?

answers: night
question: At what time of day was an AFL game shown on Fridays on NFL Network?

context: For the 2013 season, the league's new national broadcast partner was the CBS Sports Network. CBSSN would air 19 regular season games and two playoff games. CBS would also air the ArenaBowl, marking the first time since 2008 that the league's finale aired on network television. Regular season CBSSN broadcast games are usually on Saturday nights. As the games are being shown live, the start times are not uniform as with most football broadcast packages, but vary with the time zone in which the home team is located. This means that the AFL may appear either prior to or following the CBSSN's featured Major League Lacrosse game.
qas: answers: CBS Sports Network
question: Who was the AFL's 2013 national broadcast partner?

answers: 19
question: How many regular season games were shown by CBS Sports Network in 2013?

answers: two
question: How many 2013 playoff games did CBSSN broadcast?

answers: CBS
question: On what channel was the 2013 ArenaBowl broadcast?

answers: Saturday
question: In 2013, on what day were Arena Football League games usually broadcast on CBS Sports Network?

context: Starting in 2014, ESPN returned to the AFL as broadcast partners, with weekly games being shown on CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS along with all games being broadcast on ESPN3 for free live on WatchESPN. ArenaBowl XXVII was also broadcast on ESPN. Most teams also have a local TV station broadcast their games locally and all games are available on local radio.
qas: answers: ESPN
question: Who was the Arena Football League's 2014 broadcast partner?

answers: WatchESPN
question: What app were Arena Football League games broadcast on in 2014?

answers: CBS Sports Network
question: Along with the ESPN networks, on what network were 2014 AFL games broadcast?

answers: ESPN
question: On what channel could one watch ArenaBowl XXVII live?

context: The first video game based on the AFL was Arena Football for the C-64 released in 1988. On May 18, 2000, Kurt Warner's Arena Football Unleashed was released by Midway Games for the PlayStation game console. On February 7, 2006 EA Sports released Arena Football for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. EA Sports released another AFL video game, titled Arena Football: Road to Glory, on February 21, 2007, for the PlayStation 2.
qas: answers: Arena Football
question: What was the first Arena Football League video game?

answers: the C-64
question: For what system was the first Arena Football League video game released?

answers: 1988
question: In what year was the first Arena Football League video game released?

answers: May 18, 2000
question: On what date was Kurt Warner's Arena Football Unleashed released?

answers: Midway Games
question: Who made Kurt Warner's Arena Football Unleashed?

context: In 2001, Jeff Foley published War on the Floor: An Average Guy Plays in the Arena Football League and Lives to Write About It. The book details a journalist's two preseasons (1999 and 2000) as an offensive specialist/writer with the now-defunct Albany Firebirds. The 5-foot-6 (170 cm), self-described "unathletic writer" played in three preseason games and had one catch for −2 yards.
qas: answers: Jeff Foley
question: Who wrote War on the Floor: An Average Guy Plays in the Arena Football League and Lives to Write About It?

answers: 2001
question: In what year was War on the Floor released?

answers: Albany Firebirds
question: What team did Jeff Foley play for?

answers: three
question: How many games did Jeff Foley play in?

answers: 2000
question: Along with 1999, in what preseason did Foley play for the Firebirds? 

context: The AFL currently runs as under the single-entity model, with the league owning the rights to the teams, players, and coaches. The single-entity model was adopted in 2010 when the league emerged from bankruptcy. Prior to that, the league followed the franchise model more common in North American professional sports leagues; each team essentially operated as its own business and the league itself was a separate entity which in exchange for franchise fees paid by the team owners provided rules, officials, scheduling and the other elements of organizational structure. A pool of money is allotted to teams to aid in travel costs.
qas: answers: 2010
question: In what year did the AFL begin operating under the single-entity model?

answers: the league
question: Who owns the rights to the players under the single-entity model?

answers: franchise model
question: What model of ownership is commonly used in American professional sports?

context: Average attendance for AFL games were around 10,000–11,000 per game in the 1990s, though during the recession connected to the dot-com bubble and the September 11, 2001 attacks average attendance dropped below 10,000 for several years. From the start of the 2004 season until the final season of the original league in 2008, average attendance was above 12,000, with 12,392 in 2007. Eleven of the seventeen teams in operation in 2007 had average attendance figures over 13,000. In 2008, the overall attendance average increased to 12,957, with eight teams exceeding 13,000 per game.
qas: answers: 10,000–11,000
question: What was the normal per game attendance of AFL games in the 1990s?

answers: the September 11, 2001 attacks
question: Along with the recession, what event is held to have decreased per-game attendance below 10,000?

answers: 12,392
question: What was the average per-game attendance in 2007?

answers: 12,957
question: In 2008, what was the average attendance for an AFL game?

answers: eight
question: During the 2008 season, how many teams averaged more than 13,000 spectators per game?

context: In 2010, the first year of the reconstituted league following bankruptcy, the overall attendance average decreased to 8,135, with only one team (Tampa Bay) exceeding 13,000 per game.
qas: answers: 8,135
question: What was the AFL's average per-game attendance in 2010?

answers: one
question: In the 2010 season, how many teams drew an average of more than 13,000 fans per game?

answers: Tampa Bay
question: What team drew more than 13,000 fans per game in 2010?