Arena Football Returns with Eight Home Games at the St. Pete Times Forum

TAMPA BAY – The Five-Time World Champion Tampa Bay Storm announced its schedule for the2010 Arena Football League season today, Head Coach and General Manager Tim Marcum announced.

“The release of the full season schedule today puts us that much closer to kicking off the 2010 season and getting the Storm back in their rightful place; in front of its fans,” Marcum said. “With a good number of our former players (including quarterback Brett Dietz) returning and the excitement of a new season, our fans should expect a better product than ever. We can’t wait to get started.”

The Storm will open the season in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in a match-up with the Tulsa Talons on Saturday, April 3 before having a bye week in Week 2. They will open their 2010 home schedule on Friday, April 16 against former AFL rivals, the Dallas Vigilantes. The War on I-4, the AFL’s most storied rivalry, will hit Amway Arena in Orlando on Saturday, May 29 before the Storm and their bitter rival, the Orlando Predators, collide at the St. Pete Times Forum on July 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Storm’s final regular season game.

In all, the Storm will play 16 games during an 18-week schedule with eight being played within the confines of the St. Pete Times Forum. They will have their bye weeks in Week 2 and Week 8. Tampa Bay will play four of their final six games at the St. Pete Times Forum. Conversely, they will play four of five games on the road from Weeks 7-12.

The Storm are universally recognized as one of the leading teams in the Arena Football League, setting numerous attendance records in its 22 years. The team won world championships in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 2003, winning the last championship in front of a sell-out crowd of 20,496 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Fans can place a $25 deposit on season ticket for the 2010 Tampa Bay Storm season by calling 813 301 6600. Season ticket prices will be significantly lower in all seating areas for 2010 than they were in 2008, some by as much as 50%. A new, family-friendly indoor tailgate area will be added to the St. Pete Times Forum for Storm fans.

Fans should look for several exciting announcements from the team on a regular basis, including special promotions and tickets offers for former Storm season ticket holders. Those former season ticket holders will receive priority seating. The Storm intends to re-launch tampabaystorm.com shortly.