Arena Football Returning to West Michigan

It looks as if Arena Football will be returning to the West Michigan area. It may all be  happening in Muskegon, with the announcement that a team will be coming to the Lakeshore this spring.

The team doesn't have a name yet, so the community is being given the opportunity to name the team. West Michigan native, current Los Angeles based sports & entertainment attorney and Muskegon All-Star Classic Founder, Terrence (TJ) Williams has secured the rights to bring a team to West Michigan as a member of the American Indoor Football League (AIF). The AIF is the largest, and longest continuously running, arena football league in the country. The league is comprised of 21 teams, with a national geographic footprint.

The West Michigan team will kick off in the spring of 2016 with a name given to it by the community. Williams, who will act as team owner and President of Operations, has launched a Name-the-team contest allowing the public to vote on their favorite idea for the team name, saying, “It is important for the community to name their team. It’s theirs, they own it, the staff is simply here to keep the wheels turning.” Voters will have the ability to select from 5 previously nominated names and be entered for a chance to win 2 season tickets. The 5 nominations are West Michigan: Ironmen; River Rats; Melee; Marauders; or Breakers. Fans can log on to the website (www.WMarenaFB.com) to vote and may vote as many times as they would like. Voting ends at midnight on Nov. 1

The team will announce the winning name at a team launch party in November. Coaches and staff will be introduced at the launch party as well.