BILLINGS — The Billings Outlaws have clinched the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Arena Football League playoffs.
Outlaws owner Steven Titus expressed his excitement about the achievement, crediting the hard work and dedication of coach Cedric Walker and the team. Titus shared his reaction with The Billings Gazette and 406 MT Sports after the official AFL playoff pairings were announced by the league.
Throughout the relaunched first-year AFL season, there have been changes and adjustments. The playoff format now includes six teams in the elimination round, a modification from the initial five-team field format revealed in mid-June.
The semifinal game date for the Outlaws has been rescheduled to Saturday, July 13 at 8 p.m. at the First Interstate Arena at MetraPark. This adjustment was made to accommodate a national broadcast partner, which will reportedly be CBS Sports Network.
Additionally, the AFL announced the cancellation of this week’s regular-season games for all but two non-playoff teams. Wichita will face Washington to conclude their seasons on Saturday.
Titus remained unfazed by the cancellation of the Outlaws’ final regular-season game against Salina, emphasizing the team’s readiness to face any opponent after their recent victory over Albany Firebirds.
With a break before the semifinals, the Outlaws plan to rest, recover, and prepare for the upcoming game. Titus highlighted the team’s dedication and readiness to compete in the playoffs, aiming to reach the ArenaBowl.
The playoffs will kick off with Nashville visiting Orlando on July 5, followed by Southwest Kansas traveling to Salina on July 6. The semifinals will take place on July 13, with Albany and Billings hosting the games.
The ArenaBowl is scheduled for July 19 at 3:30 p.m. Mountain time, hosted at the American Dream Entertainment/Retail Center in New Jersey.
Titus expressed his excitement for the ArenaBowl, praising the AFL’s innovative decision to host the event at a unique location. He looks forward to a potential appearance by the Outlaws in the championship game.
Semifinal playoff tickets for the game at Metra are set to go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. through the MetraPark box office or outlawsfootball.com/tickets.
Email Gazette Sports Editor John Letasky at john.letasky@406mtsports.com or follow him on Twitter at @GazSportsJohnL
