National Arena League commissioner Chris Siegfried said during halftime of the New York Streets-Massachusetts Pirates game that the league was looking to add up to four teams for the league’s fourth season to bring it up to 10 teams. He also mentioned the league was in talks with Tampa, FL.
Last off-season, there was much discussion about both the Orlando Predators and the Tampa Bay Storm making a return, but to the NAL as opposed to the Arena Football League. The Predators announced their return on Dec. 15, 2018. That leaves the Storm next in line to make a return. Streets owner Corey Galloway said the deal could be done within the next month.
It is unknown at this time if an Arena Football League executive or anyone still owns the rights to the name of the Tampa Bay Storm, but fans would definitely pack the Amalie Arena to see their team return. The Storm won five ArenaBowl championships from 1991-2017. They ceased operations on Oct. 21, 2017 and have been gone since.
Another city that had been mentioned to bring in an NAL team was Nashville, TN. a trademark for the team was filed around the same time the Predators trademark was filed and they reportedly already have their first head coach.
Stay tuned to Inside the Arena for updates on the potential return of the storied Storm as well as other National Arena League expansion rumors and news.
