Storm Welcomes Desperados to South

NEW YORK - The Arena Football League has realigned its divisions, placing the two-time (2006-07) Eastern Division Champion Dallas Desperados in the Southern Division. The Desperados spent the previous five seasons in the National Conference's Eastern Division after spending their first two seasons in the American Conference.

"The South was already a tough division and it just got tougher," said head coach and general manager Tim Marcum. "To win this division you'll have to play some good football."

Among the perennial playoff contenders in the Southern Division Tampa Bay is the last one to win an ArenaBowl Championship (2003). Over that past five seasons the these four teams have a combined win percentage of .605, 15 playoff appearances, six division titles and only three seasons in which a member team finished under .500.

2009 AFL DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENT

AMERICAN CONFERENCE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

WESTERN CENTRAL EASTERN SOUTHERN

Arizona Rattlers Chicago Rush Cleveland Gladiators Dallas Desperados

Los Angeles Avengers Colorado Crush Columbus Destroyers Georgia Force

San Jose SaberCats Grand Rapids Rampage New York Dragons Orlando Predators

Utah Blaze Kansas City Brigade Philadelphia Soul Tampa Bay Storm