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Mikhail Gorbachev
 | |
| Sport | Indoor football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| Founder | West Michigan Ironmen |
| First season | 2023 |
| Ceased | 2025 |
| No. of teams | 4 (as of August 30, 2024) |
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters | Muskegon, Michigan |
| Last champion(s) | Michigan Avengers (2024) |
| Official website | greatlakesarenafootball |
The Great Lakes Arena Football (GLAF) was a professional American indoor football minor league based in the Great Lakes region in the United States whose operations are currently dormant.[1]
The GLAF was designed to be a regional "bus league" with minimal travel, while league member West Michigan Ironmen have direct control over league operations and membership.[2] The Ironmen joined American Indoor Football on December 25, 2024.
Although the GLAF website is still online, it hasn't been updated since 2024.
History
After the 2021 American Arena League season concluded, Charlotte Thunder, West Michigan Ironmen and Pennsylvania Union left to form their own league (Arena Professional Football League),[3] with the intent to run a five-team eight-week APFL schedule will run from April 16 through June 4, 2022.[4] But by the time the season started only two Charlotte and Michigan were operating, and the Ironmen ended up playing an independent schedule. That experience, in addition to traveling costs, led them to form a league of their own called "Great Lakes Arena Alliance".[2]
2023 season
For its first season the GLAA planned that five teams would participate in the league's inaugural 2023 season starting on March 4: Chicago Power, Southern Michigan Apex, Battle Creek Smoke, West Michigan Ironmen and Ohio Blitz,[5] but Chicago were removed just before the season started.[6] All remaining teams advanced to the playoffs,[7] with the Ironmen winning the inaugural league championship, after beating the Southern Michigan Apex 81–25.[8]
2024 season
For the 2024 season the league changed its name to Great Lakes Arena Football and featured a seven team lineup: the Battle Creek (MI) Smoke, Detroit Knights (originally the Detroit Dark Knights), Michigan Avengerz (Farmington, MI), Ohio Boom (Dayton), Toledo Extreme Shamrocks, West Michigan Ironmen (Muskegon) and Tri-State Bucks (Pioneer, OH).[9] The Avengerz won the second league championship, after beating the Ironmen 30-12 in the final. The Ironmen would later cease league operations after joining American Indoor Football in 2025.
Final Teams
| Team | Home city | Home venue | Capacity | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Creek Smoke | Battle Creek, Michigan | Kellogg Arena | 6,200 | Carlton Brewster |
| Detroit Knights | Detroit, Michigan | Detroit City Fieldhouse | Reggie “Jetson” Eubanks | |
| Toledo Extreme Shamrocks | Toledo, Ohio | Total Sports East Novi |
Former teams
- Chicago Power (Chicago, Illinois) — Was part of the original teams for the 2023 season, but were removed just before the season started.
- Southern Michigan Apex (Kalamazoo, Michigan) - Played the 2023 season, but were removed from league prior to the 2024 season.
- Ohio Blitz (Lima, Ohio) - Played the 2023 season, but were removed from league prior to the 2024 season.
- Wisconsin Aviators (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - Originally announced as a GLAF member for the 2024 season, but then was not included in the final alignment.[10]
- Tri-State Bucks (Pioneer, Ohio) — Moved to the Midwest Arena Football League following the 2024 season.
- Michigan Avengerz (Farmington, Michigan) — Moved to the United Indoor Football Association following the 2024 season. Now a member in the AAL2
- Ohio Boom (Dayton, Ohio) — Moved to the United Indoor Football Association following the 2024 season.
- West Michigan Ironmen — Moved to American Indoor Football (Montero/Clark incarnation) following the 2024 season.
Champions
| Game | Winner | Runner Up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | West Michigan Ironmen | Southern Michigan Apex | 81–25 |
| 2024 | Michigan Avengers | West Michigan Ironmen | 30-12 |
References
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger January 1, 2024". OurSports Central. January 2024.
- ^ a b "West Michigan Ironmen think they've solved a long-term nightmare by forming a league of their own". Muskegon Sports. 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Get ready!!!!!!!!!!". Charlotte Thunder Facebook page. October 27, 2021.
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger February 7, 2022". OurSports Central. 7 February 2022.
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger February 27, 2023". OurSports Central. 27 February 2023.
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger April 24, 2023". OurSports Central. 24 April 2023.
- ^ "West Michigan Ironmen, in a new league of their own, set to kick off 2023 season at home on Saturday against Ohio". Muskegon Sports. 27 February 2023.
- ^ "GLAF CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! West Michigan Ironmen vs. Southern Michigan Apex Football". YouTube. 25 May 2023.
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger February 26, 2024". OurSports Central. 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger January 1, 2024". OurSports Central. January 2024.
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