Arena Football Is Back In Saginaw!

“I went to a party and a football game broke out.”

That’s the mantra of the Michigan Arsenal, Saginaw’s new professional arena football team that will be debuting in April of 2026. The Arsenal’s season will consist of 12 games – six home and six away – and the team will be playing its home contests at the Dow Event Center.

According to Jerry Kurz, CEO of Arena Football 1 (AF1), the Michigan Arsenal is the league’s newest member team, expanding the league’s nationwide footprint.

“We are excited to bring arena football to fans across Michigan while strengthening the League mission to deliver fast-paced, high-energy entertainment rooted in community pride,” said Kurz.

Other AF1 teams currently include the Albany Firebirds, Billings Outlaws, Kentucky Barrels, Minnesota Monsters, Nashville Kats, Oregon Lightning, and the Washington Wolfpack.

The announcement was made during a press conference held in the Dow Event Center on Tuesday afternoon.

Arena Football 1 was founded in September 2024 and completed its first season in 2025. With eight founding members, AF1 features all the exciting and fast-paced action that fans have come to know and love from Arena Football.

"We’re thrilled to welcome the Michigan Arsenal to the AF1 family," said Commissioner Jeff Fisher, who formerly was head coach of the National Football League’s Tennessee Titans. "Michigan has a deep and passionate football culture, and the Arsenal brings a powerful new presence to our league. This franchise is going to be something special for fans across the state."

Michigan Arsenal Owner/CEO George Bradford said he is excited to bring the team to Saginaw and the Dow Event Center. “This is an exciting time with a great city that was built and founded on the industrial labor and the automotive industry,” said Bradford.

“This is absolutely fantastic, but more importantly, the AF1 is one of the best leagues in the industry, so I'm looking forward to a great year, a fantastic season, and bringing a championship to the city of Saginaw.”

Bradford, who worked in the automotive industry, vowed that the Michigan Arsenal will be imbedded in the community. “We want to work closely with the local Chamber (Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce) and the local businesses. We want to be out and about in the community. If civic organization’s want us at their meeting, we’ll be there.”

Arsenal head coach Shawn Liotta has a wide and varied resume in football.

He is a 2002 graduate of Robert Morris University with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. Liotta began his coaching career at Duquesne University where he served as the running backs coach. He was a part of the Dukes’ 2003 NCAA Division IAA-Mid Major National Championship. Liotta has served as a coach at the professional, collegiate, and high school level including serving as a head or assistant coach at every level of high school football in the State of Pennsylvania.

Liotta was hired as the head coach of the Pittsburgh RiverRats in 2007. In 2008, the franchise moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, and Liotta remained with the franchise. In 2009, Liotta left Erie to join the Wheeling Wildcats, before returning to Erie in 2010. After leading the Explosion to the UIFL North title game in 2012, Liotta was named the 2012 UIFL Coach of the Year. In 2012, Liotta authored a book titled Developing and Maintaining a Successful Professional Indoor Football Program.

In 2013 Liotta led the Explosion to a perfect (12–0) record and the 2013 CIFL Championship. The Explosion finished with the league's top ranked offensive and defensive unit and Liotta was named the 2013 CIFL Coach of the Year. Liotta also served as director of coaching for Fan Controlled Football, a professional football league launched in 2021. Liotta has also served as an offensive coordinator in the USA Football, US National Team Program, leading the US Under 18 National Team to a win over Canada in the 2020 International Bowl. He has also served as a prep football coach during the indoor offseason, most recently with Burrell High School from 2018 to 2024.

Liotta is the author of No Huddle No Mercy, which details his record-setting offensive system. It is a book that has been used by football programs around the world. His philosophy combines elements of the no-huddle offense and the Run and Shoot. He said that the Arsenal's mission is simple: to dominate the arena while uniting fans, families, and the community through the power of sport. Representing the grit and determination of Michigan, the team's identity reflects strength, craftsmanship, and resilience forged through passion and purpose.

“We hope you're as excited as we are, and as the Arsenal's motto says, let's “Dominate the Arena!”

Both Liotta and Bradford both said that they would conduct a local tryout camp to seek out local gridiron talent. Liotta did reveal that the Arsenal is close to signing “the No. 1 quarterback in Arena Football.”

Season ticket deposits are now being accepted by telephone by calling the Dow Event Center Box Office at (989) 759-1320.