THE ALLIANCE OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL STRENGTHENS WEST COAST PRESENCE WITH ALLIANCE PHOENIX
Rick Neuheisel Named Head Coach
Alliance Phoenix to Play Home Games at Sun Devil Stadium
PHOENIX, Ariz. – May 18, 2018 – Today, The Alliance of American Football introduced Alliance Phoenix, its fifth market to date, and unveiled Rick Neuheisel as head coach. Alliance Phoenix home games will be played at Sun Devil Stadium, marking the return of professional football to the venue for the first time since 2005. Home to Arizona State, Sun Devil Stadium is in its final phase of renovations, providing an upgraded, year-round fan experience through a 360-degree concourse, enhanced sightlines, a massive videoboard and more. Fans looking to secure tickets early for the inaugural season can purchase season ticket seat deposits for $50 on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Friday, May 18, at 12:00 PM MST on AAF.com or by calling (833) AAF-2019.
“We wanted to have a strong west coast presence for the inaugural Alliance of American Football season, and the addition of Phoenix, a booming metropolitan area with a passionate fan base across all sports, is another step in the right direction,” said Charlie Ebersol, co-founder and CEO, The Alliance. “Fan engagement is critical to our success and we look forward to this city embracing the experience and fueling the Alliance Phoenix.”
He added, “Sun Devil Stadium is the perfect home for our Alliance Phoenix team. There is a lot of positive momentum happening with the school, and this addition adds fuel to that fire. With Coach Neuheisel at the helm, there will be high-quality football all year long in Phoenix.”
Neuheisel began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UCLA, where he tutored Troy Aikman, and became a full-time assistant coach in 1988, a position he held until 1993. In 1994, Neuheisel moved to the University of Colorado as an assistant under Bill McCartney and was named head coach the following season. During his time at Colorado, he amassed a 33-14 record, including three bowl victories. In 1999, Neuheisel was named head coach of the Washington Huskies. In his second season at the helm, the Huskies were ranked #3 in the country, securing a Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl victory. Neuheisel is the only person to win a Rose Bowl MVP award as a player and coach a team to a Rose Bowl victory. He finished his career at Washington with a 33-16 record. In 2005, Neuheisel joined the Baltimore Ravens as quarterbacks coach. That season, the Ravens acquired Steve McNair and won the AFC North division with a 13-3 record. Following the 2006 season, Neuheisel was promoted to offensive coordinator. In 2007 he returned to his alma mater, UCLA, as head coach. His four-year tenure included a bowl victory in 2009 and Pac-12 championship appearance in 2011.
“Rick Neuheisel’s experience playing and coaching at both the professional and collegiate level is something we value. We believe he will come in and motivate, teach and lead a hungry group of players looking for an opportunity to begin, extend and/or revive their professional careers,”
said Bill Polian, co-founder and head of football, The Alliance. “We’re committed to putting top- flight football on the field and look forward to Rick getting in there and implementing his system.”
“The Alliance’s emphasis on building a dynamic relationship between players, fans and the game is what immediately grabbed my attention. There is nothing like experiencing the thrill of victory and agony of defeat together. We all invest so much into the game, and that’s something I’ve missed over the years away from the sidelines,” said Rick Neuheisel, head coach, Alliance Phoenix. “The combination of a passionate fan base and motivated, talented players looking to make a name for themselves on the professional level will result in exciting football at Sun Devil Stadium in the spring, with the ultimate goal being to bring home the first ever Alliance Championship.”
Ticket pricing and seat locations for Alliance Phoenix home games will be released later this summer. The Alliance has committed to making a limited number of $35 sideline seats available for purchase. These will be among the best seats in the house but will not be the least or most expensive available, as there will be tickets with pricing to accommodate every budget.
About The Alliance of American of American Football Led by some of the most respected football minds in the game, The Alliance of American Football is a high-quality professional football league fueled by a dynamic Alliance between players, fans and the game. Fans will be able to stream Alliance matchups live via the free Alliance app while accessing integrated fantasy options with real rewards — for themselves and the players they are cheering on. Players will have state-of-the-art protection on the field and ample opportunities off it. The Alliance will provide players a comprehensive bonus system, post-football career planning as well as counseling and scholarship support for postsecondary education. Founded by TV and film producer Charlie Ebersol and Hall of Famer Bill Polian, The Alliance features 8 teams playing a 10-week regular season schedule beginning February 9, 2019 on CBS, followed by two playoff rounds and culminating with the championship game the weekend of April 26-28, 2019.
Media Contacts: Megan Hanson Alliance of American Football [email protected]
Tyler DePina MWWPR [email protected]