Duluth – The music turns up, the lights flash in a darkened Amsoil Arena in Duluth and smoke fills the air as player after player makes their entrance when the Minnesota Monsters played at home for the first time Friday night where they took on the Nashville Kats.
The Monsters play in the AF1 league a higher level of competition from last season’s Harbor Monsters team. This version adds a unique kicking game to play with a few quirks like being able to score on a kick off if you put it through the uprights and being able to advance the ball after it bounces off the net.
I’ve heard about arena football but have never had the opportunity to see or cover a game. The past seasons were played during the thick of my high school and college schedule but AF1 plays their season in the summer leading to a golden opportunity to see what it’s all about. What I found was a great level of football played by professional athletes and all the fan interaction you would expect to find at a minor league baseball game. The game played on a hockey rink leaves the field about half the size you are used to and that creates fast action, plenty of scoring and the fans as close as you can possibly be to the players and action, think watching hockey right at the glass, now take away the glass and you have arena football.
Players fly into the stands and I watched at least one fan make an outstanding catch of a pass that sailed a little bit high. Players encourage the younger fans to interact with several taking a moment to chat or high five between plays.
It’s going to take me a couple games to really figure out all the scoring changes, sometimes I noticed points added to the board and I have no idea why but whatever it is, it’s good quality football, a great fan experience and a really nice addition to the summer in the northland. It’s not the Range but it’s just as close as a trip to Sam’s Club.
The Monsters started their season with four games on the road where they played the Albany Firebirds, The Michigan Arsenal, the Oceanside Bombers and a rematch against the Arsenal where they brought home a record of 3-1. They faced a tough Nashville Kats team falling to the Kats 58-28 but they have a chance to rebound and bring a win to the Amsoil Arena next Saturday when they face the Kentucky Barrels.
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