Earlier this year the football world was rocked when it was revealed that the Arena Football League (AFL) would be returning in 2024.
Since then the league has been dropping in announcements in preperation for their 2024 season. Today, we have another location being confirmed by the league.
The AFL has put out a release detailing the return of the Philadlephia Soul.
We are excited to announce Philadelphia to the AFL! The Soul will be led by the ownership group of Logan Venture Group and Mustafa Shakur. The Head Coach for the Soul will be long time arena football coach Patrick Pimmel. #TheAFLIsBack #AFL2024 @phillysoulfb pic.twitter.com/SrgB2c8KI0
— Arena Football League (@OfficialAFL) November 10, 2023
The Soul made Six ArenaBowl appearances, winning their first appearance (2008 against the San Jose SaberCats).
The club was established in 2004 when a group, led by Jon Bon Jovi, secured the rights to an AFL franchise in Philadelphia. The AFL folded before the proposed 2009 season was to begin, but was purchased and revived in 2010. After two seasons of inactivity in 2009 and 2010, the Soul returned in 2011 headed by Ron Jaworski. Following the 2019 season, the AFL ceased operations again.
The ownership of the revived AFL announced on July 19, 2023, that they planned to bring back the Soul in 2024 under new ownership, with Jaworski expected to be involved in some form or another. It was the only one of the league’s announced 16 markets that the AFL confirmed a team name, but did not confirm an arena or the new ownership of the revived Soul.
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Get read PHILLY! The Philadelphia Soul is back!! #PhiladelphiaSoul #FORTHECITY #ArenaFootballLeague @OfficialAFL pic.twitter.com/KEg1Ymvtsl
— philadelphiasoulfb (@phillysoulfb) November 10, 2023
Now, the news is officially official.
The release also reveals that Patrick Pimmel will be joining the organization as head coach. He most recently served as coach of the Vegas Night Hawks…