Cleveland Gladiators

The San Jose SaberCats are putting the pressure on the defending champions of the AFL. After winning a home game vs. the Spokane Shock last week, they ran their record to 2-0 after squeaking out a win over the Kansas City Command on Friday night.

Spokane could hardly afford to let their record slip to 0-2 to start the season and be two games back in the West Division of the National Conference.  

The Cleveland Gladiators were opening their season, complete with their newly acquired WR Troy Bergeron.  He led the Gladiators with 134 yards on eight catches with four TDs on the night. QB John Dutton completed 20-30 passes for 257 yards and six TDs.

After a three INT performance in week one, Shock QB Kyle Rowley fared a little better vs. the Gladiators. He had one pick to go with seven TDs on 29-45 passing, compiling 313 yards.  

Still, the first quarter INT by Levy Brown put the Shock in a hole they just couldn't completely climb out of. Spokane did tie the game at 28 going into halftime, but Cleveland was set to receive the opening kickoff of the second half.

Cleveland opened up the third quarter with touchdown pass to WR Robert Redd. Spokane's opening drive failed, and when Bergeron scored on a 33-yard touchdown pass, Cleveland was sitting on a 41-28 lead.

There is reason for Shock fans to have hope. Despite trailing, the team continued to fight, and Spokane’s defense came up with a defensive stop late in the fourth quarter.  Rowley connected with WR Markee White for an unbelievable touchdown catch that sent him hurdling over the boards.

Trailing 54-48, Spokane attempted an onside kick. It was recovered by the Gladiators, who quickly scored and stretched their lead to 13. Spokane added another TD to close the scoring prior to one last failed onside kick attempt.

AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz was on hand to help the Shock raise their 2010 ArenaBowl Championship banner during a pregame ceremony.  

Spokane travels to Iowa on Friday to play in a nationally televised game on the NFL Network. They will look to avoid compounding their worst start in franchise history.

Despite losing his top three receivers from last season, Cleveland Gladiators quarterback John Dutton looks like he found his new favorite target: Troy Bergeron.

Dutton and Bergeron connected for three touchdowns as visiting Cleveland defeated the Spokane Shock Saturday night, 61-55.

It was meant to be a night of celebration for Spokane, as it raised its ArenaBowl championship banner to the rafters of the Spokane Arena. The Gladiators crashed the party early, picking off Shock QB Kyle Rowley on the first drive on the way to an early 14-7 lead.

Spokane was able to keep the game close for much of the game, but Cleveland pulled away in the fourth quarter and was able to withstand a late Shock rally to seal a win in its first game of the season.

Dutton threw for 257 yards and six touchdowns on the night, three to Bergeron as well as individual scores from Robert Redd and Victor Williams. Williams also recovered the final onside kick with less than a minute to go, clinching the victory for the Gladiators.

For Spokane, Rowley went for 313 yards and seven scores and the one interception. Greg Orton and Markee White combined for five of the seven touchdowns.

Despite the win, Cleveland still has one big problem to worry about: the late injury to Dutton. The captain and team leader left the field in the fourth with an apparent Achilles tendon injury, the extent of which is not known.

Rookie Kurt Rocco took the final two drives for Cleveland, the first ending with a touchdown pass to Bergeron. More news about Dutton's injury is expected in the coming days.

With the win, Cleveland improves to 1-0 on the season going into next week's road contest with Tampa Bay. The defending champion Shock falls to 0-2 on the year.

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Cleveland Gladiators vs. Chicago Rush (Week 2 Preview from Mike Rose)
Bet: Click here to bet on this game | Odds: Click here for current odds

NFL Network continues its coverage of the 2010 Arena Football League betting season on Friday night with a showdown between the Cleveland Gladiators (0-1, 0-1 ATS) and the Chicago Rush (1-0, 1-0 ATS) from Allstate Arena.

The boys from the Windy City got the job done at Iowa last week, forcing the Barnstormers into six turnovers and capitalizing for the biggest win of the weekend, a 61-43 decision. QB Russ Michna had an adequate game, but HC Mike Hohensee will tell you that he expects better out of his veteran leader. He went 18/28 passing for 261 yards and six scores, but he also threw an interception and fumbled the ball three times, losing all three.

The story was the defense for Chicago, which stood tall, forcing those six turnovers and stopping the Barnstormers on downs once as well. The Rush also only allowed 21 of their 46 passes faced to be complete.

DB DeJuan Alfonso had an interception returned for a touchdown, while DBs Nygel Rogers and Josh Ferguson hauled in two picks apiece.

The Gladiators looked as though they were ready to roll to a huge win at halftime against the Arizona Rattlers last week, as they took a 35-14 lead into the locker room. However, it wasn’t meant to be. The second half started with WR Trandon Harvey returning a kickoff for a touchdown, which started a 21-0 run for Arizona to make the lead disappear in a span of about 12 minutes. Kick coverage was a problem once again in the fourth quarter, when DB Terrance Sanders literally went untouched into the end zone after fielding the ball off of the slack net. Special teams and QB John Dutton both had major problems for the hosts. Dutton may have thrown for 287 yards and seven touchdowns, but his four picks were just too much to overcome. WR Ben Nelson looked great in his first game as a Gladiator, picking up 154 yards and four TDs through the air. DL Anthony Hoke recorded an interception and picked up a sack in his first ever AFL game.

As of the time of this publication, the Rush have dropped from 10.5 point favorites on the opening AFL lines down to eight point choices.

Visit Touthouse.com for more arena football picks from our professional sports handicappers. Be sure to sign-up for our free sports predictions newsletter for exclusive arena football betting information from our experts. Preview Courtesy of North Shore Sports Inc.

The Cleveland Gladiators came to Cleveland with high hopes.  After a home playoff victory over the Orlando Predators, they head to Georgia with the same high hopes.

In their first year in Cleveland, the Gladiators earned a trip to the post-season by going 9-7.  While faltering a bit down the stretch, they won the last game, getting into the playoffs and securing home-field advantage for at least one game by landing the fourth spot in the eight-seeded playoff picture of their conference.  The Orlando Predators came in with the very same record.   In their regular season meeting on 5/9, the Gladiators won 62-43.  Orlandowas without Defensive end Rob Shroeder and defensive back Jason Perry. 

Playoff atmosphere loomed large at Quicken Loans Arena in beautiful downtown Cleveland.  The crowd was loud, definitely allowing the Gladiators an advantage.  Much of the first half, it didn’t look good for the home squad.

Orlandoreceiver Chris Gasner sacrificed life and limb on the Predators first touchdown, diving into the stands and hauling down the catch.

Raymond Philyaw struck right back with a 25 yard strike, hitting Robert Redd right on the numbers. 

The Gladiator kickoff coverage was non-existent through most of the game, and they gave up a fifty-plus yard runback.  On the ensuing extra point, the snap was high, and Orlandokicker Dan Frantz pulled it to the right, hitting the crossbar.  20-14 Orlando. 

The first big break of the contest came on a bull-rush by Orlando’s Marlon Moye-Moore.  He sent Raymond Philyaw back-peddling.  Philyaw pump-faked, fumbled, and Triple M recovered.  The Gladiators challenged the call, contending an incomplete pass.  After a lengthy review, the play stood as called.

As the second quarter opened, the Predators coughed the ball right back to the Gladiators, negating their turnover advantage with a hand-off miscue.  Philyaw looked out of sorts after the fumble, throwing into coverage, badly under-throwing, and flipping one into the stands, making it fourth and ten from the Gladiator six yard line.  Cleveland went for it, and the Orlando defense held, taking over on downs. 

If you are counting, that made three defensive stops in a row?  THAT IS UNDHEARD OF!!  Orlando broke the string of stops, scoring on a third and six with a pass to the right corner.  Yet again they missed the extra point, making it 26-14.  The extra point misses would eventually come back to haunt them. 

Cleveland continued to shoot themselves in the foot offensively, negating a fantastic touchdown catch with an illegal formation.  Regaining their pose, they came right back to the other corner of the end-zone and scored, narrowing the gap to 26-21

On the next Predator possession, DB defensive back Brandon Hefflin picked off a tipped Shane Stafford pass.  Even with the fumble on the return, the Gladiators kept possession on the Orlando five.  On a fourth and four, Orlando jumped off-sides, almost giving the Gladiator offense a first down. The fourth and one false start went against Cleveland, making it fourth and six, requiring the Gladiators to kick a field goal, narrowing the gap to 26-24. 

After the kickoff Odie Armstrong, a 270 lb fullback rumbled 31 yards to the house after a catch and a hurdle over a pack of Gladiator players, opening up an Orlando 33-24 lead. 

Brandon Hefflin came up huge yet again, picking off his second pass of the evening with 10.8 seconds left on the clock and giving the Gladiators a chance to take the lead going into the half.  A little two yard pass to Redd moved the ball out to the sixteen.  One play later, same play, the Gladiators were all the way down to the 12 yard line, easy pickings for Jason Ball.  He planted it firmly through, giving Cleveland a 34-33 lead heading into the half.

In the third quarter, ball in hand, the Gladiators stormed out of the gate, opening the second half with a 25 yard TD pass to Redd laid in beautifully by QB Raymond Philyaw.

Randy Hymes returned the favor when he  took a three yard pass and turned it into a touchdown with some nifty juking. 

With 3:40 left in the third, the Gladiators’ Philyaw lobbed an ill-advised pass into the corner and the jump ball was picked off.  Orlando got the upper hand immediately, scoring on bad coverage by the Cleveland defense. 

With 9:07 left in the game, the defense let a stop slip away.  Bryant Shaw had Stafford wrapped up for no gain, but let him escape for the score.  This would be the last of Orlando’s leads. 

After Cleveland scored again, taking a 62-60 lead, Orlando drove all the way to the Cleveland 4 yard line and appeared poised to retake the lead. 

Orlando QB Stafford complete a pass to Toliver on the four, Toliver staggered, fell,, and lost the ball.  Hefflin scooped up the loose rock for his third turnover of the game with 2:04 seconds remaining.  Orlando challenged the call to no avail. FUMBLE!! 

The Gladiators went deep twice, going for and coming up big on a catch by Otis Amey at Orlando’s 8 yard line.  A TD here might ice the game.  And there it was.  A running play up the gut by Willis Marshall and the Gladiators stormed ahead 69-60 with 51.9 seconds to go.  RAISE THE ROOF BABY!! 

Ironically, Mike Brown was in attendance when Byron Davis opted out of his contract as reported by ESPN and the information was passed on to said reporter by good friend Scott, who’d called earlier and was told Brown was in attendence.  A quick check of the luxury box did not show Davis in there however.   Bummer.  The feeling was short-lived though.

The onside kick with 20.7 seconds remaining was recovered by Otis Amey.  Amey gobbled the ball back off the turf one play later after a Gladiator fumble almost gave the Predators new life. 

Three throws into the crowd ran out the clock.  And there it was 69-66.  The Cleveland Gladiators are 1-0 in the history of their postseason. 

A jovial group of Gladiators interviewed afterward, stating it was just one win and there was plenty more to do.  Georgia will make sure they have their hands full.

In Arena Football, similar to a backyard pickup game, there are really only two options to winning.

Option one: score more points than your opponent by scoring on every offensive possession.

Option two: stop the opposition every once in a while, maybe even only once, and you win as long as it’s combined with option one.

The Cleveland Gladiators did neither on May 31 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.  The result?  A 68-52 loss to the now 11-2 Dallas Desperados.  The defeat dropped the Gladiators to 7-6. 

While the Cleveland offense was firing on all cylinders, Dallas took matters into its own hands early, recovering an onside kick that ended up putting them in the lead for good.  That possession opened up a 10-point lead for the Desperados.  Cleveland closed the gap to three numerous times, but mainly they were down by 10 the rest of the game.

They did have a chance to regain the upper hand at the end of the first half.  Defense back Alex Teems picked off a Clint Dolezel pass and ran it back for a touchdown with no time left on the clock. It was just the break Cleveland needed. 

Unfortunately, the Gladiators got called for a questionable low block on the runback, negating the score.  Since time had expired, the offense didn’t even get one chance to capitalize on the turnover.    

That call sealed their fate, along with a Dallas fumble that was ruled down. 

The Gladiators lost 68-52 primarily due to a dropped ball in the end zone by Robert Redd that led to a non-scoring drive by Cleveland’s offense. 

Gladiators QB Raymond Philyaw played great in defeat, even mustering a pair of scrambles for first downs during opportune moments.  He went 24-of-35 for 291 yards and four TDs. 

Robert Redd had 10 catches for 127 yards, but the dropped pass in the end zone negated a great effort on his part.  Otis Amey had nine catches for 132 yards and four TDs, including a fantastic grab in the end zone that looked like a definite incompletion.

Dallas QB Clint Dolezel was 28-of-38 with one interception, 252 yards and eight TDs.  Will Pettis caught four of the eight, nabbing 13 balls for 118 yards.

Marcus Nash caught eight balls for 86 yards and two TDs.  Anthony Armstrong reeled in six for 42 yards and three scores.  The trio burned the Cleveland defensive backs all game long.

The loss definitely makes for a tough road to the playoffs for the Gladiators.  While still an attainable goal, they have a rough schedule left, taking on the Chicago Rush next week at home at 7:00 P.M. June 7^th.

It will be dollar night at the "Q."  Hot dogs and Pepsi’s will cost a buck.  Chicago, at 9-3, has already clinched a playoff birth.   They play in the softest of all the AFL divisions, and hold a five-game lead over second-place Colorado at 4-8.

The Cleveland Gladiators returned home to Quicken Loans Arena on Friday night, taking on the Colorado Crush.  The Gladiators, fresh off a loss at Dallas, and riding a two game losing streak, really needed this home win, as the upcoming schedule was not easy to say the least. 

Downtown Cleveland was a flurry of activity.  The Indians also played the A’s next door at Progressive Field.  That meant Gladiators’ fans were treated to Major League Baseball parking prices as well as a double Cleveland loss.

The Gladiators dropped to 3-3 due to poor tackling and two interceptions in a row by Raymond Philyaw. Cleveland lost 69-66.   It was the team's first home loss of the season.  The Gladiators will go back on the road for two games starting next week. 

Recent acquisition Willis Marshall had a promising first game with Cleveland, although it seemed emerging star Robert Redd was left out of the game plan because of Marshall.

Looking back on the stats, Redd really wasn’t MIA.  He tallied nine catches for 100 yards to Marshall’s seven catches for 92 yards.  It just seemed he had disappeared from the offense for some reason.  

Cleveland opened the scoring on a 13-yard pass from Philyaw to Otis Amey.  They made it 14-0 on another 13-yard pass from Philyaw to Amey with 7:20 to go in the first quarter.  All told, Amey caught nine passes for 123 yards and six touchdowns.  He had a great game in the loss.  Philyaw threw for 316 yards and seven TDs.  It would have been a huge night for him but for the two costly interceptions.

Colorado bit back on a 23-yard strike from QB John Dutton to Willie Quinnie, reducing their deficit to 14-7.  The Gladiators kicked an 18-yard field goal after a Colorado defensive stop, and it was 17-7.

The opening of the second quarter did not take Colorado long to pull to within three on a 16-yarder from Dutton to Ben Nelson.  Cleveland came right back with Marlion Jackson capping a seven-play drive with a three-yard run, giving the Gladiators a 24-14 lead.

The Crush made it 24-21 after poor tackling allowed Thomas to rip off a 34-yard run to the Cleveland six. 

The Gladiators got the first interception of the evening, picking off Dutton after they were held and missed a field goal attempt.  Philyaw went to Amey for the score, making it 31-21.

Inexplicably, the Gladiators tried an onside kick with 1:16 left in the half.  Colorado recovered, and two plays later made it 31-28.  That left 51 seconds for the Gladiators to dive the length of the field.  I guess the Crush thought they owed Cleveland a favor, and they onside kicked it right back. 

t’s not like the last minute already lasts long enough in Arena Football, but both teams were trying to extend that time.  The Gladiators took one play on a pass in the back of the end-zone to Amey, putting themselves up 38-28.

The last half-minute was not wasted by Colorado.  The Crush drove down the field, coming up five yards short and settling for a field goal to end the half.  The Gladiators led 38-31.

The third quarter opened with a Colorado touchdown drive, culminating in a 38-38 tie. 

Cleveland drove right back down the field, putting themselves back up by seven on a two yard run by Jackson.  In a back-and-forth quarter, Colorado evened it up at 45. 

The Gladiators opened it up to 52-45, but the Crush tied it right back up 52-52.  The quarter actually ended without another score! 

The score-fest took an ugly turn for the Gladiators.  Philyaw threw into double coverage on a third and six.  The Crush picked it off just inside the end zone for a touchback.  That play might have been the game the way things were going.  If Colorado scored there, they’d have the upper hand.  They opened up their first lead of the night, 59-52.

The next offensive series yielded yet another interception by Philyaw.  It certainly looked like the Elway curse was alive and well in Cleveland.

The defense came up huge, stopping the Crush offense and holding them to a field goal.  With two minutes to go, it was a 62-52 lead by the Crush.  Cleveland took the kickoff to the four, giving them a long field.  Robert Redd made a great one handed grab and broke a tackle, racing 35 yards down to the 10.  Redd scored one play later, and with a minute to go the Gladiators were down by three. 

Amey earned player of the game honors for his five-touchdown performance.  The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Crush.  In Arena Fotball world, time stands still the last minute.  The defense needed a hold.   If they forced Colorado into a field goal, the Gladiators might have a chance to pull this one out from the throes of defeat.  No such luck.  The Crush scored, making it 69-59 and the crowd headed for the exits.

That wasn’t necessarily the right move.  Philyaw hooked up with Amey on the long ball.  Amey was tackled at the two yard line with 31.9 seconds left.  A quick score right back to Amey, and the Gladiators were once again down by three, 69-66. 

Obviously an onside kick was coming.  Once again, the Crush recovered.  The onside kick was lame all night; Cleveland had no chance of recovery. First and ten from the twelve was a rushing play, and the Gladiators used their last time out.  One more running play ended the game.  The Gladiators dropped to 3-3 on the season.   

Offensive player of the game – Otis Amey.

Defensive play of the game – Colorado’s Rashad Floyd. 

The game lasted two hours and 40 minutes.

Here is my Week 5 Power Poll and Preview of games

This week there are some key games to watch out for in Week 5.

You have the final two undefeated teams playing this weekend and looking to stay perfect on the year.

The Philadelphia Soul (4-0), #1 in the Power Poll, hosts #5 Tampa Bay Storm (2-1), on Saturday, March 29 at 2p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com).

The Soul's offense did not look like it missed injured QB Tony Graziani at all last week against Los Angeles. Backup QB Matt D'Orazio stepped in and was 28 of 42 for 338 yards and eight touchdowns. 

The Dallas Desperados (4-0), #2, travels to the Nassau Coliseum to take on #15 New York Dragons (1-3) on Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. ET in a Eastern Division matchup.

Desperdos QB Chris Sanders was 20-of-28 for 276 yards and six touchdowns last week as the Desperados ended the SaberCats 15-game home winning streak 

The Desperados are looking to go 5-0 for the second consecutive season with a win. Dallas is 32-4 in their last 36 regular-season contests, including 12 in a row and six straight on the road. 

The Chicago Rush (3-1), #3, welcomes the Arizona Rattlers (2-2), #9, to the Allstate Arena on Friday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET (AFL NET, FSN Arizona - Delay, at 9:30 p.m. PT, CSN Chicago - Delay, 3/29 at 4 p.m. CT, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).

This game marks the first time Rush QB Sherdrick Bonner will face his former team of the past 14 seasons.

Bonner, left Arizona as the team's all-time leader in passing yards (40,979), attempts (5,268), completions (3,261) and touchdown passes (829).

Bonner also led the Rattlers to five ArenaBowl appearances and two championships in ArenaBowls VIII and XI.

This weeks other games include:

Saturday

#8 San Jose (2-2) at #16 Kansas City (0-3), 6:00 P.M. ET, (FSN Bay Area/NBC Local - Live, KSMO Local - Live)

#7 Orlando (2-2) at #13 Columbus (1-3), 7:00 P.M. ET, (AFL NET, WRDQ TV - Live, Columbus Sports Net - Live, CSS - Delay, 3/30 at 5:30 p.m. ET, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).

#14 Georgia (1-3) at #17 Utah (0-4), 9:00 P.M. ET, (CSS - Live, KJZZ - Live)

Sunday

#10 Los Angeles (2-2) at #12 Grand Rapids (1-2), 2:00 P.M. ET

#4 New Orleans VooDoo (3-1) at #11 Colorado (1-2), 4:00 P.M. ET (FSN Rocky Mountain Local - Live).

Bye Week: #6 Cleveland (3-1)

Power Poll Rankings:

 1) Philadelphia Soul (4-0, LW: 1) Beat Los Angeles 71-34 on 3/20

 2) Dallas Desperados (4-0, LW: 2) Beat San Jose 59-56 on 3/22

 3) Chicago Rush (3-1, LW: 4) Beat Colorado 70-35 on 3/22

 4) New Orleans VooDoo (3-1, LW: 6) Beat Cleveland 63-24 on 3/21

 5) Tampa Bay Storm (2-1, LW: 8) BYE WEEK

 6) Cleveland Gladiators (3-1, LW: 3) Lost to New Orleans 24-63 on 3/21

 7) Orlando Predators (2-2. LW: 11) Beat Georgia 50-45 on 3/22

 8) San Jose SaberCats (2-2, LW: 5) Lost to Dallas 59-56 on 3/22

 9) Arizona Rattlers (2-2, LW: 13) Beat New York 62-33 on 3/21

10) Los Angeles Avengers (2-2, LW: 7) Lost to Philadelphia 71-34 on 3/20

11) Colorado Crush (1-2, LW: 9) Lost to Chicago 35-70 on 3/22

12) Grand Rapids Rampage (1-2, LW: 15) Beat Kansas City 92-52 on 3/24

13) Columbus Destroyers (1-3, LW: 17) Beat Utah 52-49 on 3/21

14) Georgia Force (1-3, LW: 10) Lost to Orlando 50-45 on 3/22

15) New York Dragons (1-3, LW: 12) Lost to Arizona 33-62 on 3/21

16) Kansas City Brigade (0-3, LW: 14) Lost to Grand Rapids 52-92 on 3/24

17) Utah Blaze (0-4, LW: 16) Lost to Columbus 49-52 on 3/21

WEEK 4 HONORS

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: Grand Rapids Rampage QB James MacPherson and Philadelphia Soul WR Chris Jackson

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER: New Orleans VooDoo DB Calvin Spears

IRONMAN PLAYER: Chicago Rush WR/LB DeJuan Alfonzo

Arena Football comes to Cleveland in a big way on March 3rd, when the Cleveland Gladiators begin their inaugural season.  

The franchise relocated from Las Vegas, but kept only three of the original 22 team members from this squad.

Arena Football is divided into four divisions: the AFL Eastern, the AFL Southern, the AFL Western, and the AFL Central.  These four divisions are made up of 17 teams, and the AFL Eastern is the only conference composed of five teams.

The Gladiators, as AFL Eastern members, will compete against fellow Ohio team Columbus, Dallas, New York, and Philadelphia.  In their first game they take on the New York Dragons at Quicken Loans Arena.

The new team features a number of experienced players and is led by eight-year veteran Quarterback Raymond Philyaw.  Philyaw was a splash signing after playing last year with the Kansas City Brigade, where his 85 touchdown passes ranked him in the top five in the league.  He has more years in the AFL than any other player on the team.  

Two seven-year veterans, wide receiver Cornelius Bonner and defensive end Silas Dimary, and six-year wide receiver Andy McCullough, are the most experienced players behind Philyaw.  The three are excellent offensive weapons and their teamwork will mean only good things for a well-rounded passing attack.
 
That doesn’t mean the defense will be second rate, however.  Led by defensive-minded head coach Mike Wilpolt, the Gladiators should be strong on both sides of the ball.

Wilpolt, now embarking on his first head coaching stint, was last year the defensive coach for the Las Angeles Avengers.  His unit ranked fifth in the league for yards rushing allowed, and third in the league for yards passing allowed.
 
He’ll need all his defensive magic as he pits his strategies against another defensive genius, New York’s Weylan Harding.  Harding finished last year as Coach of the Year runner-up, and holds the AFL mark of 20 for most wins as a head coach in his first two seasons.
 
If you’ve never witnessed Arena Football, know that the speed of the game is much greater than in the NFL.  It’s fast paced, non-stop, wall-to-wall excitement.  And it’s coming to Cleveland.  Single game and season tickets are currently on sale.