The Tampa Bay Storm is pleased to announce its home schedule for the 2013 AFL season.

“As an organization we are excited with the home schedule,” said Storm team president Derrick Brooks. “While we continue to build a model franchise for our fans and community, the release of our schedule allows us to put forth our best efforts to give the fans the experience that they deserve. Our energy is not only directed towards putting together a strong roster, but an in-game experience that our season
ticket members and fans will enjoy as we march towards a championship season together.”

With an 18 game schedule the Storm will host nine games and play nine on the road. The team will open the 2013 schedule at home against South Division rival Jacksonville Sharks on Saturday, March 23 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum and finish the regular season on the road versus Jacksonville on Saturday, July 27.

Tampa Bay will play home and away games against its South Division opponents, Jacksonville, Orlando Predators and New Orleans VooDoo, as well as, American Conference rival Pittsburgh Power and the San Antonio Talons and Spokane Shock from the National Conference.

All but two of the games this season are on Saturday evening. The two Friday games, one at home and one on the road are both in April – April 12 versus San Antonio and April 19 at Orlando. Additionally each home game will kickoff at 7:30 PM with the exception of the home game against San Antonio April 12, that game will start at 8:00 PM.

For the first time in series history the Spokane Shock will visit Tampa Bay as the Shock come to town Saturday, July 6. The ‘War on I-4’ returns to Tampa June 8 as the Predators return with some familiar faces on its bench. Conference opponents at home are Cleveland Gladiators, March 30 and Pittsburgh Power on July 20. The defending American Conference Champion Philadelphia Soul come to town May 25 with its high-octane offense.

The team will have three West Coast Road trips as it visits the Spokane Shock, Utah Blaze and San Jose SaberCats. Tampa Bay has played at both Spokane and Utah in the past two seasons; however the most recent trip to San Jose was in Game 15 of the 2008 season. Tampa Bay will also head to Des Moines, Iowa to play the Barnstormers for the first time since May 25, 2000, the site of Tampa Bay’s third ArenaBowl Championship – ArenaBowl X – as the Storm defeated the Kurt Warner-led Iowa Barnstormers 42-38.

The one team the Storm does not play in 2013 is the defending ArenaBowl Champion Arizona Rattlers.

2013 Tampa Bay Storm Schedule

Sat 3-23 - 7:30 PM JACKSONVILLE Sharks

Sat 3-30 - 7:30 PM CLEVELAND Gladiators

Sat 4-6 -  10:00 PM at Utah Blaze

Fri 4-12 - 8:00 PM SAN ANTONIO Talons

Fri 4-19 - 7:30 PM at Orlando Predators

Sat 4-27 -10:00 PM at Spokane Shock

Sat 5-4 - 7:30 PM NEW ORLEANS VooDoo

Sat 5-11 -10:30 PM at San Jose SaberCats

Sat 5-18 - 7:00 PM at Pittsburgh Power

Sat 5-25 - 7:30 PM PHILADELPHIA Soul

Sat 6-1 - 8:05 PM at Iowa Barnstormers

Sat 6-8 - 7:30 PM ORLANDO Predators

Sat 6-15 - 8:00 PM at New Orleans VooDoo

Sat 6-22 - 7:30 PM CHICAGO Rush

Bye Week

Sat 7-6 - 7:30 PM SPOKANE Shock

Sat 7-13 -  8:30 PM at San Antonio Talons

Sat 7-20 -  7:30 PM PITTSBURGH Power

Sat 7-27 -  7:00 PM at Jacksonville Sharks

The Five-Time World Champion Tampa Bay Storm was awarded the 2012 AFL Support Staff of the Year. 2013 season tickets are now available for more information call 813.301.6600 or visit  ww.tampabaystorm.com. Additionally fans and sponsors can follow the Storm on Facebook (Tampa Bay Storm) or Twitter (@tampabaystorm) for up to date news and exclusive content.