It’s a glorious year for fans of minor league indoor football as a second league has announced it will be broadcasting games for free on YouTube this season.

The National Arena League, a new league mainly in the east and southeast, announced Wednesday evening that they have partnered with the website to showcase almost every game in 2017, with the exception of one team.

In a press release posted to the league’s Facebook page, it was announced that every game except Columbus Lions home games will be streamed live.

“It became quite obvious that YouTube was the viewing platform for the League, stated Director of Broadcasting George Birnbaum. Having YouTube so readily available on smart televisions and devices made the decision easy. There is no other video platform used worldwide that is more known and used than YouTube.”
“I am elated that fans can watch their teams on the road and all season long, said John Gregory, Commissioner of the NAL. Additionally, it is so important to the League that our product can be viewed by anyone, at any time, worldwide.”

Fans wanting to watch their team on the road against Columbus will need to purchase a pass for their TV partner, BEAM Cable TV, which will cost $9.99 per game, or $49.99 for all six home games, a savings of $10.

The free streaming service will also provide a chance for indoor football fans in Dayton to see their team, since they won’t be playing any home games this year.

The first game in NAL history is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night, and unfortunately it is a home Columbus Lions game. The first chance to watch a game free on YouTube will be Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Georgia Firebirds host the High Country (NC) Grizzlies.

Previously, the IFL announced that it would broadcast every game of its 2017 season, no exceptions, for free on YouTube. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag, with some teams like Arizona and Salt Lake having very good, professional streams, while others like Wichita Falls and Cedar Rapids having broadcasts that looked like something a local high school’s AV Club could put together.

I suspect the NAL will be the same, with some teams having a very quality broadcast, while others will leaving you saying, “Well, at least it’s some way to watch the game.”

Either way, for fans of minor league indoor football, it’s a glorious day, and a chance to watch even more of the beautiful game.