KISS to Bring New Arena Football to LA

Arena football is returning to the Los Angeles area after a five-year absence, with the announcement of the Arena Football League’s newest expansion team, the LA KISS.

The rock band KISS, their management group McGhee Entertainment and Brett Bouchy, former managing partner of the AFL’s Orlando Predators, have all partnered to form the team, which will play its home games at Anaheim’s 18,000-seat Honda Center starting in the 2014 season.

“As the most fast-paced, exciting league in professional sports, the AFL has always been about providing the best form of entertainment to fans directly in their hometowns,” said AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz. “We could not be more thrilled to bring the league back to Los Angeles, and partnering with such incredible rock legends as KISS is certain to give fans a sports experience unlike anything they have ever seen.”

The league, which will enter its 27th season in 2014, is broadcast on the CBS Sports Network and will feature 15 teams once the LA KISS enter play.

“As a fast-paced, high-action band, this partnership with the AFL was an obvious fit for us,” said Gene Simmons of KISS. “With Arena Football, you are much closer to the action—sitting in the front row is like putting a folding chair on the hash mark of an NFL game—and it’s one of the only sports where you can experience this level of intensity. Attending an LA KISS game in 2014 will be similar to a live KISS show, with thrilling, heart-pounding action.”