Valor to Unveil ArenaBowl Banner May 11

Wednesday May 1, 2019

 First 5,000 fans in attendance to receive replica ArenaBowl XXXI banners

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Valor announced today that the ArenaBowl XXXI banner will be raised in a pregame ceremony prior to the team’s home opener on Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena against the Atlantic City Blackjacks. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive miniature replica banners (attached), presented by Capital One, and will have an exclusive look at the moment the team received their championship rings.

Fans who arrive early will have the opportunity to enjoy Valor Hour, which offers $5 beers in select locations around the concourse from the time doors open until kickoff (6-7 p.m.). Throughout the game, fans will have access to several interactive concourse activities, including photo opportunities with the ArenaBowl XXXI trophy, a Valor-themed photo booth and stations for face painting and poster making.

As is the tradition in the Arena Football League, all fans in attendance will be welcomed to join Valor players on the field following the game for an autograph session. The field will be open for 30 minutes at the end of the game and will allow fans the chance to meet their favorite Valor players and participate in the Valor quarterback toss game.

Also returning for the 2019 is the Bud Light Party Zone, which gives fans access to a field-level view, a chance to interact with players throughout the game and unlimited food and drink for just $59. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

Next week’s home opener will also represent the debut of the Valor’s redesigned playing field, now featuring rounded endzone corners and new-look field paint. A full look at the new design is attached.

As announced in February, the AFL has instituted a number of rule changes intended to increase the speed of the game and cut down on in-game delays. Below is a brief summary of the league’s updated timing regulations:

• The first half’s one-minute timing rules have been eliminated. There is no longer an automatic clock stoppage at the one-minute mark in the second quarter and the game clock now follows regular guidelines. Additionally, in the fourth quarter, the traditional AFL clock stoppage rules no longer take effect until the thirty-second mark.
• The number and duration of media timeouts has been reduced.
• Each team now has three timeouts per half. Two of the three timeouts are clock-stoppage timeouts only: the game clock stops and the play clock resets immediately. The third team timeout in each half remains a traditional timeout.
• A 60-second play clock has been implemented following the extra-point attempt and/or two-point conversion attempt with the exception of media timeouts.

Single game tickets for the 2019 Washington Valor regular season, presented by Capital One, are on sale now. Fans looking to purchase single game tickets may visit the team website or call 202-661-5005. The Valor will play six regular season home games, all at Capital One Arena, including the team’s home opener on Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. against the Atlantic City Blackjacks and the regular season finale on Saturday, July 20 at 3:30 p.m. against the Columbus Destroyers.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON VALOR

The AFL’s Washington Valor, 2018 ArenaBowl Champions, are owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. MSE owns and operates seven professional sports teams: the Valor, AFL’s Baltimore Brigade, NBA's Washington Wizards, NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go, NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, WNBA’s Washington Mystics and the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is also co-owner of aXiomatic, which has controlling interest in global esports franchise Team Liquid, and owns and operates Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also manages MedStar Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals and EagleBank Arena on George Mason University's campus. In conjunction with the District of Columbia and Events DC, MSE is a partner in a new sports and entertainment facility in Southeast DC on the St. Elizabeth’s East campus that opened in September 2018.