They used to play a bowl game in Atlantic City Convention Hall. Yes, a football game indoors in a venue that was far from a domed stadium. New Jersey went that one better on Friday as the Billings Outlaws defeated the Albany Firebirds, 46-41, in Arena Bowl XXXIII.
How was the Boardwalk Bowl one-upped in the Garden State? The Arena League Championship was played in a mall. Yes, a shopping mall. The American Dream in East Rutherford.
“A site for a championship game unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”
ArenaBowl XXXIII from American Dream mall starts right now on CBS Sports Network! pic.twitter.com/MVaFrEHvuf
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) July 19, 2024
Billings held off Albany to win its first Arena League championship. The Firebirds had new ownership in 2024 after a short and chaotic run with Antonio Brown — yes, that Antonio Brown — as their owner in 2023.
The star of the game was Duane Brown, who caught nine passes for 125 yards and five touchdowns. Isaac Harker threw the TD passes.
What opening kickoff looks like from inside American Dream shopping mall.
ArenaBowl XXXIII pic.twitter.com/p4YVOSFx74
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) July 19, 2024
For Albany, Jake Medlock threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Medlock injured his leg during the game, had a brace put on it and somehow managed to finish the contest while limping badly.
Firebirds kicker Dylan Moghaddam works as a mechanic in Florida.
His last kicking job was in Germany.
He got a call on Wednesday asking him to join the team for the title game.
Today’s ArenaBowl is the first time he has kicked in an Arena Football Game in his life. pic.twitter.com/sEPt9qKOMr
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) July 20, 2024
The Boardwalk Bowl, along with the Liberty Bowl (played at Convention Hall in December 1964), showed football could be played indoors. And we all know where that has taken football. Massive domed stadiums across the country.