The AF1 Continues to Grow

Arena Football One officials say the league continues to see strong digital growth during the second half of the 2026 season, particularly through YouTube streaming and expanding social media engagement.

AF1 announced this week that its YouTube viewership increased 36 percent during Weeks 5-8 compared to Weeks 1-4 of the regular season. League officials also reported overall social media followership increased 11 percent during the same period.

League executives believe the decision to make games widely available online without a subscription paywall has helped attract new viewers to arena football.

“Being on YouTube is attracting many new fans to the sport by removing the barrier to entry,” said Jared DeGroff, AF1’s vice president of marketing and communications.

The league has aggressively emphasized digital accessibility throughout the season, streaming games nationally while also pushing highlights, interviews and behind-the-scenes content across multiple social media platforms.

The strategy comes as AF1 attempts to establish itself in a crowded sports and entertainment marketplace while rebuilding fan interest in arena football following years of instability across several indoor leagues.

The league currently features franchises in Albany, Nashville, Minnesota, Kentucky, Washington, Oregon, Oceanside, Michigan and Beaumont.

Defending Arena Crown champion Albany has emerged as the league’s flagship franchise both competitively and from an attendance standpoint, while Nashville also has established itself as one of the league’s stronger markets during the first half of the season.

AF1 officials believe continued digital growth will remain critical to the league’s long-term sustainability as teams work to expand local fan bases, increase sponsorship revenue and strengthen overall league visibility entering the playoff push.