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Arena Football One on Tuesday announced a sharp increase in digital viewership during the opening weeks of the 2026 season, pointing to continued growth in the league’s digital audience.
Through the first three weeks of play, AF1 reported a 1,445% rise in total views compared with the same period in 2025. The league said that early-season performance has already reached 63% of its total 2025 digital viewership.
The growth follows AF1’s continued emphasis on a digital-first strategy, including expanded streaming access and enhanced high-definition broadcasts.
“A 1,445% increase is simply too big to ignore,” AF1 Commissioner Jeff Fisher said in a prepared statement. “It’s a testament to the fact that when you respect the game and you respect the fans, they respond. Our fans want to be part of the action, and we’re making sure they have a front-row seat, regardless of where they are watching.”
Additional data provided by AF1 communications director Jared DeGroff shows sustained year-over-year growth across the league’s digital platforms. Total reach increased from 140,000 to 196,600 annual views within the first four months of 2026, a 40.4% gain compared with the previous year.
DeGroff said much of that growth came late in the cycle, signaling strong momentum as the 2025 season progressed.
Early-season engagement has also accelerated. AF1 recorded 125,256 views in Weeks 1-3 of the 2026 season, compared with 8,103 views during the same stretch in 2025 — an increase of more than 1,400%.
League officials said theaf1.com continues to serve as the primary hub for streaming and fan interaction, consistently outperforming prior benchmarks.
AF1 is a professional arena football league focused on high-scoring gameplay and fan accessibility. Games are streamed live each weekend on the league’s official website, with additional content available across its social media platforms.
