2016 United Bowl Explained

Game Name:United Bowl
Date Game Played:July 23
Year Game Played:2016
Stadium:Denny Sanford Premier Center
City:Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.
Home School:Sioux Falls Storm
Home Name Short:Sioux Falls
Home Nickname:Storm
Home Record:15–1
Home Conference:United
Home Coach:Kurtiss Riggs
Home 1Q:0
Home 2Q:20
Home 3Q:14
Home 4Q:21
Visitor School:Spokane Empire
Visitor Name Short:Spokane
Visitor Nickname:Empire
Visitor Record:12–4
Visitor Conference:Intense
Visitor Coach:Adam Shackleford
Visitor 1Q:7
Visitor 2Q:6
Visitor 3Q:7
Visitor 4Q:14
Mvp:Sioux Falls QB Lorenzo Brown
Attendance:9,000
Game Link:United Bowl (IFL)
Different Last:2015
Different Next:2017

The 2016 United Bowl was the championship game of the 2016 Indoor Football League season. It was played between the Intense Conference Champion Spokane Empire and the United Conference Champion Sioux Falls Storm. The game was played at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Sioux Falls Storm beat the Spokane Empire, 55–34.[1] This was the Storm's sixth United Bowl championship and seventh overall United Bowl appearance. It was the Spokane Empire's first United Bowl appearance.

Venue

The game was played at Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as the Sioux Falls Storm had the home field advantage by cause of having a better regular season record.

Background

Spokane Empire

See also: 2016 Spokane Empire season.

On September 1, 2015, the Spokane Shock left the Arena Football League for the IFL. They changed their names to the Empire, as the AFL owned the rights to the Shock name. The Empire finished the season with a conference best 12–4, earning the first seed in the Intense Conference and a first round bye. In the conference championship, they defeated the Nebraska Danger at home in a 55–44 contest.

Sioux Falls Storm

See also: 2016 Sioux Falls Storm season.

In 2016, the Storm began the regular season with four straight wins before their first road-bump in a loss to the Cedar Rapids Titans. They rebounded from that loss with eleven consecutive victories to finish the season with a 15–1 record, and first place in the United Conference. Sioux Falls clinched home field advantage and a first round bye due to their conference finish. In the conference championship, they defeated the Cedar Rapids Titans at home by a score of 54–28.

Notes and References

  1. News: Storm earn sixth IFL championship. Mick. Garry. Argus Leader. July 23, 2016. February 13, 2024.