Editing AF2 (section)

{{Short description|Former Arena Football League's developmental league}}
{{distinguish|2 AF}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox sports league
| current_season = 
| logo           = Arenafootball2.webp
| pixels         = 150px
| caption        =
| sport          = [[Arena football]]
| founded        = 1999
| ceo            = [[Jerry Kurz]]
| motto          =
| inaugural      = [[2000 AF2 season|2000]]
| teams          = 25
| country        = United States
| champion       = [[Spokane Shock]]
| most_champs    = (tie) [[Quad City Steamwheelers]], [[Tulsa Talons]] & [[Spokane Shock]] (2)
| qualification  =
| website        = 
| singles        =
| folded         = [[2009 AF2 season|2009]]
| TV             =
| related_comps  =
| Founder        = [[Arena Football League]]
}}

The '''AF2''' (often styled as '''af2''', and short for '''arenafootball2''') was the [[Arena Football League]]'s [[minor league|developmental league]]; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000.  Like its parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same [[arena football]] rules and style of play.  League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and [[ArenaCup]] championship in August.  The AF2 continued to operate while the AFL suspended operations for its 2009 season.  The league was effectively disbanded in September 2009 when no team committed to playing in 2010, but several of the stronger franchises transferred into the reconstituted AFL.<ref name="barnstormers">{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Dan |date=September 9, 2009 |title=Barnstormers hope to land in top tier of redefined league |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090909/SPORTS01/90909049/1023/SPORTS |access-date=September 29, 2009 |work=Des Moines Register}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

Like most other minor sports leagues, the AF2 existed to develop [[American football|football]] players and also to help players adapt to the style and pace of [[arena football]]. In addition, the AF2 was similar to other minor leagues because AF2 teams played in smaller cities and smaller venues. While the AFL was played in cities like Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Chicago, the AF2 fielded teams in cities which are part of [[List of United States metropolitan statistical areas|metropolitan statistical areas]] ranging in size from [[Milwaukee]] (with 1,739,497 residents) to [[Albany, Georgia]] (with 164,000 residents). Also in common with other minor professional sports leagues, players also earned less than in the AFL, with each player making $200-$500 per game, with a minimum $50 victory bonus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Silver |first=Steve |date=2009-08-22 |title=They play arena football for love, not money |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/aug/22/arena-football-attracts-lovers-and-dreamers/ |website=Las Vegas Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eminian |first=Dave |date=2008-12-16 |title=AFL closure won't affect Pirates, af2 |url=https://www.pjstar.com/article/20081216/NEWS/312169928 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717150111/https://www.pjstar.com/article/20081216/NEWS/312169928 |archive-date=2021-07-17 |website=Journal Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=origcol&writer=115&article=2504|title=ArenaFan Originals&nbsp;— Interview with Head Coach Adam Shackleford|work=ArenaFan.com|access-date=22 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=2129865&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=590572&rfi=8 |title=Arena lands off-the-wall bathroom |date=2001-07-25 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>