World Bowl (WFL)
Encyclopedia
The World Bowl, also known as World Bowl 1, was the American football
championship game of the short-lived World Football League
. It was televised on TVS Television Network
.
Original plans for the World Bowl had the 1974 championship scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving
1974 at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida
. However, the WFL decided to expand its playoff field from four to six games, pushing the championship back a week; furthermore, the host Jacksonville Sharks folded during the season, leading to the league moving the game to the home stadium of the higher seeded playoff team (in this case, Birmingham). In the end, the Birmingham Americans
defeated the Florida Blazers 22–21 on December 5, 1974 at Legion Field
in Birmingham, Alabama
. A cash prize of $1,000,000 was brought onto Legion Field for the league's MVP
award, which was split between three players. However, after the ceremonies, the locker room of the champion Americans was raided and all team assets, including uniforms, were seized to collect on the team's debts.
The league planned to play World Bowl 2 in 1975, probably at the Gator Bowl after the re-establishment of the Jacksonville franchise. However, the 1974 championship game would be the league's last; the league collapsed midway through the 1975 season. The league awarded their second championship by regular season record, which went to Birmingham
.
had planned on using the World Bowl name for its championship in 1988, but the league folded without playing any games. The World League of American Football
used the name in 1991
and 1992, as did its successor, NFL Europe
, from 1995 to 2007.
When the World Football League was revived as a minor league in 2008, the new league's championship game was also called the World Bowl with the numbering continued from the original. Thus the 2008, 2009, and 2010 championships, all won by the Oklahoma Thunder
, were respectively designated World Bowl II, World Bowl III, and World Bowl IV.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
championship game of the short-lived World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
. It was televised on TVS Television Network
TVS Television Network
The TVS Television Network, or TVS for short, was a syndicator of American sports programming. It was one of several "occasional" national television networks that sprang up in the early 1960s to take advantage of the establishment of independent television stations and relaxation of the AT&T...
.
Original plans for the World Bowl had the 1974 championship scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
1974 at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. However, the WFL decided to expand its playoff field from four to six games, pushing the championship back a week; furthermore, the host Jacksonville Sharks folded during the season, leading to the league moving the game to the home stadium of the higher seeded playoff team (in this case, Birmingham). In the end, the Birmingham Americans
Birmingham Americans
The Birmingham Americans were a professional American football team located in Birmingham, Alabama. They were members of the four-team Central Division of the World Football League . The Americans, founded in late December 1973, played in the upstart league's inaugural season in 1974...
defeated the Florida Blazers 22–21 on December 5, 1974 at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. A cash prize of $1,000,000 was brought onto Legion Field for the league's MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
award, which was split between three players. However, after the ceremonies, the locker room of the champion Americans was raided and all team assets, including uniforms, were seized to collect on the team's debts.
The league planned to play World Bowl 2 in 1975, probably at the Gator Bowl after the re-establishment of the Jacksonville franchise. However, the 1974 championship game would be the league's last; the league collapsed midway through the 1975 season. The league awarded their second championship by regular season record, which went to Birmingham
Birmingham Vulcans
The Birmingham Vulcans were a professional American football team located in Birmingham, Alabama. They were members of the five-team Eastern Division of the World Football League . The Vulcans, founded in March 1975, played in the upstart league's second and final season in 1975...
.
Later use of the term
The World Indoor Football LeagueWorld Indoor Football League
This article is about the proposed league that was to begin in 1988, for the 2007 indoor football league, see World Indoor Football League The World Indoor Football League was an indoor football league that was to begin in 1988 to compete with the Arena Football League, which was playing its second...
had planned on using the World Bowl name for its championship in 1988, but the league folded without playing any games. The World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
used the name in 1991
World Bowl 91
World Bowl '91, also commonly referred to as World Bowl I, was the first annual championship game of the World League of American Football. It took place June 9, 1991 at London's Wembley Stadium. The game featured a matchup between the Barcelona Dragons and the London Monarchs...
and 1992, as did its successor, NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
, from 1995 to 2007.
When the World Football League was revived as a minor league in 2008, the new league's championship game was also called the World Bowl with the numbering continued from the original. Thus the 2008, 2009, and 2010 championships, all won by the Oklahoma Thunder
Oklahoma Thunder
The Oklahoma Thunder are a minor league American football team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Starting with the 2011 season, the team competes in the Gridiron Developmental Football League, playing in the Midwest-North Division in the GDFL's Impact Conference. Players have included Bacone College...
, were respectively designated World Bowl II, World Bowl III, and World Bowl IV.