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Who are The Cleveland Thunderbolts? The Cleveland Thunderbolts were a team in the Arena Football League.

What is the Arena Football League? The Arena Football League is an indoor football league that was founded in 1987. The league began with 4 franchises, the Chicago Bruisers, Denver Dynamite, Pittsburgh Gladiators, and Washington Commandos, and has since expanded to include 17 franchises and a minor league known as the AF2. The games are played on an indoor padded surface 85 feet wide and 50 yards long with 8-yard endzones. Goal posts are 9-feet wide with a crossbar height of 15 feet (NFL goalposts are 18 1/2 wide with the crossbar at 10 feet). The goalside rebound nets are 30 feet wide by 32 feet high. The bottom of the nets are 8 feet above the ground. Sideline barriers are 48 inches high and made of high-density foam rubber.

Where in Cleveland did the Thunderbolts play their home games? They played their home games in Richfield Coliseum, a suburban stadium they shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA.

How long has Cleveland had an AFL franchise? The Cleveland Thunderbolts began life as the Columbus Thunderbolts in 1991, but relocated to Cleveland after a winless first season in Columbus, where they remained until the team was disbanded in 1994. 2008 marks the return of Arena League football to Cleveland in the form of the Cleveland Gladiators, who are relocating to Cleveland after 4 seasons in New Jersey as the Red Dogs, 2 seasons in New Jersey as the Gladiators, and 5 seasons in Las Vegas as the Gladiators.

Why should you watch the Arena Football League? Arena football is a fast paced game played by a bunch of failed NFL prospects. Despite the lack of star power, arena football is a game for all those who crave the deep ball, strategic passing patterns, and creative defensive schemes. The games are played in an extremely fun atmosphere setup by a league that puts the fans first, and really makes them feel as if they are a part of the game.

When is the next time you can see Cleveland play? The Cleveland Gladiators will make their season debut on March 3, 2008 at 7 PM Eastern Time against the New York Dragons at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, and although, ABC and ESPN 2 air Arena Football League games, this game is not scheduled to air at this time.

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