AFL, ESPN agree to multiyear deal

The Arena Football League announced Tuesday a multi-year agreement with ESPN, which receives the rights to at least 10 regular-season games, playoff games and the ArenaBowl, and at least 75 games on ESPN3. ESPN televised the first ArenaBowl in 1987, regular-season and playoff games from 1995-99, playoff games from 2000-02 and regular-season and playoff games from 2007-08. CBS Sports Network, which televised AFL games last season, will continue in that role for the 2014 season. The AFL’s TV schedule will be announced at a later date. The agreement with ESPN brings additional exposure for the AFL. – Jim Meehan