USA FOOTBALL TO HOST EXHIBITION GAME BETWEEN THE SPRING LEAGUE AND JAPAN NATIONAL TEAM AT THE STAR IN FRISCO
INDIANAPOLIS – USA Football will host an exhibition game between The Spring League, an elite professional football development league, and a Japan National Team managed by the Japan American Football Association (JAFA), on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, it was announced today.
Kickoff time is set for 5:00 p.m. CST. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, Dec. 1 with a limited number of VIP/sideline passes to be available as well. The game will utilize an NFL rules format and feature marching bands and cheerleaders from the Frisco Independent School District. Full team rosters will be announced in February. For more information, visit www.thespringleague.com.
“We are proud of this unique opportunity to advance, unify and grow our sport through this international matchup,” said AARON INGRAM, senior manager of U.S. National Teams for USA Football. “Football unites us in unique, powerful ways, and we look forward to convene these athletes and coaches across 6,000 miles to the global football destination of North Texas.”
“We are excited to take part in this first-of-its-kind pro football exhibition played in the U.S.,” said BRIAN WOODS, CEO of The Spring League. “The exhibition game with Japan will help to solidify TSL as the premier development platform for both domestic and international talent.”
“It is a great pleasure to have a game between our National Team playing against a team from The Spring League, and we would like to thank USA Football for organizing this inaugural event,” said JAFA President MAKOTO KUNIYOSHI. “We have learned a lot about American Football from the United States and are very excited about this opportunity. We expect Team Japan to prepare their very best and hope to have a great game.”
Established in 2017, The Spring League (TSL) serves as a development league and showcase for professional football talent. Since its inception, approximately 88 TSL players have signed with an NFL club. Another 51 TSL alumni have signed with CFL teams and most recently, 33 were drafted by the XFL, a proposed league slated to begin play in 2020. Earlier this year, the XFL announced The Spring League as a partner to scout talent, test potential rule adjustments and experiment with potential in-game technologies.
A fellow member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) along with USA Football, JAFA oversees junior high school, high school, collegiate, club and corporate American Football teams throughout Japan. It also organizes the Japan National Team for international competition.
About USA Football: USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance, unify and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and organizer of the U.S. National Team for international competition, USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school and other amateur players.
About The Spring League: The Spring League is an elite development league and scouting event for professional football talent. The Spring League spans the course of three weeks each March and utilizes one central location allowing NFL, CFL, and alternative professional football leagues an opportunity to evaluate players in one setting. The League also conducts a series of Showcases throughout the year to provide free agent talent with additional opportunities to be evaluated. Since 2017, over 130 players have been signed by an NFL or CFL team. For more information, please visit www.thespringleague.com.
About the Japan American Football Association (JAFA): The Japan American Football Association oversees junior high school, high school, collegiate, club and corporate American Football teams throughout Japan. Since 1984, the JAFA has organized and sponsored the Rice Bowl, a championship game played between the college national champion and the X-League champion. It also organizes the Japan national American Football teams for international competition.