ORLANDO,FL - The Orlando Predators unveiled the team’s 2016 schedule today as the franchise opens its 25th season in the Arena Football League. The AFL will feature eight teams in 2016, with each team playing 16 games and receiving two byes during the 18-week regular season schedule.

Predators fans will have the opportunity to see a diverse group of opponents in 2016, as Orlando’s eight-game home schedule features matchups against seven different teams and includes six Saturday night games and two Friday night contests. Following the regular season, all Orlando Predators Season Ticket Holders will receive the first two home playoff games at no additional cost.

The Predators return to the Amway Center to kick off their 2016 slate of home games on Saturday, April 9 when the team battles the Portland Thunder in Week 2. On Saturday, April 23, Orlando takes on the LA KISS in a Week 4 matchup against the team owned by rock band front men Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

The Predators host back-to-back home games in Weeks 6-7, beginning with a contest against the Arizona Rattlers on Saturday, May 7. The Amway Center twice plays host to the AFL’s most storied rivalry as the Predators battle the Tampa Bay Storm in the “War on I-4” on Friday, May 13 and again on Friday, June 24 in Week 13.

Orlando gets a shot at revenge on Saturday, May 28 as the team takes on the intrastate-rival Jacksonville Sharks in a rematch of the 2015 playoffs. The Predators then host the Cleveland Gladiators on Saturday, June 11 before closing out the 2016 regular season against the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday, July 30.

With the change to a 16-game regular season schedule for the 2016 season, the AFL Board of Directors has approved an eight-team postseason tournament format to determine the ArenaBowl XXIX champion. In this format, all teams qualify for the postseason and will be seeded according to overall record. The regular season Conference Champions will be placed in the No. 1 and 2 seeds, while the remaining field will be filled in according to overall record, regardless of conference affiliation.

The Predators will be joined in the American Conference by the Jacksonville Sharks, Philadelphia Soul, and Tampa Bay Storm, while the National Conference will be comprised of the Arizona Rattlers, Cleveland Gladiators, LA KISS, and Portland Thunder.

Season ticket packages start at $200 per seat and are available by calling the Orlando Predators at 407-355-2200. Packages up to $2,200 per seat offer exclusive benefits such as a vacation at Westgate Las Vegas or Westgate River Ranch, invitations to player meet-and-greet-events at Westgate Resorts properties, access to team practices, complimentary drinks during our pre-game reception and complimentary parking in the GEICO Garage.

Promotional and broadcast schedules for the 2016 Predators season will be announced at a later date. Story complements provided by Bright House Bay News 9.