[1] The league was first announced in February 2023, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown as TAL Commissioner.

[2] The league then released a list of ten semi-finalist markets, which people could vote for the city to be a part of the inaugural season: Waterloo, Iowa; Kansas City, Missouri; Springfield, Missouri; Rochester, Minnesota; Little Rock, Arkansas; Rockford, Illinois; Dubuque, Iowa; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Duluth, Minnesota and Wichita Falls, Texas with fans casting their votes at the AL official website.

[11] On April 5, 2024, the league released a list of five markets, which people could vote via a poll on their website for the city to be an expansion franchise beginning in the 2025 season.

The five markets included: Dallas, Texas; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; St. Joseph, Missouri; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Rochester, Minnesota, which was a part of the inaugural season voting.

[13] The Arena League's rules aim to highlight the player's athleticism and increase the pace of play.

The field is traditional arena football size, measuring 50 yards long and 85 feet wide enclosed by padded walls.

[22][23][24][11] In late 2024, Benizio announced the launch of the Entertainment Football Association, which will follow identical rules to TAL but with a separate schedule and geographic footprint centered on the Eastern Seaboard, with another Hall of Famer, Andre Reed, as commissioner of that league.

Bond leads a small group financing the league; Bond is a political advisor in Kansas City and has served as owner of several professional sports teams including the Sioux City Bandits, Topeka Tropics, and Topeka Golden Giants.