By Michael Heilman

The National Arena League announced today that the West Virginia Roughriders are joining the league in 2020. The Roughriders have played in the American Arena League and won the AAL championship in 2019. The Roughriders play at the WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, WV.

Gregg Fornario, the owner of West Virginia Roughriders, said, “We are very excited to be a part of the NAL. It’s a very competitive league with great coached teams, and outstanding players, I am thrilled to be among the great ownership groups they have throughout the league, and we will be ready to compete in 2020.”

The Roughriders will be the sixth team to join the NAL after both the NAL and CIF canceled their merger last week. The teams that are now part of the NAL are the West Virginia Roughriders, Massachusetts Pirates, Orlando Predators, Jacksonville Sharks, Carolina Cobras, and Columbus Lions.

NAL Commissioner Chris Seigfried commented on the Roughriders joining the league, saying, “we are thrilled with the addition of the West Virginia Roughriders for 2020. West Virginia brings us a quality team with excellent ownership. They are a fantastic addition to the NAL’s east coast footprint.”