War on I-4 (arena football)

The War on I–4 was a rivalry between the Tampa Bay Storm and the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League. The teams met at least twice and up to four times a season starting in 1991, and both were consistently at the top of the league standings. The rivalry has been compared to the Yankees – Red Sox rivalry in Major League Baseball.[1]

This article is about the Arena Football League rivalry. For the college sports rivalry, see South Florida–UCF rivalry.
Orlando Predators–Tampa Bay Storm
Regular-season history
First meetingJune 1, 1991
Florida Suncoast Dome
St. Petersburg, Florida
First resultPredators 51, Storm 38
Last meetingJune 24, 2016
Amway Center
Orlando, Florida
Last resultPredators 56, Storm 33
Next meetingTBA
Rivalry status61 meetings
Largest victoryPredators 76, Storm 25 (2016)
Smallest victoryPredators 44, Storm 43 (2000)
Storm 63, Predators 62 (2010)
Storm 35, Predators 34 (2014)
Predators 63, Storm 62 (2015)
Current streakPredators, 6
All-Time seriesPredators 34–27
Postseason history
Last MeetingAugust 14, 2010
Last ResultStorm 63, Predators 62
All-Time postseason seriesTied 4–4
Playoff and Championship success
ArenaBowl WinsStorm: V (1991), VII (1993), IX (1995), X (1996), XVII (2003)
Predators: XII (1998), XIV (2000)
ArenaBowl AppearancesStorm: I (1987), III (1989) V (1991) VII (1993), IX (1995), X (1996), XII (1998), XVII (2003), XXIII (2010)
Predators: VI (1992), VIII (1994), IX (1995), XII (1998), XIII (1999), XIV (2000), XX (2006)

Although the Tampa Bay and Orlando markets, separated by an 80-mile stretch of Interstate 4, have teams in each of the major professional sports leagues of the United States and Canada, none of the Big Five leagues had a team in both cities. Orlando has the Magic of the NBA and Orlando City SC of MLS while Tampa Bay hosts the Rays in MLB, Buccaneers in the NFL and Lightning in the NHL. Despite each market being of relatively large size in its own respective right, few leagues (especially those that have had long histories) have attempted to place teams in both cities; this has created few opportunities for the two nearby cities to form rivalries. The Arena Football League was an aberration in this regard when it approved the Orlando Predators as an expansion team in 1991, then allowed for the Pittsburgh Gladiators, a charter AFL team, to relocate to the Tampa Bay area and become the Tampa Bay Storm. The Storm and Predators became instant rivals.

The games were played either at the teams' respective home arenas. At the time the series ended, these arenas were Amway Center for Orlando and Amalie Arena (previously known as the "Ice Palace", "St. Pete Times Forum", and "Tampa Bay Times Forum") for Tampa Bay. Games hosted by the Storm before the 1997 season were held at what is now Tropicana Field, but was known as "Florida Suncoast Dome" before 1994 and "Thunderdome" thereafter. Games hosted by the Predators until the end of the 2010 season were at Hummer Field at the Amway Arena (originally the "Orlando Arena", later "TD Waterhouse Centre"). For the 2014 season, the Predators played at CFE Arena on the campus of The University of Central Florida.

The Predators led the overall series 34–27 in regular season and playoff games combined. The sides met eight times in the AFL playoffs, with each team winning four times, twice being in the ArenaBowl, with each team winning once. Their final playoff meeting was on August 14, 2010 in the American Conference Championship game, in which Tampa Bay won 63–62 as a long field goal attempt by the Predators fell short as time expired.[2]

The games between the teams were notable for featuring some of the highest attendances in AFL history. The ArenaBowl IX title match of September 1, 1995 drew an Arena Bowl record crowd of 25,087 to Thunderdome to see the Storm defeat the Predators by 48–35.[3] Both teams were known to organize bus trips for supporters down Interstate 4 (hence the War on I-4) to the other city to see their squad play.[4]

The series also had the top overall attendance record in league history when Orlando defeated Tampa Bay 46–45 in front of 28,745 at the Florida Suncoast Dome in week 6 of the 1993 AFL season.

In 2010, the rivalry resumed after a year off caused by the Arena Football League suspending operations in 2009. The rivalry ended when Orlando announced they would suspend operations following the conclusion of the 2016 season. Tampa Bay did the same following the 2017 season. The Predators were relaunched as an expansion team in the National Arena League prior to the 2019 season. The Arena Football League ceased operations after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in late 2019.

In Tampa, during the final week of the 2010 regular season, two Orlando players entered the stands and fought with fans just before halftime.[5]

Shortly after the Predators withdrew from the AFL, the University of South Florida, based in Tampa, and the University of Central Florida, based in Orlando, claimed the "War on I-4" name for their own sports rivalries.

Game-by-game results
Season Date Home Team Score Away Team Venue Comp. Atten. Record (ORL–TB)
1991 June 1 Tampa Bay Storm 38–51 Orlando Predators Florida Suncoast Dome Week 1 10,354 1–0
1991 July 27 Orlando Predators 16–26 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 9 13,680 1–1
1992 May 29 Orlando Predators 32–39 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 1 11,312 1–2
1992 July 2 Tampa Bay Storm 33–48 Orlando Predators Florida Suncoast Dome Week 6 20,091 2–2
1992 August 15 Orlando Predators 24–21 (OT) Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena AFL Semifinal 13,680 3–2
1993 May 21 Orlando Predators 46–34 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 2 13,680 4–2
1993 June 19 Tampa Bay Storm 45–46 Orlando Predators Florida Suncoast Dome Week 6 28,745 5–2
1993 August 14 Orlando Predators 52–55 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena AFL Semifinal 13,680 5–3
1994 July 1 Orlando Predators 61–40 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 7 14,015 6–3
1994 August 13 Tampa Bay Storm 40–39 Orlando Predators ThunderDome Week 13 20,819 6–4
1995 July 14 Orlando Predators 34–51 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 10 15,638 6–5
1995 July 29 Tampa Bay Storm 44–20 Orlando Predators ThunderDome Week 12 24,055 6–6
1995 September 1 Tampa Bay Storm 48–35 Orlando Predators ThunderDome ArenaBowl IX 25,087 6–7
1996 May 18 Tampa Bay Storm 63–42 Orlando Predators ThunderDome Week 4 16,444 6–8
1996 July 19 Orlando Predators 40–39 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 13 16,236 7–8
1997 May 17 Tampa Bay Storm 17–43 Orlando Predators Ice Palace Week 3 14,179 8–8
1997 June 27 Orlando Predators 54–30 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 9 16,529 9–8
1998 June 12 Orlando Predators 34–42 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 7 15,948 9–9
1998 June 27 Tampa Bay Storm 56–30 Orlando Predators Ice Palace Week 9 14,125 9–10
1998 August 23 Tampa Bay Storm 31–62 Orlando Predators Ice Palace ArenaBowl XII 17,222 10–10
1999 June 12 Orlando Predators 37–63 Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Arena Week 8 15,101 10–11
1999 July 11 Tampa Bay Storm 47–28 Orlando Predators Ice Palace Week 12 11,777 10–12
1999 August 7 Tampa Bay Storm 19–41 Orlando Predators Ice Palace AFL Quarterfinal 10,706 11–12
2000 May 12 Orlando Predators 44–43 Tampa Bay Storm TD Waterhouse Centre Week 5 13,342 12–12
2000 July 1 Tampa Bay Storm 50–36 Orlando Predators Ice Palace Week 12 14,047 12–13
2000 August 3 Orlando Predators 34–24 Tampa Bay Storm TD Waterhouse Centre AFL Quarterfinal 13,122 13–13
2001 June 10 Orlando Predators 57–45 Tampa Bay Storm TD Waterhouse Centre Week 9 13,691 14–13
2001 July 1 Tampa Bay Storm 38–46 Orlando Predators Ice Palace Week 12 17,634 15–13
2002 June 9 Tampa Bay Storm 48–45 Orlando Predators TD Waterhouse Centre Week 8 12,855 15–14
2002 July 7 Tampa Bay Storm 48–55 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 12 11,784 16–14
2003 February 9 Orlando Predators 54–51 Tampa Bay Storm TD Waterhouse Centre Week 2 13,541 17–14
2003 March 16 Tampa Bay Storm 52–32 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 7 15,054 17–15
2003 June 7 Tampa Bay Storm 60–50 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum AFL Semifinal 14,028 17–16
2004 February 8 Tampa Bay Storm 52–41 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 1 15,404 17–17
2004 May 2 Orlando Predators 58–63 Tampa Bay Storm TD Waterhouse Centre Week 13 13,714 17–18
2005 February 11 Orlando Predators 61–46 Tampa Bay Storm TD Waterhouse Centre Week 3 14,478 18–18
2005 April 9 Tampa Bay Storm 42–54 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 11 18,794 18–19
2006 February 19 Tampa Bay Storm 64–67 (OT) Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 4 14,692 19–19
2006 April 22 Orlando Predators 52–13 Tampa Bay Storm TD Waterhouse Centre Week 13 15,920 20–19
2007 March 2 Tampa Bay Storm 27–52 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 1 15,920 21–19
2007 April 14 Orlando Predators 61–37 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Arena Week 7 15,920 22–19
2008 April 26 Orlando Predators 41–48 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Arena Week 9 13,365 22–20
2008 June 7 Tampa Bay Storm 71–61 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 15 17,344 22–21
2010 May 28 Orlando Predators 50–62 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Arena Week 9 10,924 22–22
2010 July 31 Tampa Bay Storm 60–75 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 18 17,302 23–22
2010 August 14 Tampa Bay Storm 63–62 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum AFL Semifinal 10,104 23–23
2011 May 6 Orlando Predators 63–61 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Center Week 9 12,897 24–23
2011 June 17 Tampa Bay Storm 46–44 Orlando Predators St. Pete Times Forum Week 15 11,151 24–24
2012 May 5 Tampa Bay Storm 55–31 Orlando Predators Tampa Bay Times Forum Week 9 8,488 24–25
2012 June 15 Orlando Predators 64–40 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Center Week 15 12,441 25–25
2013 April 20 Orlando Predators 35–53 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Center Week 5 11,969 25–26
2013 June 8 Tampa Bay Storm 48–55 Orlando Predators Tampa Bay Times Forum Week 12 14,041 26–26
2014 March 29 Tampa Bay Storm 52–56 Orlando Predators Tampa Bay Times Forum Week 3 10,896 27–26
2014 April 19 Orlando Predators 77–65 Tampa Bay Storm CFE Arena Week 6 5,434 28–26
2014 June 21 Tampa Bay Storm 35–34 Orlando Predators Tampa Bay Times Forum Week 15 11,890 28–27
2015 May 16 Orlando Predators 63–62 (OT) Tampa Bay Storm Amway Center Week 8 10,973 29–27
2015 July 11 Tampa Bay Storm 62–69 Orlando Predators Amalie Arena Week 16 15,835 30–27
2015 August 8 Orlando Predators 59–40 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Center Week 20 15,188 31–27
2016 April 1 Tampa Bay Storm 25–76 Orlando Predators Amalie Arena Week 1 9,928 32–27
2016 May 13 Orlando Predators 42–40 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Center Week 7 12,971 33–27
2016 June 24 Orlando Predators 56–33 Tampa Bay Storm Amway Center Week 13 13,527 34–27

Winner in bold.

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References
  1. Pickard, B. J. (June 14, 2011). "The War on I-4: AFL's Biggest Rivals Collide in Tampa". Arena Football League. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  2. "Storm Punch Ticket To ArenaBowl XXIII With 63-62 Win Over Predators". Arena Football League. August 14, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  3. Fran Stuchbury (June 6, 2005). "City reveals vision for Amway Arena area". Our Sports Central. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  4. "Bus Trip to Tampa Announced" Retrieved August 3, 2010
  5. Brandon Wright (August 1, 2010). "Orlando Predators tangle with fans, top Tampa Bay Storm 75–60". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
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