TUCSON, Arizona — The Tucson Sugar Skulls and the Indoor Football League are delaying the start of the season until May in an effort to have more fans in attendance.
"What the league was trying to do was give everybody a fair chance to get their season started with the least amount of restrictions based on their market," said Sugar Skulls co-owner Cathy Guy.
Tucson's season opener will now take place on Friday, May 21 at 5:05 p.m. in Wisconsin against the Green Bay Blizzard.
Following a two-game road trip to start the 2021 regular season, the Sugar Skulls will play their home opener at Tucson Arena on Saturday, June 5 at 6:05 p.m., when they host the Iowa Barnstormers: former team of current Sugar Skulls Head Coach Dixie Wooten.
The Arizona Rattlers only trip to Tucson will be on Fourth of July weekend, Saturday, July 3 at 6:05 p.m. The Sugar Skulls will also visit the Rattlers in Phoenix on Saturday, June 12 and Saturday, August 7.
Three of the four new IFL teams in 2021 will visit the Sugar Skulls during the regular season. The Sugar Skulls will host the Duke City Gladiators on Saturday, July 10 at 6:05 p.m., and on Saturday, August 14 at 6:05 p.m. for their regular season home finale. They’ll also host the Massachusetts Pirates on Saturday, June 19 at 6:05 p.m. and the Northern Arizona Wranglers on Saturday, July 31 at 6:05 p.m.
"We know that there are people for have been stuck at home for a year, now, and they are ready to get out," added Guy. "And, a Sugar Skulls game is probably a really good place to start."
