Definition
The 2011 United Bowl was the championship game of the Indoor Football League (IFL) for the 2011 season, determining the league’s overall champion.
Overview
The contest was held on July 16, 2011, at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It featured the Sioux Falls Storm, who entered the game with an undefeated 15–0 regular‑season record, against the Tri‑Cities Fever, who had secured the West Division title. The Storm won the championship by a narrow margin, defeating the Fever 37–34. The victory marked the Storm’s third consecutive United Bowl title. The game was broadcast regionally on television and streamed online through the IFL’s official platforms.
Etymology / Origin
The term “United Bowl” derives from the league’s historical roots. The Indoor Football League was created in 2008 through the merger of United Indoor Football (UIF) and the Intense Football League. The championship game adopted the “United” designation to acknowledge the UIF component of the league’s lineage.
Characteristics
- Participating Teams: Sioux Falls Storm (North Division champions) vs. Tri‑Cities Fever (West Division champions).
- Final Score: Sioux Falls Storm 37, Tri‑Cities Fever 34.
- Venue: Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; capacity approximately 5,000 for indoor football.
- Attendance: Reported attendance was around 4,300 spectators.
- Key Players: The Storm’s quarterback, Chris Dixon, was instrumental in the offensive performance and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
- Broadcast: The game aired on local television stations and was streamed through the IFL’s official website.
- Significance: The victory affirmed the Storm’s dominance in the early years of the IFL, as they secured their third straight league championship.
Related Topics
- Indoor Football League (IFL)
- Sioux Falls Storm
- Tri‑Cities Fever
- United Indoor Football (pre‑merger league)
- United Bowl (general term for the IFL championship game)
- 2011 Indoor Football League season