Amongst a packed crowd at the Crane Trust in Wood River, officials from the Arena League announced that the name for Grand Island’s indoor football team will be the Nebraska Siege. The team also announced former Duke City Gladiators founder and executive Matthew Caward as their General Manager.
The name “Nebraska Siege” pays tribute to the yearly sandhill crane migration, alongside the legacy of the Grand Island Army Airfield. The team colors are black, crimson, cream, and olive drab. The logo was designed by Ryan Foose of Foose Sports, and included seven logos, including four with a crane mascot. Over 800 mascot entries were made, and fans at the press conference listed the Bombers, Cranes, and Thunder as potential mascots.
The logos that will be used by the Nebraska Siege (Alex Hammeke, CentralNebraskaTODAY.com)
Caward moved to Grand Island in 2025 after his retirement from Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue in Albuquerque, NM. While in Albuquerque, he also was the founder, owner, and general manager of the Duke City Gladiators. The Gladiators would win two Champions Indoor Football championships, winning Champions Bowl IV over the Sioux City Bandits, 31-27. The Gladiators would repeat in 2019, winning Champions Bowl V over the Salina Liberty, 35-29.
Caward said in the press conference that he has a head coach in mind that he worked with when he was previously with the Duke City Gladiators, and that there will be tryouts in the near future to fill the roster.
The Nebraska Siege is one of three expansion teams in The Arena League, which is entering its third season. Other expansion teams are in Memphis, Tennessee and Monroe, Louisiana; and have yet to have their team names announced. Other teams in the Arena League are in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (Eau Claire Axmen), Hot Springs Arkansas (Arkansas Diamonds), Springfield, Missouri (Ozarks Lunkers), and St. Joseph, Missouri (St. Joseph Goats).
Arena Football is not new to Grand Island, as the Nebraska Danger played at the Heartland Events Center from 2011-2019, owned by Bosselman Entertainment LLC. The Danger won three conference titles in the Indoor Football League, but lost three straight United Bowls, all to the Sioux Falls Storm. Former owner and team president Charlie Bosselman was named to the IFL’s Hall of Fame in 2022.
The Arena League plays eight games in a nine week schedule, taking the July 4th weekend off league-wide. The Siege will play their season opener at home on May 30 against Memphis, and are on the road the next week in Monroe. The team returns home on June 13 against Eau Claire, and their final two home games are on June 27 against Iowa and July 18 against St. Joseph.
Nebraska Siege 2026 Schedule (Home Games in BOLD)
May 30 – Memphis @ Siege
June 6 – Siege @ Monroe
June 13 – Eau Claire @ Siege
June 20 – Siege @ St. Joseph
June 27 – Iowa @ Siege
July 11 – Siege @ Eau Claire
July 18 – St. Joesph @ Siege
July 25 – Siege @ Iowa
