Week of partying leads up to ArenaBowl

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, June 7, 2005 | 9:46 a.m.

Las Vegas has proven to be a popular destination in the past when it comes to hosting major sporting events like championship boxing matches, NASCAR and the National Finals Rodeo.

Now the city gets to show what it can do with football.

OK, so maybe Sunday afternoon's ArenaBowl XIX pitting the Georgia Force (13-5) and Colorado Crush (12-6) isn't on the level of the Super Bowl, the Bowl Championship Series or probably even the Las Vegas Bowl when it comes to national stature. But the cousin of the National Football League, which begins a three-year title game run at the Thomas & Mack Center, is pulling out all the stops to promote its title game here.

Among the highlights:

Unlike the Super Bowl, where teams usually arrive in town a week before the game and practice, the two ArenaBowl XIX participants won't arrive into town until Thursday afternoon and will practice at the Thomas & Mack on Friday during Media Day activities.

The Crush, who won the American Conference title on Sunday with a dramatic 49-43 sudden-death overtime victory against the Chicago Rush, and the Force, who held off a frantic comeback by the Orlando Predators to claim the National Conference with a 60-58 win, are both making their first trips to the ArenaBowl. It's the first time in 16 years the championship game pits teams that haven't won an AFL title before.

Crush coach Mike Dailey is no newcomer to the title game, however, having directed Albany to the 1999 crown.

Georgia, which went a perfect 10-0 at Philips Arena in Atlanta this year, is coached by former Chicago Bears star Doug Plank. Plank was named the AFL coach of the year last week.

Tickets are still available for Sunday's game by calling 1-866-AFL-TIXS or on the Internet at www.arenafootball.com.