This time, officials said, they're coming back because it makes good business sense.

"It's great to have that blind date the first time, but you know you're serious if you go out again," AFL commissioner David Baker said during today's announcement that Arena Bowl 22 would be in New Orleans.

"We were impressed," Baker said. "Everybody who was here thought it was a success."

Baker said the decision to return stems in large part from the city's exceptional fan support for the league.

The local team, the New Orleans VooDoo, was dormant for one season after Katrina hit, flooding much of the city and causing minor damage to the New Orleans Arena.

But the VooDoo sold out every game upon starting up again last season in the repaired arena, which holds 16,021 for arena football. The team also set a league record for season tickets sold with more than 13,000.

Arena Bowl 21, featuring teams from San Jose and Columbus, also sold out, while festivities tied to the game around the city also were well-attended.

"It's very important to our community because our community needs a lot of support," said Tom Benson, owner of both the NFL's New Orleans Saints and the VooDoo. "This is just one of the things that the VooDoo and the New Orleans Saints are doing to keep this community on the right track. ... The commissioner and all of the other owners recognize that this is a great place."

Although the city still covets a 10th Super Bowl, the Arena Bowl's return represents another victory for the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, which works to lure large sporting events here.

The Sugar Bowl returned successfully last year and this year is expected to sell out with Georgia and Hawai'i in the game. A week later, the Louisiana Superdome will host the BCS national championship. In February, the NBA All-Star game comes to the New Orleans Arena, where the NBA's Hornets also have returned full time this season. In March, the arena hosts a regional round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.