ArenaBowl VIII was the Arena Football League's eighth ArenaBowl. The game featured the #3 Arizona Rattlers (8-4) of the American Conference against the #1 Orlando Predators (11-1) of the National Conference. The Rattlers were in their very first ArenaBowl appearance in their three-year history, while the Predators were in their second ArenaBowl appearance in their four-season history (having lost to the Detroit Drive in ArenaBowl VI).