By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It has been a tough last eight or nine months for Philadelphia sports fans.

Eagles, Phillies and Union all struggled through disappointing seasons, the Sixers haven’t played real well and there has yet to be any hockey, but one franchise in Philadelphia is enjoying an unusual buzz heading into its 2013 season.

These are good days for The Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football league. Coming off an appearance in the Arena Bowl, the Soul are enjoying significant increases across the board in group sales and sponsorship.

“I’m not really sure if the down years for the other teams have a whole lot to do with the success we’re having right now, but there is definitely a noticeable difference this off-season compared to the last two,” says John Adams, vice president and chief operating officer of the Soul.

Listen to Matt Leon’s interview with John Adams:

He says that they also have already enjoyed a 60 percent renewal rate of season tickets three and a half months before the first home game.

“And [we] had a lot of new season ticket holders, kind of [a] push, the first month after the season, but it’s kind of held steady, hasn’t really dipped off completely off the radar, like it typically would in a normal Arena Football League off-season,” Adams explains.

The Soul open the season March 23rd in Arizona.