Arena football league cancels upcoming season
Michigan
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in Sports Talk
A few days ago they said they were not going to cancel and now they say they are.
After days of speculation about its uncertain future, the Arena Football League announced Monday that it will suspend the 2009 season in hopes of returning in 2010.
The decision was made by the league’s board of directors during a conference call Sunday night.
“Owners … recognize that, especially in light of the current unprecedented economic climate, the AFL, as a business enterprise, needs to be restructured if it is to continue to provide its unique brand of this affordable, fan-friendly sport,” said acting commissioner Ed Policy in a statement.
The announcement should finally bring an end to a tumultuous offseason for the 16-team league, which includes the Kansas City Brigade, as the AFL had not released a schedule for the 2009 season and several times delayed the start of free-agency and the dispersal draft for the New Orleans VooDoo, which folded in October.
Speculation about the 22-year old league’s future only intensified in recent weeks, when it became apparent that a $100 million deal the cash-strapped league struck in October with Platinum Equity, LLC, was in limbo. The deal, which was supposed to be completed in November, would have given the AFL the infusion of capital it badly needed and allowed Platinum to operate the league as a single entity.
But with the deal in a state of flux, it is believed that several owners wanted to suspend the 2009 season to find another investor or explore other financial options.
That belief was confirmed Wednesday by Brigade officials and Los Angeles Avengers co-owner Casey Wasserman, who told The Los Angeles Times that the league’s owners would soon vote to cancel the upcoming season.
Still, some grew hopeful that there would be a season, especially after the league’s board of directors held a conference call Wednesday and issued a statement afterward saying the league “has not suspended the 2009 season at this time.”
But the vote only delayed the inevitable, as the league’s owners came to the decision Sunday night and made it official Monday.
After days of speculation about its uncertain future, the Arena Football League announced Monday that it will suspend the 2009 season in hopes of returning in 2010.
The decision was made by the league’s board of directors during a conference call Sunday night.
“Owners … recognize that, especially in light of the current unprecedented economic climate, the AFL, as a business enterprise, needs to be restructured if it is to continue to provide its unique brand of this affordable, fan-friendly sport,” said acting commissioner Ed Policy in a statement.
The announcement should finally bring an end to a tumultuous offseason for the 16-team league, which includes the Kansas City Brigade, as the AFL had not released a schedule for the 2009 season and several times delayed the start of free-agency and the dispersal draft for the New Orleans VooDoo, which folded in October.
Speculation about the 22-year old league’s future only intensified in recent weeks, when it became apparent that a $100 million deal the cash-strapped league struck in October with Platinum Equity, LLC, was in limbo. The deal, which was supposed to be completed in November, would have given the AFL the infusion of capital it badly needed and allowed Platinum to operate the league as a single entity.
But with the deal in a state of flux, it is believed that several owners wanted to suspend the 2009 season to find another investor or explore other financial options.
That belief was confirmed Wednesday by Brigade officials and Los Angeles Avengers co-owner Casey Wasserman, who told The Los Angeles Times that the league’s owners would soon vote to cancel the upcoming season.
Still, some grew hopeful that there would be a season, especially after the league’s board of directors held a conference call Wednesday and issued a statement afterward saying the league “has not suspended the 2009 season at this time.”
But the vote only delayed the inevitable, as the league’s owners came to the decision Sunday night and made it official Monday.
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<< <i>And a nation mourns............... >>
I'm bummed. The Orlando Predators and Tampa Bay Storm were two of the most successful teams in the history of the league. Nothin like the war on I-4!
Tickets were cheap, games were packed, and they were a lot of fun to go to. I'll miss them and I hope they can come back for 2010.
It's official: Arena Football League scraps '09 season
Destroyers to give refunds of season-ticket deposits
Monday, December 15, 2008 12:52 PM
By Bill Rabinowitz
Rumor and speculation finally has turned into fact. The Arena Football League will not play next year.
The league announced it will take the 2009 season off while it works on developing a long-term plan to improve its economic model.
"On behalf of the Columbus Destroyers, I am disappointed we had to suspend operations but believe it is the proper decision at this time," Destroyers partner and managing board member Jim Renacci said in a statement. "We, along with other professional sports leagues, are experiencing the worst economic times in over 30 years. As a league, we now must start to build a solid economic plan and we will begin to develop that plan in the next 24 hours.
"The fans of this community have shown great passion and support for the Destroyers over the past five seasons and I sincerely thank them for that. Over the next few months, the league will develop a long term plan so that hopefully our fans will once again be able to see Destroyers football, the affordable sports entertainment product they have come to expect and enjoy."
The team announced that fans who made a deposit for 2009 Destroyers season tickets will be entitled to a full refund. Account representatives from the Nationwide Arena ticketing office will call customers to arrange for the refund. Customers also may call 1-800-265-7235 to speak to an account representative.
If the AFL does make a comeback, Renacci will lead the way. He serves as vice chairman of the AFL Executive Committee and has been asked by the board of directors to spearhead the restructuring process.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com
<< <i>From today's Columbus Dispatch:
It's official: Arena Football League scraps '09 season
Destroyers to give refunds of season-ticket deposits
Monday, December 15, 2008 12:52 PM
By Bill Rabinowitz
Rumor and speculation finally has turned into fact. The Arena Football League will not play next year.
The league announced it will take the 2009 season off while it works on developing a long-term plan to improve its economic model.
"On behalf of the Columbus Destroyers, I am disappointed we had to suspend operations but believe it is the proper decision at this time," Destroyers partner and managing board member Jim Renacci said in a statement. "We, along with other professional sports leagues, are experiencing the worst economic times in over 30 years. As a league, we now must start to build a solid economic plan and we will begin to develop that plan in the next 24 hours.
"The fans of this community have shown great passion and support for the Destroyers over the past five seasons and I sincerely thank them for that. Over the next few months, the league will develop a long term plan so that hopefully our fans will once again be able to see Destroyers football, the affordable sports entertainment product they have come to expect and enjoy."
The team announced that fans who made a deposit for 2009 Destroyers season tickets will be entitled to a full refund. Account representatives from the Nationwide Arena ticketing office will call customers to arrange for the refund. Customers also may call 1-800-265-7235 to speak to an account representative.
If the AFL does make a comeback, Renacci will lead the way. He serves as vice chairman of the AFL Executive Committee and has been asked by the board of directors to spearhead the restructuring process.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com >>
Both of the season ticket holders will be happy about that.
No more San Jose Sabre Kitten cheerleaders to entertain the crowds at the San Jose Arena, home of the Sabre Cats.