Arena League suspends operations for 2009
As reported by Dennis Manaloff on Cleveland.com
The Arena Football League has canceled the 2009 season but plans to return in 2010, a league source said.
An official announcement is expected Monday.
The source requested anonymity, saying a six-figure fine looms for talking.
The AFL's board of directors voted via conference call late Sunday to shut down in 2009, the source said. The AFL has 16 teams, including the Gladiators, after New Orleans folded earlier this off-season.
The source said the league voted to shut down in 2009 because too many big-name owners or teams in big-name cities said they would not return in 2009. The source said the list of definite outs included the Dallas Desperados, defending ArenaBowl champion Philadelphia Soul, Colorado Crush, Georgia Force, Chicago Rush and Cleveland.
That's just too damned bad. I'll wait for official word, of course, but just wanted to pass along what I heard...
~ Hath
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2 comments:
From what I understand, the deal breaker was ESPN saying they would not televise games if only 6 or 8 teams were in the league.
For all the leaking that's been done, the AFL should collect the fines and use them to continue operations. ;-)
As a season ticket holder of the Soul, my heart is absolutely breaking. I came to the game late, being a ticketholder for only the last 3 seasons, but I jumped in with both feet and have enjoyed every moment of it. I love the game and I love my team. I love the people I've met at the games, and the smiles we share as we cheer and chant and rant and rave. And wave silly signs. I have been looking forward to the new season practically since the last season ended.
They had better get their shit in order and get this league back on its feet pronto. There's too damned much good in it to just toss to the wayside.
-Stas
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