AIFA in Wenatchee, WA.

[50 Yard Fan]

Article published Mar 8, 2008
Arena football may come to Wenatchee

By Jay Patrick
World staff writer

WENATCHEE — Indoor football will kick off here in April 2009, if plans now in the works go through.
Rick Kozuback, the president and CEO of Global Entertainment, said Wednesday the American Indoor Football Association is locating a franchise here. He said the league is now working with a prospective ownership group. Kozuback said play would start in April 2009.
Bill Hazen, spokesman for the league, would not address Wenatchee specifically. He said the league is working with Global to locate teams in Global's arenas. Hazen said the relationship started about four months ago.
The league has teams in two Global arenas — in Prescott, Ariz. and Rio Rancho, N.M. — and 16 teams total. Half are in the South, four in the Mountain West and four in the upper Midwest and Pennsylvania.
Hazen said the league wants to expand in the West.
Kozuback said the team would help the arena generate money in the slow time of summer. He said an official announcement about the team could be made in about a month.

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080308/NEWS04/789483992

Right smack in the middle of AF2 country.

[rams80]

This...is...beyond...stupid...

Even for Global. This franchise will be on travel cost life support before week 5.

[Dan K]

The Tier II Junior-A North American Hockey League just granted an expansion franchise to Wenatchee a couple of weeks ago. This was under the condition it meets certain season ticket and sponsorship sales. Apparently, a deal was signed with Global back in 2006 and they were waiting for a franchise to become available.

[BananaCat]

The AIFA needs this team and probably 7 more expansion teams to make up for the 8 teams that will depart after this season. It's their business model.

[LandRoverUT60]

What's up with the 8 teams leaving next year? Where are they going? What teams are they? Are there any other cities rumored to get a team next year? All I've heard is that from the Wyoming Cavs thread and some press conference that there discussion of teams being set up in Ogden and St. George, UT, but that's all I've heard at this time.

[Tatonka]

It's just historical... that's about how many teams leave the AIFL/A every season since it began in 2005.

[mel3476]

It's just historical... that's about how many teams leave the AIFL/A every season since it began in 2005.

Well, at least they are being a bit more proactive in getting new teams in place. But will we see the same pattern out of those teams as the teams that keep going under - as in, very little preparation prior to the season starting?

[Tatonka]

Over and over again... they HAVE to keep replacing teams at the rate at which they lose them or else the league is done. Problem is, they're running out of markets to burn, hence the move out west.