AF1 Update: as of 11/14/09

[Panthers14]

What is the current status of AF1 as far as who are the teams that have committed for the upcoming season? Who is this Dallas AF1 Franchise? Is it the AFL Desperados? Will the San Jose Sabercats, Tampa Bay Storm, and Kansas City Stealth join the AF1 this season or not? And what is the truth behind the AFL Grand Rapids Rampage and Cleveland Gladiators? Why did they hold out and not join AF1? It does not look good for Grand Rapids since their turf is up for sale and the IFL moving into their territory!!!! Is there any news on the name of the new AF1 Chicago franchise? Will they be the Rush, Bruisers, or something else? Will the AF1 be broadcast on network and / or regional tv and what is the status of their AF2 network for the internet; will that be brought back and rebranded. I see that the assets and copyrights are being auctioned off and that the AF1 as well as some of the former owners of AFL Franchises are bidding on that. Some say that the AF1 intends to rebrand itself the New Arena Football League and that AF1 is only a temporary name. Either way, once more, what is the status of the current AF1 and who will be playing in it for the coming season...and what is the status of the remaining Arena Football League Franchises? I would like to have a serious discussion and everyone come to a consensus as to each team's status. I.E. who is alive and what league they will be playing in, who is in limbo and where and if they will ever play again, and well, who is just dead and gone. For example, what is the status of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul? Are they dead and gone? Why do we not hear anything about this team since it was owned by Jon Bon Jovi? Has he become the new Donald Trump and the AFL too was just, "SMALL POTATOES."

[nksports]

The Kansas City Stealth won't join, but the Kansas City Brigade might. (True, the Brigade did use the old Wichita Stealth logo, kind of a stylized B-2 bomber.)

[NatePreds05]

What is the current status of AF1 as far as who are the teams that have committed for the upcoming season? Who is this Dallas AF1 Franchise? Is it the AFL Desperados? Will the San Jose Sabercats, Tampa Bay Storm, and Kansas City Stealth join the AF1 this season or not? And what is the truth behind the AFL Grand Rapids Rampage and Cleveland Gladiators? Why did they hold out and not join AF1? It does not look good for Grand Rapids since their turf is up for sale and the IFL moving into their territory!!!! Is there any news on the name of the new AF1 Chicago franchise? Will they be the Rush, Bruisers, or something else? Will the AF1 be broadcast on network and / or regional tv and what is the status of their AF2 network for the internet; will that be brought back and rebranded. I see that the assets and copyrights are being auctioned off and that the AF1 as well as some of the former owners of AFL Franchises are bidding on that. Some say that the AF1 intends to rebrand itself the New Arena Football League and that AF1 is only a temporary name. Either way, once more, what is the status of the current AF1 and who will be playing in it for the coming season...and what is the status of the remaining Arena Football League Franchises? I would like to have a serious discussion and everyone come to a consensus as to each team's status. I.E. who is alive and what league they will be playing in, who is in limbo and where and if they will ever play again, and well, who is just dead and gone. For example, what is the status of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul? Are they dead and gone? Why do we not hear anything about this team since it was owned by Jon Bon Jovi? Has he become the new Donald Trump and the AFL too was just, "SMALL POTATOES."

Here's some info for you buddy:

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, November 10, 2009


ARENA FOOTBALL ONE COMPLETES LEAGUE MEETINGS
League Adds Additional Markets and Signs Key Media Partners

TULSA – The League Office of Arena Football One announced today that member teams concluded league meetings last week adding additional markets and solidifying key media partners for the 2010 Season.

In addition to the previously announced markets, two additional markets have been added. Dallas, Texas was accepted and one other market that will be announced once lease negotiations are completed.

Signed media partners include NiFTy and Game Tape Exchange. NiFTy will enter into its third season with Arena Football as the vehicle that affords fans the opportunity to view for free all home and away games via the web. While broadcasting games over the internet for af2, over 400,000 viewers in a number of countries have followed their favorite team using NiFTy’s Technology. Game Tape Exchange (GTE) will enter into it’s fifth season with Arena Football; GTE provided professional video reviewing and sharing tools for both af2 and the AFL and will now provide AF1’s Football Operations Department and team coaching staffs the same services.

The League Office is pleased to announce its newest media partner – Infinity Pro Sports. Infinity is an industry leader in the development of sports-based websites for a number of top tier sports teams and leagues.

“We are pleased to add additional markets to our 2010 roster,” said Commissioner Jerry Kurz. “With the signing of key media partners, Arena Football One will continue to be the premier and only league playing Arena Football.”

-About AF1-

Formed in 2009, the Arena Football One League boasts teams from coast to coast and will commence its Inaugural Season in the Spring of 2010."

Here's some more info:
"At least 11 teams are expected to form the upper tier of the new league. Spokane will probably play in the North with Utah, Milwaukee, Chicago and Iowa. The South would consist of Arizona, Tulsa, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Orlando and Jacksonville.

There are currently six lower-tier teams: Tri-Cities, Central Valley, Bossier-Shreveport, Oklahoma City, Arkansas and Tennessee Valley. Those six, along with Spokane, Tulsa, Iowa and Milwaukee, were members of arenafootball2 last season.

Additions are possible, including another upper-tier team and two lower tier, which would leave both with an even number, Kurz said. That’s advantageous for scheduling."

Now to your questions. The Dallas AF1 franchise is not the AFL Desperados but they will carry the Desperados name and logo and be based in Frisco. Tampa Bay is joining (but with a different owner). Nothing has come out of KC or Grand Rapids maybe they will join in 2011. Cleveland is rumored to be the final upper tier team that will join the AF1 (but it is not confirmed). San Jose decided to hold back this season but that does not mean we will not see them in 2011. The name of the Chicago team is rumored to be the Bruisers since the website was purchased recently. As stated in article above all AF1 games will be viewable via the Web from NiFTY TV. The article above states all the teams that will be playing in AF1 this current season. The Philadelphia Soul are dead and gone. And most AFL markets (with the exception of Orlando and Arizona) are returning under new ownership. The rebranding of AF1 to AFL is a rumor but a strong one in my opinion given their purchasing of AFL's assets.

Any more questions?

[Caballo Diablo]

Any more questions?
Did you think that PR article actually answered all of our questions?

[Panthers14]

Thank you NatePreds05 for your info; more questions to follow: Is the San Jose SaberCats joining the AIFA for the 2010 season and waiting for 2011 to either join the AF1 or another version of the AFL? What is the status of the New York Dragons? As for the Grand Rapids Rampage, when they are selling their arena carpet and in no rush to make plans for a return, that does not bid well with the IFL bringing in the West Michigan Thunderhawks and signing former Rampage Players. So, are they dead or just plain stupid? Now is the time to bring back the Rampage. As far as Kansas City Brigade, they would make travel cost more reasonable, so what is their deal? Why wait, unless the truth is financing. There was to be a Pittsburgh AFL franchise before the league folded; did this scare off those investors who would have included Lynn Swann? What is the name of the new Jacksonville franchise? Will Tampa Bay be the Storm? Where do the Columbus Destroyers stand? If the Cleveland Gladiators are rumored to be coming back, then Columbus would make sense. As far as the Philadelphia Soul being dead, are there any discussions concerning a resurrection of that franchise under new ownership? The Wilkes-Bare Scranton Pioneers chose not to join due to travel cost; in fact, many franchises of the former AF2 folded instead of playing under this new structure...and the expansion AF2 Toledo Bullfrogs chose not to join this season due to travel expenses...is it me, or is the AF1 being stupid about travel cost and has not thought out expansion by regions of the country as the IFL is now doing. Keep teams close together and have them play most of their games in their respective regions until the playoffs. Anyway, I fear that the AF1 thinks that by keeping salaries low that they can overcome their travel expense deficit, but can they? Next, are the Colorado Crush Dead and where does the New Orleans VooDoo stand? Are there any plans to bring back the Las Angeles Avengers? There was a rumor that a group of investors from Minnesota were to buy and move the Grand Rapids Rampage prior to the AFL Folding; so, are there any attempts for them to come aboard in the AF1 or have they stepped aside? You mentioned that NIFTY TV, the AF2 internet network will televise all games; are there any plans to bring in ESPN or are they avoiding this league since they were previously burnt on the old AFL Deal? Back to the New York Dragons, Charles Wang sold them to new investors prior to the AFL Folding and they changed the logo and colors. Are they still planning on a relaunch of that team? Why spend all that money to never play a game? Concerning the Utah Blaze of the defunct AFL, the current AF1 entry is the Utah Valley Thunder, is there any any thought in renaming them the Blaze and bringing in the former AFL management and possible ownership to shore up that team or is the Utah Blaze gone? I may have forgotten a few teams, but all info is welcome.

[indoor fan]

Still no website?

[Independent]

http://www.arenafootballone.com/

[Caballo Diablo]

That's not a website, it's a parked billboard.

[NatePreds05]

Thank you NatePreds05 for your info; more questions to follow: Is the San Jose SaberCats joining the AIFA for the 2010 season and waiting for 2011 to either join the AF1 or another version of the AFL?

The News is that San Jose is taking this year off, they would never stoop to another level

What is the status of the New York Dragons?

Dead right now, new ownership decided not to join AF1

As for the Grand Rapids Rampage, when they are selling their arena carpet and in no rush to make plans for a return, that does not bid well with the IFL bringing in the West Michigan Thunderhawks and signing former Rampage Players. So, are they dead or just plain stupid? Now is the time to bring back the Rampage.

I agree with you. GR may come back in the future but it would be difficult, and the ThunderHawks are not playing in the same arena the Rampage played in

As far as Kansas City Brigade, they would make travel cost more reasonable, so what is their deal? Why wait, unless the truth is financing.

No one knows about KC, owner may be still holding out for AFL return.

There was to be a Pittsburgh AFL franchise before the league folded; did this scare off those investors who would have included Lynn Swann?

The Pittsburgh AFL franchise ownership backed out when AFL could not get its act together, hopefully they will join AF1 renamed as AFL in 2011.

What is the name of the new Jacksonville franchise?

Reports are the owner has a name chosen but is waiting to finalize arena deal first.

Will Tampa Bay be the Storm?

If the Dallas team is playing as the Desperados then I see no reason why they won't be, especially since the owner is a former owner of the old Storm

Where do the Columbus Destroyers stand? If the Cleveland Gladiators are rumored to be coming back, then Columbus would make sense.

Destroyers owner was in charge of AFL restructuring, so he is probably the ultimate holdout. But it would make sense for them to return.

As far as the Philadelphia Soul being dead, are there any discussions concerning a resurrection of that franchise under new ownership?

Nope.

The Wilkes-Bare Scranton Pioneers chose not to join due to travel cost; in fact, many franchises of the former AF2 folded instead of playing under this new structure...

The AF1 teams that folded had ownership changes or were not successful/had problems for a while. They probably would not have lasted even if the af2 stayed.

and the expansion AF2 Toledo Bullfrogs chose not to join this season due to travel expenses...

But they are set for 2011.

is it me, or is the AF1 being stupid about travel cost and has not thought out expansion by regions of the country as the IFL is now doing. Keep teams close together and have them play most of their games in their respective regions until the playoffs.

They are not stupid, they are playing with the teams they have. And they have a travel pool to help teams with their travel costs.

Anyway, I fear that the AF1 thinks that by keeping salaries low that they can overcome their travel expense deficit, but can they? Next, are the Colorado Crush Dead and where does the New Orleans VooDoo stand? Are there any plans to bring back the Las Angeles Avengers?

All three are dead.

There was a rumor that a group of investors from Minnesota were to buy and move the Grand Rapids Rampage prior to the AFL Folding; so, are there any attempts for them to come aboard in the AF1 or have they stepped aside?

Grand Rapids moving has been a rumor every year for years, I put no stock in it.

You mentioned that NIFTY TV, the AF2 internet network will televise all games; are there any plans to bring in ESPN or are they avoiding this league since they were previously burnt on the old AFL Deal?

ESPN shows big leagues and was burned by the AFL, but they might televise it if it is successful.

Back to the New York Dragons, Charles Wang sold them to new investors prior to the AFL Folding and they changed the logo and colors. Are they still planning on a relaunch of that team? Why spend all that money to never play a game?

Their timing was unfortunate, I think they are holding out for AFL launch or waiting and seeing with AF1, or they just folded.

Concerning the Utah Blaze of the defunct AFL, the current AF1 entry is the Utah Valley Thunder, is there any any thought in renaming them the Blaze and bringing in the former AFL management and possible ownership to shore up that team or is the Utah Blaze gone?

They may rename themselves as the Blaze but it is uncertain at this point, however the former AFL management/ownership probably would not be joining the Thunder ownership/management.

I may have forgotten a few teams, but all info is welcome.

Glad to answer best I can.

[Panthers14]

Now this is what a message board should be. Thanks for all of the information. I can not wait. Lets hope that they make it and we can someday again just argue about players, coaches, ownership, and even teams. The AFL was never a sure bet, but I would think that most people would have never considered that the sport itself could go down. My hope is that the AF1 is renamed the New AFL and that competing leagues such as the IFL and Southern Indoor Football League find their footing and maybe, just maybe, someday we all will see a real indoor football / arena playoff / championship. Just imagine the best teams from all leagues playing in a playoff structure under the home teams rules; such as interleague play in MLB. Up next, The Rochester Raiders at the Reading Express, Omaha Beef at Louisiana Swashbucklers, Arizona Rattlers at Souix City Bandits...but first, my hope is that all of these leagues find a secure financial footing and fans of this sport of indoor football & arena ball can trust that their favorite franchises will be back every year hereafter.

[Big Easy]

No Voodoo, no Houston....damn. :(

[formerlyknownasfells]

Jacksonville is announcing a team tomorrow morning at 10:30 Eastern Time.

[preeths]

I'm told there may be some defections, particularly in the list of teams designated for Teir II.

[Minor League Man]

I'm told there may be some defections, particularly in the list of teams designated for Teir II.
I'm expecting Oklahoma City could be one of these teams...(How does a team in the state's biggest city, which HAS A MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM get picked as 2nd tear, while a pure minor-league town that's less populated in that SAME STATE get picked as 1st tier? Also 2nd-tier teams can't play 1st-tier teams...meaning RIP to the Tulsa-OKC and Spokane-Tri-Cities rivalries...)

The Blizzard's move to the IFL is making more and more sense now...