Fairbanks Grizzlies to Fold

[jimsmith]

I hear the Fairbanks Grizzlies will be folding before the season ends, My sources say that owners are imploding and things cant be repaired

[America]

That's sad for Alaska. And if they keep losing this will make things worse. I hope they finish this season anyway.

[black dog]

I just read the article about the Kent/Fairbanks game. It stated that there were about 500 people at the game in Kent. If Kent keeps up those attendance numbers they may not last long either.

[Minor League Man]

I just read the article about the Kent/Fairbanks game. It stated that there were about 500 people at the game in Kent. If Kent keeps up those attendance numbers they may not last long either.
They'd be going much longer if they'd been called the Seattle Predators IMHO...

[America]

I just read the article about the Kent/Fairbanks game. It stated that there were about 500 people at the game in Kent. If Kent keeps up those attendance numbers they may not last long either.

I was at the game there was more than 500. I would say a tad over 1000. There were less fans attending this week. Last week I would say the fan base was 2500. Fans must have not been interested this Sunday after Kent allowed 105 points scored on them and it was not raining here so people must have other interests. The Pred's did score 71 points on the Storm last week. There was no Defense at that Pred/Storm game.

Yes, I agree the Pred's need to change their name to the Seattle Predators. If Kent (pop 92,411) is not going to support it's team then the Pred's need to expand their coverage area. Seattle is only 20 minutes north of Kent.

[BananaCat]

Agreed. The Mist play there and use Seattle, not sure why the Predators don't.

[freezebanks]

my sources tell me that jim smith is really michael taylor, prior owner with chad dittman, all i know is that the current owner is from fairbanks and am sure he will go down with a fight if that is the case, and do it proud - not behind a fake name on internet forums -- michael taylor and chad dittman sucked fairbanks dry, left bills and dumped an albatross onto people of good faith.... michael taylor - chad dittman - you two are the lowest form of scum in business today... i wish you nothing but troubles.

[Hockey]

I really hope this unshackles Alaska from the lower 48 indoor model. Alaska needs fall indoor football. We have no college and no pro football. Its time for the Alaska Winter Football League. AWFL (ok, maybe they should choose a different name :)

[jimsmith]

Wow Im one of the few who use my name and I now im a owner of the team. do I see some anger here??? must be true look at the fangs come out

[Bouncer_Texxx]

Fairbanks would be wise to seek out consultation from the front office of the Nebraska Danger, or Wichita Wild in how to save/build a team. It takes a little bit of money, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and a whole lotta wanna.

They've got a coach who'll lives and breathes indoor football, the players will believe in the system eventually, it's time the front office threw the staff a bone and worked the community and social media to get people to the games. While we know travel expenses have got to be killing the team, these costs are fixed and known in advance and can be budgeted for. Has the Front Office done its fair share to sell sponsorships?

As for hiding behind a screen name? pfft... it would take a motivated person about 45 seconds to figure out my real name. But I count on the laziness of the average person to remain quasi-anonymous

[jerry101jlh]

Fairbanks has an urban population of just under 52,000 as of 2008. Population is under what might be considered for ideal in this sport. In looking at the Griz website it appears sponsor sales are pretty good. Outside of population my opinion is hard to get quality players to make the trip to play and of course travel expenses. I think the bottom line here is a team should never have been put in place to begin with and some kind of miracle it has even survived this long.

[Caballo Diablo]

Its time for the Alaska Winter Football League. AWFL (ok, maybe they should choose a different name :)
.....:lol:

[nksports]

Fairbanks would be wise to seek out consultation from the front office of the Nebraska Danger, or Wichita Wild in how to save/build a team. It takes a little bit of money, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and a whole lotta wanna.

They've got a coach who'll lives and breathes indoor football, the players will believe in the system eventually, it's time the front office threw the staff a bone and worked the community and social media to get people to the games. While we know travel expenses have got to be killing the team, these costs are fixed and known in advance and can be budgeted for. Has the Front Office done its fair share to sell sponsorships?

As for hiding behind a screen name? pfft... it would take a motivated person about 45 seconds to figure out my real name. But I count on the laziness of the average person to remain quasi-anonymous

How many oilmen are there in Fairbanks. Both Wichita and Nebraska are owned by oil people.

[Bouncer_Texxx]

How many oilmen are there in Fairbanks. Both Wichita and Nebraska are owned by oil people.

not as many as there should be... Convince the history channel to send the ice road truckers to a game...

[nksports]

send the ice road truckers to a game...

If I were 25 years younger and single, that's a job I'd take.

[America]

News article: :( http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/12322739/article-Fairbanks-Grizzlies-Indoor-Football-League-team-will-fold--last-game-is-Saturday?instance=home_news_window_left_top_4

[nksports]

News article: :( http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/12322739/article-Fairbanks-Grizzlies-Indoor-Football-League-team-will-fold--last-game-is-Saturday?instance=home_news_window_left_top_4

Something doesn't add up here. If the team has no coverage, how would they be allowed to play one more game. If a player gets seriously hurt, the owner could be out more than the premium he's not paying.
The owner says he applied in Jan. (didn't say what date) and didn't get a final quote until after a month, yet the deadline to have the insurance in place was Feb. 1.
Have the paychecks been clearing? Is this a broke @$$ owner just trying to save face? Why didn't the league step in and shut them down on Feb. 1?
I guess the only bright side is the Alaska experiment is over, but for the second year in a row, the league is going to have to fill in dates while the season is still going. How NIFLish.

[Caballo Diablo]

In 2009 there was an entire Indoor league playing games with no insurance coverage. The league was supposed to have a policy that covered all teams and they charged each team for their share of the cost of the policy. Only one team actually paid the premium to the league, the league never paid the insurance company. The insurance company told the team that had paid the premium that the policy was void and no one had coverage. When they confronted the league front office they hid and avoided the subject and refused to return the calls. Eventually the team was told by the league office they would be reimbursed the premium they had paid but that never happened. Said team left the league over the fraud and lies. It's sad that a league would leave all teams and players in such a risky situation all the while lying about the coverage. That's sure not the Christian thing to do.:-o

[freezebanks]

just maybe the wc prem was paid and after a 2010 payroll audit the team got a new bill added on to the current bill

just maybe they are still covered until the new amt is due

just maybe some of you are just not as smart as you think they are and have no idea how wc works in ak, just maybe the laws there are different

just maybe the owner spoke to soon

just maybe there are alot of things the all knowing newspaper does not know

just maybe we should wait for the league to tell us what is final before we throw dirt on a team that has played in 3 prior seasons and the last 2 pretty damn competive as well

[Caballo Diablo]

The "Maybes" are all possibilites for the Grizzlies, as to my post regarding an entire league, it's all fact.:wink:

[The TRUTH]

The "Maybes" are all possibilites for the Grizzlies, as to my post regarding an entire league, it's all fact.:wink:

Feb 1 - paperwork in or your out, that is how it should work.
IFL = 22 teams, 11 solid and 11 hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
And thats the Truth.

Not saying these other leagues (SIFL, CIFL and UIFL) have not had similiar issues, many of those teams are not insured either, but they are not putting themselves out as "Premier".

I would love to get back in the game if only there was league with a "North East" Division which I could feel good about. Another note, 90% of money in this country passes through NYC. You cannot have a legit "Nationwide" league without a team in NYC drawing real TV, real money and real sponsors for the entire league.
And thats the Truth.

[freezebanks]

the jury may still be out, but can anyone cite the fan response little ol' fairbanks is getting in any other city that has had a troubled ifl team - i think not - the people who make this amazing place what it is are just that - amazing

[The TRUTH]

the jury may still be out, but can anyone cite the fan response little ol' fairbanks is getting in any other city that has had a troubled ifl team - i think not - the people who make this amazing place what it is are just that - amazing

If the fan feedback is positive (and I think that is what you are saying) that is great and God Bless them. I do not fault the city in any way or team (as much), I fault the league for allowing this to be an issue. SF last year ring a bell.

[storm2010]

If the fan feedback is positive (and I think that is what you are saying) that is great and God Bless them. I do not fault the city in any way or team (as much), I fault the league for allowing this to be an issue. SF last year ring a bell.

It was 2009... WE got hung for it and EVERY owner (Especially Fairbank's) took their shot at us and almost folded us... 10K fine, 5 forfeited wins and play the rest of the season with 1 less player than everybody else... New ownership stepped up, cleaned up the mess and got us back to the title game in 2010 (which was the 6th one in the last 6 eligible years)... Maybe Fairbanks should take notes and get better leadership... Sorry but Indoor football runs through Sioux Falls, this is where the best fan base resides... We will take on anybody, anytime, anywhere! Tune in tomorrow night to the past, present and future of Indoor Football..

[The TRUTH]

It was 2009... WE got hung for it and EVERY owner (Especially Fairbank's) took their shot at us and almost folded us... 10K fine, 5 forfeited wins and play the rest of the season with 1 less player than everybody else... New ownership stepped up, cleaned up the mess and got us back to the title game in 2010 (which was the 6th one in the last 6 eligible years)... Maybe Fairbanks should take notes and get better leadership... Sorry but Indoor football runs through Sioux Falls, this is where the best fan base resides... We will take on anybody, anytime, anywhere! Tune in tomorrow night to the past, present and future of Indoor Football..

I could not agree with you more. SF was the scapegoat and got shafted for what many have done and had leagues turn a blind eye. The penalty for a brief lapse was way too severe. The intention should be just to make certain there is coverage in place ASAP. C'mon man, you know that was nothing but politics to appease another town and team who have since gone out to pasture.

I truly respect what SF has done and they have been the gold standard for indoor football. I still fault the league and thats the Truth.

[roozy]

Fairbanks has an urban population of just under 52,000 as of 2008. Population is under what might be considered for ideal in this sport. In looking at the Griz website it appears sponsor sales are pretty good. Outside of population my opinion is hard to get quality players to make the trip to play and of course travel expenses. I think the bottom line here is a team should never have been put in place to begin with and some kind of miracle it has even survived this long.

Well, the Cavalry are going on their 12th year sporting and average attendance around 3,000 with a supporting population in Casper of 49,644 (2000 Census) 53,569 (2010 Census). County probably adds another 10,000 and two nearby towns with 50 miles another 10,000. Just shows that if the organization is run correctly, that a population in the area of 50,000 is enough to support this sport.

[nksports]

In 2009 there was an entire Indoor league playing games with no insurance coverage. The league was supposed to have a policy that covered all teams and they charged each team for their share of the cost of the policy. Only one team actually paid the premium to the league, the league never paid the insurance company. The insurance company told the team that had paid the premium that the policy was void and no one had coverage. When they confronted the league front office they hid and avoided the subject and refused to return the calls. Eventually the team was told by the league office they would be reimbursed the premium they had paid but that never happened. Said team left the league over the fraud and lies. It's sad that a league would leave all teams and players in such a risky situation all the while lying about the coverage. That's sure not the Christian thing to do.:-o


The short lived EIFL (aka EIEOFL) played without valid insurance (despite the league head saying it did have valid insurance). A player was seriously injured and comedy (excuse me) tragedy ensued. The league played its games in a quonset hut outside of Youngstown, OH.

[Caballo Diablo]

The league I refer to has nothing to do with Jim Terry and still plays today.:eek:

[nksports]

The league I refer to has nothing to do with Jim Terry and still plays today.:eek:

Perhaps that is why :)