Thank God ! NIFL is dead! well almost

[martin8truex]

Now, Fort Worth needs a team, This should be how it started. AIFL (Eastern States) Intense (Deep South States) UIF (Midwest States) NIFL (Out of business) Robbie

[Jamie]

I'm not saying it would be a good or a bad thing... but I predict that the NIFL will play next season, in one form or another.

NIFL haters dream on...

[daytonadan]

How are things in Dayton, Indiana tonight (Well, that's where the NIFL site has your great city located).

As always, your loyalty to the Warbirds and the NIFL is very commendable.

Now please excuse, there is a very enjoyable football game from ESPN2. A team from Western Ohio is getting shelled by a Mountain Time Zone tean that can't get its field color right.

[mrcool92501]

the reason why boise state football field is colored blue
is to prevent birds doing dive bombing missions upon it.
(if u know what i means)

[tstidm]

NIFL may be the only way Baltimore gets an INdoor Football team. The AFL won't come because Snyder has Washington, DC for the AFL. Baltimore wouldn't take to AF2. They would be too big of a city for the AIFL. NIFL is poorly run, but I think it comes back next season by a miracle that a Cardinal couldn't even perform.

[centurionhater]

The NIFL deserves everything that comes to them. The people who jumped and formed the UIF last season now appear to be brillant. One less year they had to deal with the NIFL crap.

[Pounder]

the reason why boise state football field is colored blue
is to prevent birds doing dive bombing missions upon it.
(if u know what i means)

Problem is, before they lined the field, the birds thought it was a pond and dive-bombed THEMSELVES into the turf. Well, it happened with the last lighter blue surface they used before the current rubber turf was put in place, anyway.

Why does this post strangely seem like it belongs here?

[GLIFL FanClub]

well if you ask me, honestly i think if they only have about 10 teams this year it will do them good...lets just hope they dont over-expand....i do not want to see this league fold....but if it happens, oh well.....If you ask me the GLIFL is probably the best ran indoor football league so far (with the exception of AF2 and AFL) i mean they havent had any game yet but the way it is ran is just how it is supposed to see....im vert intrested to see how they fair in 06.


THIS IS COMPLETLY OFF TOPIC....But does anyone know any info on the cardsharks or any NJ team returing to any league next season?

[SuperSonicStuart]

The UIF, GLIFL, AIFL and NIFL all suck! The Arena Football League and Arena Football League 2 are better than those 4 other leagues. Personally I think the UIF, GLIFL, AIFL and NIFL should all shut down and have the Arena Football League and AF2 be the only leagues for pro indoor football because Arena Football League is starting to get alot of success than the UIF, AIFL, GLIFL and NIFL because those leagues suck.

[exit322]

I assume you don't base your facts on the 25ish teams the af2 has folded in their six years?

[jwalters]

Hey stuart where do you get off saying things like that? You step on the field with some of the UIF players and tell me they suck. I have played against guys who played for the Evansville Bluecats and they are great football players. You have got to start thinking before you speak or you are going to wind up with more trouble than you can handle some day. I'm not saying from me but some folks don't take personal insults lightly. By the way how would you like it if every time you wrote one of your letters to an owner of some team making suggestions on how he should run his business we got on here talking about it. We could say things like "look at this stupid little kid writing letters to the Cleveland Force trying to keep them from moving!'' See it doesn't feel good to be put down, does it? Remember I am a nice guy so I'll let it end there but next time you have a criticism make it constructive. Okay stuey, when you say stuff like that you personally hurt a lot of people who work for these leagues or have friends who work for these leagues. Don't do it.

[Pounder]

That's funny.

Stuart's been about as pollyanna as you can get (even for this forum), so the first time he posts something with some red-meat negativity in it, he gets slaughtered.

Of course, exit's point about af2 and folded teams MUST be heeded. For that matter, just in the last 7 years, 16 AFL teams have either folded or moved. We're not talking about a sport that exudes stability, folks.

[jwalters]

My point was that even when you are nagative you can still make a good point. You don't just say things like "they all suck". I personally disagree with many things that the AFL and AF2 do but I always provide facts to try and back up my statements. I also disagree with many things that the NIFL does but I don't say anything because my complaints are usually voiced by someone else. So, Stuey, just try to keep it based on facts or at least doctored statistics :lol:

[Leonard]

All this talk about the NIFL folding is interesting. All the talk about teams folding is interesting. Here are some facts to examine:
Let's compare the NFL (which started as the APFA - American Professional Football Association in 1920). Between 1921 and 1937, 55 (mostly smaller market) teams FOLDED or ceased operations. Combine the AFL and af2. In 19 seasons, since 1987, the two leagues have seen 44 teams fold. This has been in markets either too small to maintain continued support or poor ownership. The same was true in the NFL, when in 1920 you could purchase a franchise for $100, YES $100. Compare that to the $800 million that Houston paid a few years ago or the $14 to $16 million that the AFL seeks now for entrance into the league. The af2 entry fee was around $50,000 when they started, but has grown to $250,000 or more. The AFL was less than $50,000 to get into the club in 1987. Oh, in 1952, two other NFL teams folded their tents. SO, that is a total of 57.
The facts are: More teams (exactly 13 more) folded in the NFL in 17 seasons, compared to the total of both, the AFL and af2. As far as all the other indoor leagues, it's hard to tabulate all the extinct teams. Possibly as many as the NFL and AFL totals combined. Poor selection of ownership is the main reasons these teams get in trouble and eventually the league folds. The NIFL will exist, but solid ownership is the key to it's survival along with good leadership at the top, where it all begins. What appears interesting is the AIFL has developed good leadership at the top. Even reccently, the president announced a change in ownership of one team because the original ownership was, at best, "shakey." The point here is this: Despite teams and leagues having their problems, there seems to be a lot who will survive.

[centurionhater]

Interesting Leonard, very interesting. I see your point however you've over looked a small fact.

Those were simple times. They wouldn't even show Elvis on TV below the waist. This time and day a league that doesn't make sure there teams are well funded and that they pay each of there bills doesn't deserve to be in operation.

Someone on this message board once said the only way to make a million in minor league sports is to start with two million.

The NIFL after what the league knowing allowed to take place last year doesn't deserve to be in operation. Crooks shouldn't represent this great sport.

I'm guessing I'll get this post erased too..........

[Leonard]

Well, I don't think I overlooked Elvis. Maybe I forgot the time warp. Anyway, I totally agree with you in regards to leagues being in business on a marginal financial string. And, oh, by the way, you didn't get the post erased. It was very well done. If you need any help, I have a good lawyer. Come to think of it, I can't trust lawyers either, as well as some presidents and commissioners of some leagues and their dishonest owners.
Maybe we should present this to a Senate committee on "Dishonesty In Minor League Sports." Then they could regulate the NIFL and some of the others.
For the most part, however, many are solid entities as leagues. Especially in hockey. It's been the NIFL and other 'fly-by-night' outfits that embarass the indoor game. The AFL was embarrased by several ownership groups back in the 90s.
As for the NIFL. Let me tell you what some of the AFL and af2 people say about the league and it's leadership. One Arena executive told me recently, that the lower echelon indoor leagues were "anke biting wanna be leagues." I also heard comments about leadership (at the top) and have called them "crooks," "shisters," and "unscrupulous." There have been many expletive deleted comments too.
Anyway, always good to hear from you. Hope the campaign to eliminate CS and TP have some support for you.

[nksports]

Another thing that makes af2 and AFL more of a risk is they require performance bonds and have insurance requirements owners in the smaller leagues can't touch. Ticket prices are a bit higher (especially in the AFL). But teams at least finish the season and when teams fold or move, everybody owed money gets paid.

[Leonard]

Other leagues could take a lesson from the AFL. Yes, the $16 million is a pretty 'penny' to join the club, but you have insure your net worth is $60 million or more. And you have to open your books to the league attorney and CFO. The thing that has hurt af2 is the yearly dues...that's why 28 teams have dropped by the wayside. But if you can maintain a 5,500 attendance you can still make the af2 worth while. If you are an NFL owner, you get a substantial 'discount' into the AFL. And, I mean substantial. Coupons are not accepted!
But the AIFL is getting into some territories the NIFL wanted and vise versa. The AIFL cut some deals with teams, owned some and then sold them to others. For the most part, the AIFL has been "above board" more than the NIFL, according to my discussions with people around the country.
As for the other leagues, the UIF will maintain with its three or four extremely solid teams and others.
Where did this Midwestern League come from? Is this for real?
For those of your enjoying the AFL, look for possibly four franchises being added next year. Here's a stab at who they will be: Boston, Miami, St. Louis and San Antonio. My sources say New Orleans is two seasons away from riding down from the mountain.

[rams80]

Care to take a stab at how many af2 teams can draw 5500? :roll:

That money is reaching the point where it drives out ownerrs. Look at how much the Firebirds were going to sell for (before the league folded them) to get a better estimate on what an AFL team is worth. (BTW I believe it was $4 million)

I honestly will be survived if the AFL adds more than one team next year, if that. They couldn't get Boston or South Beach done for this year due to costs (not that the Miami team would last longer than a couple of years anyway). I honestly doubt St. Louis has an interested ownership group with the cash too, (Blues for sale, Rams F.O. in turmoil). San Antonio is too close to Austin.