3 down, ? to go

[preeths]

The NIFL now has three new franchises officially announced: the Big Sky Thunder (Bozeman, MT), Osceola (FL) Outlaws and Katy (TX) Copperheads. Has anyone heard anything more about official team announcements? It's getting pretty late in the game, and new teams are really giving themselves a short selling season. I'm really surprised we haven't heard anything from Monroe (LA) and the Twin City Gators, for one. They had a website up at one time.

[Jamie]

Perhaps Katrina disrupted their plans.

[preeths]

I don't think Monroe was hit all that hard by the storms. I have friends who live there who said they saw some rain, but the city is far enough inland to avoid the brunt of it. Their website disappeared before the storms hit, but who knows if that means anything.

[Geoff]

Wrong. Onl;y two new annouced franchises. Osceola is just the renamed Kissmmee. Check the website. http://www.osceolaoutlaws.com/

" David Doebler and Donald Czech purchased the Kissimmee Kreatures of the National Indoor Football League and immediately renamed the team the Osceola Outlaws."

[preeths]

Geoff, now that's just nitpicking! Still, you are right. Apparently, some of the Outlaws ownership was involved with the Kreatures last year in a minority roll. I don't believe Centurion is involved with the Outlaws at all.

[fwp]

I don't remember the league ever being so quiet in the offseason.

In the past it seemed like news came out on a regular basis, whether it panned out or not.

[preeths]

The scary thing is it's getting late in the year. While several new franchises could certainly yet be announced, they will have very little time to set up operations and sell sponsorships and tickets. The arena manager in Lafayette made some good points when he said new teams needed close to a year of lead time to do it right. Plus, several markets in which the NIFL is interested (such as Lafayette and Monroe) have had failed teams before. Those franchises are going to have to work extra hard to win back the fans, sponsors and media support.

[fwp]

I finally got some info from Lincoln, and the Capitols do plan on playing.

Sounds like they plan on gearing up right after the Holidays. Seems like a late start, but we shall see!

[preeths]

The NIFL in general seems to be making a bit more noise. I would hope we hear more expansion teams before the end of the year when many businesses (potential sponsors), set their yearly budgets.

[fwp]

Hmmmmm..........so does this mean the New Jersey X-treme are moving/being sold to someone in Rapid City?

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/12/16/sports/local/news08.txt

[preeths]

A great question. That's the first public mention we've seen of a Rapid City NIFL team, though the rumor has been floating for a couple of months. You'd think they would have announced their formation before cheerleader tryouts.