Coming to Cincinnati?

[MarshalsFAN80]

Is there a chance that Cincinnati will be heading to the AF2 next season or in the near future?

There have been a number of interesting events in the NIFL this season...it seems as though there could be a number of defectors.

I'm expecting the Marshals to be making a number of announcements over the course of the next couple of months. There seems to be a number of fans that have been very unhappy with the offensive play calling this season and the defense hasn't done too well all season either. The only real bright spot on the season has been the special teams.

What sort of fan base (avg. attendance) does a team need in order to survive and do well in the AF2 at this point?

I thought when the Swarm were in town they had a solid enough following that they should have been doing much better than just a one year and out team.

[TalonFan7]

i was very sad to see the swarm leave after only one season in the af2.i heard the reason for their early departure was not being able to secure a new lease with the US bank arena in time for the new season.

avg af2 league attendance this year is 4839 per game.

cincy swarm 2003 attendance 7238 5583 3893 3857 3458 3283 3221 3248

the swarm experienced a bigger than normal drop after their first couple home games and finished with a 4222 average.i would say this 4000 or so mark is a good number to shoot for but if you can manage 6000 or so per game its really good for af2.

also, i heard the marshals signed the no-compete clause that osceola refused to sign meaning that the marshals have to come back to NIFL next year?

[preeths]

Unless they hold the noncompete clause in the same regard as the Fayetteville Guard. The Fayetteville GM was quoted recently as saying they had signed it but didn't feel they would have any trouble getting out of it if necessary.

[Minor League Man]

Well, first the Marshals would have to change their name.

They're the Utah Jazz of indoor football!

[MarshalsFAN80]

Well, first the Marshals would have to change their name.

They're the Utah Jazz of indoor football!


While the "WESTERN THEME" for the Marshals doesn't really fit in Cincinnati, we do have US MARSHALS that have an office here;) If we got away from the Cowboy theme, that might work. I'm not anticipating any sort of change... if the Jazz kept it, I don't see the Marshals getting rid of it.

and yes, I realize that this isn't the NBA and the NIFL isn't that top notch professional football but what I do know is that the Marshals could do very well in a situation such as the AF2 in a year or so. With hardwork, I think that Cincinnati could be a FANTASTIC AF2 market.

I wouldn't anticipate a change in name but, it wouldn't surprise me if we see a new logo in the future.

[nksports]

The easiest way out of an NIFL non-compete clause would be breach of contract by the NIFL (not providing opponets, not living up to standards of contract, etc.)

The second easiest way would be to fold the legal entity of the Marshalls (I don't know what the name really is, but for example Marshalls Football Inc. or LLC as a lot of these are set up), pay off all the final bills, close the office doors. Then file as a new corporate entity (say Cincinnati AF2 Football LLC), open new offices, sign new leases, rehire all the old staff. Most indoor player contracts are year-to-year, so that's not a problem. The NIFL might file an injunction saying the new corporate entity is just a shell to get out of NIFL obligations, but the counter argument goes back to breach of contract by the NIFL, that league's lack of due dilligence and forcing teams to scramble for replacement opponents when teams fold. At worst, you might have to reorder who your lead investors are and have different company officers.

[Tennessee Valley Vipers]

That arena in downtown Cincy is a deathtrap. I enjoyed beatin the Swarm, but no point in adding a doomed franchise.

[exit322]

Yes, the af2 seems to be trying to get successful indoor football markets rather aggressively.

[Jamie]

.... and some uproven... like Toledo...

ouch!