Freeze owner sees future for AIFL

[BarbaraPatterson]

Freeze owner sees future for AIFL

By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com

Despite loss of 7 teams, Hodas confident league will restock, recover
Erie Freeze co-owner Dave Hodas said he doesn't foresee the AIFL folding but isn't ruling out that possibility after the exodus of seven league teams Thursday.

"At this point, I don't see it happening, but anytime that many teams pack and leave, it's a pretty substantial loss and that could possibly happen," Hodas said on Friday. "It's up to us (league owners) to make sure that doesn't happen. I'm optimistic it won't."

Erie has been a member of the AIFL since the league's inception in 2005, and Hodas said that is where he hopes the franchise remains for the 2007 season.

"At this point, that's our hope and goal," Hodas said. "I'd like to stay here, but if that's not a viable option, we could look elsewhere. There are other options."

Hodas said AIFL owners will meet Aug. 11-12 in Canton, Ohio, to discuss the future of the league.

"We're confident that (AIFL commissioner) Andrew Haines will be able to restock the pond and field more teams for next season," Hodas said. "I know a lot of teams in the north are close to signing."

Five AIFL teams - Rome Renegades, Raleigh Rebels, Huntington Heroes, Augusta Spartans and the Daytona Beach Thunder - withdrew from the AIFL on Thursday to join the new World Indoor Football League for 2007.

The Miami Valley Silverbacks and Steubenville Stampede also left the AIFL on Thursday to join the Great Lakes Indoor Football League.

The loss of the seven teams leaves the AIFL with 11 teams for the 2007 season, including three expansion franchises - Tallahassee, Fla; Tupelo, Miss; and Danville, Ill. - set to begin play.

"I'm talking to other owners and we're going to stick together and remain confident we can restock the league," Hodas said. "It's an unfortunate situation, but we have time to work on this."

RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.

[sportsmgrjay]

I guess this is the nice way to say GLIFL here we come. Mississippi team may not play in the AIFL afterall. Nothing to do in danville cept watch the grass turn brown. ;) ;) :cool:

[BarbaraPatterson]

I guess this is the nice way to say GLIFL here we come. Mississippi team may not play in the AIFL afterall. Nothing to do in danville cept watch the grass turn brown. ;) ;) :cool:
That or another way of saying, I bet there are enough suckers out there who will buy teams in the league anyways.

[nksports]

I think Erie would have been a good fit in the GLIFL.

[sportsmgrjay]

it may still be in the works,,,erie,reading and the other team in PA to join the GLIFL. It only makes sense to do as far as traveling in concerned.

[PIONEERSFAN101]

Wow I'd love to see Reading, Erie, and Jtown in the GLIFL...Especially with Lehigh Valley there, too..

[NoBallinPDX]

As good as the GLIFL is reported to be, after its inaugural season, I think I'd much rather see the likes of Erie, Johnstown, et al. join the UIFand form up an eastern division. They already would have regional foes and old renewable rivalries with Ohio Valley, Evansville, Peoria (if they survive).

[exit322]

Erie nor Johnstown ever played Peoria.

And if they did, it wouldn't have been pretty...Steel Valley ran away with that eastern division and got whitewashed 55-14 by Peoria in the playoffs.

The only rivalry to be renewed would be with Wheeling in the UIF...travel and other costs would be much higher, but the UIF is certainly a stable option for those teams.

[exit322]

Correction: They did play Erie and won 69-32.