AIFL annual meetings over, no news

[dogman]

I wonder if and when there will be any reports of what happened during the league's annual meetings. Who showed up....who didn't.... who's in....who isn't....will the stinkin we site ever reflect the correct teams....what's going on ?

[preeths]

I've been told to expect some AIFL news later today.

[Minor League Man]

Today, Tallahassee announces their name.
Tomorrow, the Springfield Stallions announce their membership.
Wednesday, Danville announces their name.

Do you smell a NEWS MARATHON?

[preeths]

There may be more to the news tomorrow as well.

[eagle1]

Based on the reviving of the AIFL with the entry of Montgomery and Lakeland, I bet there will be plenty of news over the next few days. The NIFL has gone the way of the dinosaurs (or is the last dinosaur the one still in charge of the NIFL).

[Tatonka]

Danville will be the Demolition, end of suspense...
Tallahassee likely Talons, although I hear there is a lot of support for FireAnts...
and Springfield will be the Syracuse of 2007, mark it down now.

Meetings were done by phone, the owners cared so much about their investments that none could be torn away from their desks to attend a real face to face meeting.

[Geoff]

All these people in Tallahassee support the Talons but none of them realize they are joining a league with Tupelo, a city whose former team was the Fire Ants.

[tony-o]

Springfield will be the Syracuse of 2007, mark it down now.

I think that the Stallions could work. They seem to have everything in place.

The LV Outlawz were a semi-pro team, so it can work.

[Red Zone]

Danville will be the Demolition, end of suspense...
Tallahassee likely Talons, although I hear there is a lot of support for FireAnts...
and Springfield will be the Syracuse of 2007, mark it down now.




Like the Fire Ants name. They are pesty creatures. The arena's nickname is a given - The Ant Hill. Tallahassee Talons roll off the tougne easy, but the Fire Ants is a cooler name. Not too many teams around with that name.

[Tatonka]

I think that the Stallions could work. They seem to have everything in place.

The LV Outlawz were a semi-pro team, so it can work.

It's not because they were a semi-pro team that they have been dissed.

[FortWayneBballfan]

It's not because they were a semi-pro team that they have been dissed.


There is no reason why a team could not work in Springfield. Very nice arena and a very large sports hungry community. I spent a week in Springfield and came away thinking it was the greatest sports town that I have ever been in that does not have a pro sports team. If a team could survive in Fort Wayne, a team could survive in Springfield. It would just be a matter of what league they would join, the UIF or the AIFL.

[Tatonka]

There is no reason why a team could not work in Springfield. Very nice arena and a very large sports hungry community. I spent a week in Springfield and came away thinking it was the greatest sports town that I have ever been in that does not have a pro sports team. If a team could survive in Fort Wayne, a team could survive in Springfield. It would just be a matter of what league they would join, the UIF or the AIFL.

Again, not questioning Springfield at all, or the fact they were semi-pro. Other semi-pro teams have made the transition, some have not; only time will tell with that.

The Stallions aren't getting any love because of the road they have taken getting to where they are now, regarding expansion fees and dues.

[FortWayneBballfan]

Are these the same type of dues they would have to pay any another league? Or are you saying that they are just higher in the league that they are joining?

[Freedom]

Springfield looking for the lowest fees and dues, rather than a league that will have the greatest return on thier investment?

[FortWayneBballfan]

What is the best league fit for Springfield? The UIF? The GLIFL is to far north to be a good fit. I think the UIF is expanding to quickly and way to far west to be successful in the long run. It does not leave many options for Springfield. I would think that as long as they put together a quality football team and run it correctly that it will be successful whether in the UIF, AIFL or some other league.

[Tatonka]

What is the best league fit for Springfield? The UIF? The GLIFL is to far north to be a good fit. I think the UIF is expanding to quickly and way to far west to be successful in the long run. It does not leave many options for Springfield. I would think that as long as they put together a quality football team and run it correctly that it will be successful whether in the UIF, AIFL or some other league.

Geographically? Probably the UIF. Financially, I just don't know, I don't know what other costs are involved with the UIF beyond their expansion fee.

If run correctly, it could be successful in several different leagues. I'm just worried how much capital Herb has to work with when in the past his team has asked leagues to defer the franchise fees until after the season so he can make sure he has enough money. It's like asking the league to guarantee that he'll make a boatload of cash when most logical businesspeople understand there's no way anyone can guarantee that, especially at the minor league level.

I dunno, good luck to Springfield, I hope they get you some closer teams so you don't have to deal with trips to Reading, Johstown, and Erie too many times.

[shimadajoe]

Meetings were done by phone, the owners cared so much about their investments that none could be torn away from their desks to attend a real face to face meeting.


The owners were present at the meetings...........The Fan Committee was done by phone.

[Tatonka]

Right, which you didn't clarify initially.

[AllTheRage]

What is the best league fit for Springfield? The UIF? The GLIFL is to far north to be a good fit. I think the UIF is expanding to quickly and way to far west to be successful in the long run. It does not leave many options for Springfield. I would think that as long as they put together a quality football team and run it correctly that it will be successful whether in the UIF, AIFL or some other league.

We answered this question on a previous thread. The travel costs in the UIF will be half what they are going to be in the AIFL. You must be an AIFL homer, since you keep bringing them up. I guess that the expansion to Lakeland, Florida, by the AIFL is a short trip. There are a dozen teams in the UIF within a easy drive of Springfield.

I am calling the ball right now, Springfield, under the present ownership will not make the entire 2007 season. You cannot operate a professional team the way you do a semi-pro team. It won't work.

[FortWayneBballfan]

We answered this question on a previous thread. The travel costs in the UIF will be half what they are going to be in the AIFL. You must be an AIFL homer, since you keep bringing them up. I guess that the expansion to Lakeland, Florida, by the AIFL is a short trip. There are a dozen teams in the UIF within a easy drive of Springfield.

I am calling the ball right now, Springfield, under the present ownership will not make the entire 2007 season. You cannot operate a professional team the way you do a semi-pro team. It won't work.

Care to lay a nice size lofty bet that you are wrong about Springfield in the 2007 season? Got cash I'll lay on the table right now. I mean why would you not place the bet since it appears that you know everything about how each team is operated and their expenses...a person who knows all would feel very comfortable making that bet.

Just because you think you know it all, does not mean that you are correct.

[nksports]

I'm inclined to go with Rage on this one. Nothing personal to nobody, but the AIFL may not even be around next year (see threads on lawsuits, the AI is 0-1 in court with more losses to come).
The UIF seems to be the strongest business model around right now. They don't charge what AF2 does, but they make sure their owners have the jack to run a team for at least one season (that's why the franchise fees are higher). Most of the UIF owners spent their time in the NIFL long enough to know how not to run a league. The Dayton debacle of two years ago strengthened their knowledge.
As far as travel costs go, you can be coast-to-coast, but if you have the right groupings, you can keep your travel costs reasonable (at least until the playoffs).