Fran
09-08-2006, 12:09 PM
New pro league seeks Legion Field deal
Friday, September 08, 2006
JON SOLOMON
News staff writer
Within the next three months, the All American Football League hopes to finalize a stadium-usage agreement for a franchise at Legion Field.
"I think some time soon we will have completed a document with them that would give us an opportunity to start speaking with investors in Birmingham," Doug Dickey, a founding member of the AAFL and former college coach, said Thursday. "Birmingham is one of those sites we've projected as a place we believe we need to be at."
The city's basic stadium rental is $5,000 per game or 10 percent of the attendance gate, whichever is greater, said Melvin Miller, director of Birmingham Park and Recreation.
"We need to see what they're talking about," Miller said. "We have always been flexible. I haven't heard anything lately. That's great news they're that interested."
The new league, which begins in April 2007, requires players to have graduated from college and will be built around college fan bases. A Birmingham team would likely be filled with many Alabama, Auburn and UAB players who did not make the NFL.
The AAFL will start stocking players after the NFL Draft in April. Players, who will be employed by the league, will earn about $100,000.
Franchises will be sold for between $2-3 million. The AAFL is seeking local ownership for each team, with fans and alumni able to purchase ownership shares.
The AAFL would be just the latest outdoor professional football league to make a stop in Birmingham. Past leagues were the World Football League, World League of American Football, United States Football League, North American Football League, Canadian Football League and XFL.
Friday, September 08, 2006
JON SOLOMON
News staff writer
Within the next three months, the All American Football League hopes to finalize a stadium-usage agreement for a franchise at Legion Field.
"I think some time soon we will have completed a document with them that would give us an opportunity to start speaking with investors in Birmingham," Doug Dickey, a founding member of the AAFL and former college coach, said Thursday. "Birmingham is one of those sites we've projected as a place we believe we need to be at."
The city's basic stadium rental is $5,000 per game or 10 percent of the attendance gate, whichever is greater, said Melvin Miller, director of Birmingham Park and Recreation.
"We need to see what they're talking about," Miller said. "We have always been flexible. I haven't heard anything lately. That's great news they're that interested."
The new league, which begins in April 2007, requires players to have graduated from college and will be built around college fan bases. A Birmingham team would likely be filled with many Alabama, Auburn and UAB players who did not make the NFL.
The AAFL will start stocking players after the NFL Draft in April. Players, who will be employed by the league, will earn about $100,000.
Franchises will be sold for between $2-3 million. The AAFL is seeking local ownership for each team, with fans and alumni able to purchase ownership shares.
The AAFL would be just the latest outdoor professional football league to make a stop in Birmingham. Past leagues were the World Football League, World League of American Football, United States Football League, North American Football League, Canadian Football League and XFL.