Oh the Drama

[DevilsAdvocate]

I just wanted to say that I have been truly entertained by all the post that I have read on this message board. I have only seen what was posted here on the CIFL (I was involved with a team in the original GLIFL) and even back then new that it was not going to be run properly. from all the postings I have read it seems to me that most people like the the league owners and dont find them to be at fault for alot of the mishaps. But I was there at the first meeting and was shot down for suggesting that the responsibilty of the league was to provide uniform coverage of the games(filming,stats,etc) they told me then that is the responsibility of the teams .. and since not all teams are created equal I knew that wasnt a good idea. I also protested the inclusion of the NY/NJ Revolution ... if a team could not find a place to call home (and all the other owners did ... hell as a newcomer I secured an arena for my team) I also suggested that funds be set aside for emergencies ... I was told that the league had used the money for travel, hotels and other non important things in my opinion. I believe i was told we bought the trophy (are you kidding me??) I also suggested that league fees be distributed back to the owners .. and that monthly dues be what be used for the day to day operation of the league ... but that too was shot down. I guess my reason for this post is to just say "I told you so"

DevilsAdvocate

[RevolutionX]

You seem to have some great ideas about properly running a league. I guess the only thing to do is, get som financial backing and start your own league, how about the U.S.I.F.L. I guess my point is every league seems to have its problems. If someone truly cared about indoor football, the fans and the teams in the league, they should run the own league the right way. But with every profession, money talks and bull s**t walks. Teams would be busting down your door to join if it truly was "run "properly Then we can check out the progress of the league in three years to see the status. If it was still around. If it was that easy, why isn't everybody doing it. Now with that said, the powers that be should be open to change and suggestions, anyone who claims to know it all is a fool.

[FootballFan9]

But sometimes it takes time for people to come around. The CIFL is doing all the things he suggested. What is funny at the end of it all the CIFL will have the most teams in geographical footprint that helps those teams create rivalries and keep travel costs down. With the other leagues having team problems, the CIFL has tried to do it right.

[The Man, The Myth]

Just thinking out loud here for a moment.

Many leagues have tried, many leagues have failed. Has anyone mastered the formula yet? Is there a formula that will work?

It seems to me that the success or failure of a league is being measured by the viability of the teams within that league. Have teams jump leagues or fold and you are considered below average. Have teams join or expand and you are considered above average. That being said, it is, IMHO, the wrong way to measure success in a league setting.

The league's job should not be to make sure that a team pays it's bills. That is the team's job. Surely, a team owner would be complaining if the league were to investigate it's finances. So, there in lies the quandary.

If three teams do not meet their commitments and fail, somehow the league is no good, which may not be the case at all. This is, of course, all in the court of public perception. So, I submit to you that the most important thing a league can do is hire a good, quality public relations person.

[preeths]

Not sure what point you're trying to make, but leagues have the responsibility of finding good ownership that will, at the very least, make it through the season. Indoor football cannot follow the ABA model of awarding teams to anyone who can pay the franchise fee on an installment plan and then blame those owners when they fold. The league needs to look at an ownership's financials before they enter the league. If the potential ownership group complains, assume they have something to hide and move on. That's the league's job.

[DevilsAdvocate]

While I am not an expert by any strech of the imagination ... I believe that a league should go thru some lean times while trying to build ... I think that if the teams have to go thru them .. not making a profit or a small one the first few years then the league should also ... i believe that in the case of the CIFL the league owners get money for doing what amounts to very little (again my opinion) ... while the teams have to do most of the work .. and they make money based on ticket sales merchandise and sponsorships. If it where me .. if you charge 10K to join the league ... and you have 8 teams (I believe thats what they started with) ... then the league had 80k in which to run a league more than enuff for what i saw in the first season .. there should have been a surplus. Then in year 2 .. after knowing what the expenses will be charge new teams accordingly making sure that what they paid to get in the league was an equal contribution of what it cost to run the league and the remainder be put away to insure that new(and old teams) finished ... after maybe year 3 or 4 .. thenthe league should be able to make as much money as it can without hurting the league of course ... look at it this way ... if u ran a crappy league and the teams fold in just the second year regardless of whose fault ... i would think that the league has no value .. but if you can sustain a league with about a dozen teams all finishing the season that would speak lots about the league and those in charge. Just my opinion. Anyone interested in starting a league with me let me know.LOL

[exit322]

I think the other key to this is that teams need to control their own spending. For example, there was nothing the CIFL could do (beyond when they finally got the word Askew was overpaid before the title game) to control Port Huron's WAAAAY excessive spending on players. That was all on the Pilgrims, and the CIFL only could have helped by taking over the franchise earlier than they did.

I wasn't around this year to know the issues surrounding them not paying bills this time around.

[banannaman]

I wouldnt so much blame the Pilgrims as I would Resoner. He came in there and ran them into the ground. From day one, he minipulated Dan and Jessica, threatened them, told them things were going to be his way. I blame him and think he is the only one to fault in the demise of the Pirates in the first season.

[exit322]

The owners make the final say, and they let Reasoner control everything. So it is at least in a good part their fault.