Kennel Krazie the AFL is the Next Step to the NFL

[MrBIGGS32]

The AFL is becoming the next step to the NFL, the money is becoming bigger and the National spotlight is shining. All because the NFL can see that this could be there recruiting ground. That is why all the owners are buying teams. The next 4 AFL expansion teams all owned buy NFL owners. Except for the expansion team in Salt lake City, possible 2005 or in 2006. Buy, Buy Utah Warriors (NIFL). The AFL is the Fourth largest and longest professional sports league in America and they are improving every year. They are no longer a Minor league like the NIFL. Give them there do, because they have come a long ways. A neutral site will work.

[Shootmaster_44]

The AFL is becoming the next step to the NFL, the money is becoming bigger and the National spotlight is shining.
I still don't see the AFL producing nearly as many players as the CFL does or NFL Europe for that matter. I would say the AFL is 3rd on the food chain of NFL players produced.

The AFL is the Fourth largest and longest professional sports league in America and they are improving every year.

4th Largest? Hardly,:
NFL - 31 Teams
MLB - 30 Teams
NHL - 30 Teams
NBA - 30 Teams
AFL - 20 Teams

Longest? Not really,:
MLB - 1877 (National Association)
NHL - 1917
NFL - 1920
NBA - 1948
CFL - 1950
AFL - 1987

If by travel you mean longest, it still isn't:
MLB - San Francisco - San Juan, PR is most likely the longest trip in sports
NFL - New England - San Diego
NBA - Boston - Los Angeles
NHL - Vancouver - Miami
AFL - New York - Los Angeles
CFL - Montreal - Vancouver

[Rocky]

Not to burst your bubble, Biggs, but the Warriors ownership has always been looking at going to the AFL. When they do, it isn't that they buried the Warriors. It's that the Warriors organization made the move. Good, solid organization.

[jwalters]

The AFL is becoming the next step to the NFL, the money is becoming bigger and the National spotlight is shining. All because the NFL can see that this could be there recruiting ground. That is why all the owners are buying teams. The next 4 AFL expansion teams all owned buy NFL owners. Except for the expansion team in Salt lake City, possible 2005 or in 2006. Buy, Buy Utah Warriors (NIFL). The AFL is the Fourth largest and longest professional sports league in America and they are improving every year. They are no longer a Minor league like the NIFL. Give them there do, because they have come a long ways. A neutral site will work.

OK here's another stupid thing. You go after Kennel Krazie for what he said about the AFL but he was just agreeing with what I and other fans have said. Second, since we are both being ridiculous, you misspelled bye-bye. It can be spelled like I have it or by-by. You spelled buy. Certainly you did not mean that the Warriors would be purchased by a "major league" owner. By-by I have to go and get on a plane to Greece and watch America play for the bronze because, as you know, that's what true fans do.

[MrBIGGS32]

I didn't know there where teachers on this board. Rocky, I hate to say that the Warriors organization has nothing to do with the AFL trying to get a franchise in Salt Lake. I have seen NIFL fans on this board expressing there feeling toward the AFL. But the AFL is Years above the NIFL. The NIFL is a small market and will never become a big market.
Kennel Krazie the CFL doesn't even come close to the pay in the AFL, the AFL's average salary pays more than the CFL. Like I said the AFL is the fourth best sports league. Because when hockey locks out all the players it will be done. Ask MLB about that, football is america's sport and the NBA is losing major fans. Tell me how long did the CFL last in America. The AFL has taken there bumps and brusies and survived, when will you see that. You guys need to read more about how many players have come out of the AFL, AF2 and are in NFL camps right now. There are also a lot of players that play the AFL season and then go and play the CFL season. To be honest the CFL should make a deal with the NIFL because they are simular style of football and the players from the NIFL will have a chance to move up. But the only thing is the CFL doesn't have any money to support a league. I have friend that play in the NFL, CFL, AFL, NIFL, and know what the first thing they say to me, it is a business. They may have the FANs best interest and the players, but what most people forget about sports we love to play and watch is when it comes to money it is all about business and entertainment. All of us lose site of that. Weither we argee or disagree. I am for the fans and the players and I love the sport of football it is my life. Money is power and Power is money.

[fwp]

Biggs......you're the one that comes on here bashing others and their league.

AFL could be in trouble if they continue to follow the path that they have. Unlike outdoor football their venues are limited a great deal for attendance, so gouging the customer will quickly become more noticeable. This should limit the escalation of salaries, but who knows. As it is, CFL IS still heads and shoulders above AFL, although AFL has made some great strides over the years.

af2 could be in more danger than people recognize, as I hear owners are wondering why so much of their money is funding AFL and af2 seems to be getting put farther and farther back on the burner.

I hope NIFL never has aspirations to grow as big as AFL to the point where they're out to gouge the customer. I travel to NIFL games, the regional set up is great and everywhere I go there are passionate fans for the league.

Why you make a thread to get in the face of the Professor, I'll never know. But he has remained a passionate fan, in the up and in the down times. His life may be changing, but that is someone who seems to care about the game.

[MrBIGGS32]

First of all you don't know me from adam and second of all where do you get your information. I see your from Nebraska, I am from Nebraska also, so you should know some football. IF I bash another league I have good reason and the NIFL stinks to high heaven. They are bad for the football business. Given kids that could really be playing somewhere else a bad taste in there mouth. I want every player to succeed and get a taste of there dreams the NFL , that is what all the players are striving for is the NFL.
I have a right to say what I want just like you do, it is are GOD given right. I haven't said any thing bad about anyone except my belief of a true fan. You guys don't see the big picture. When it comes to money it is a business that is what football is a, business, all the way down to highschooll. I had to figure that out the hard way. When you go to work what does that involve and what are you striving for. Security for you and your family. Now put your self in the owners position. I don't like owners, but someone has gotta do it.
On the CFL I am not knocking the CFL it is not way above the AFL. The CFL has more tradition than the AFL because it has been around longer well it has been around longer than the NFL. That doesn't mean it is better. The CFL had to ask the NFL for a loan. Because the are in a lot of finacial troble. Just remeber the AFL is the first indoor football league the rest well they are a spawn of the AFL. For the AF2 well there where more people in the seats than there ever has. I remember the little rumor that the NIFL was going to take over the AF2, what happen to that. Now there trying to get more small market cities than the AF2. When are people going to get it one common goal on this earth is MONEY.

[jwalters]

Ok biggs I agree with you that money is what we are all striving for. I concede that point but I do not believe that you have to rip people off to make money. Look at Wal-mart. I don't like all of their business practices but they do usually provide the best value. The AFL is taking the value out of what is really a great sports entertainment product. The NIFL can survive and besides for a few people who have no idea what they are doing it is a well run league and a good value. Leagues exist because of the fans and if you run the fans off with higher and higher ticket and concession prices you will lose business. Arena football is not the ''fifth major'' and it is not as well known as the other indoor sports(basketball and hockey) so it can not try and be something it is not. The CFL tried to become a major league and nearly went bankrupt. I hope that the same does not happen to Arena football.

[Rocky]

The NIFL taking over the af2? I've never seen or heard this rumor. What are you smoking?

Have af2 "managers" talked about making their own league or joining the NIFL? Yep. NIFL owners have done the same. Big deal.

If you want to talk about rumors, how about the af2 expansion map of a few years ago? Or about the constant wishful thinking of Fort Wayne and Lexington and Omaha going to the af2? The af2 would LOVE to have them. Have you see the avg attendance in the best minor league going lately? Those among the top in the NIFL would suddenly become among the top in the af2. But wait, maybe we'll get that expansion map filled in. Probably not, since the numbers of teams joining the af2 lately have been pretty close to the number folding. Hard to grow when you can't keep what you have. Can't do that when you share the bottom rung of football, at worst, or are just one expensive step above the bottom rung, at best, can you?

[kennel krazie]

how the hell did i get brought into this? the title I understand, most likely because of my post in another post, but why the second post calling me out about the CFL. The other poster was ripping on your spelling, I think I am going to rip on your eye sight because I havent responded on this thread until now. How can anybody take you seriously about "your contacts" and "your knowledge" if you jump on people for stuff they didn't even say.

come on, come back with your witty the NIFL sucks comment and I will say, yup it does, but the AFL is selling out its fans!

Be back later, as other posters have said, the steelers are holding a press conference at 9 PM tonight. I have to drive 300 miles to see it because that is what a true fan would do.

[Shootmaster_44]

Be back later, as other posters have said, the steelers are holding a press conference at 9 PM tonight. I have to drive 300 miles to see it because that is what a true fan would do.

The funniest thing is there are CFL fans that would do that for their team. Hell three weekends ago I drove 250 km to Regina to watch the Riders whoop Calgary's ass and then the same night drove 250 km home. I really doubt any fans in the AFL (or the NIFL for that matter) would do that. I personally enjoy the indoor product, unfortunately there is no team in my area. I was one of the few fans who went to Toronto Phantoms games. I would go to an AF2 game if I was in the area. I love football period, no matter what league it is.

The one thing I don't get is how in one breath you can deride the CFL for having to take a loan and in the next breath saying the AFL is the one true league and it begat every other league. If you want to split hairs McGill University in Montreal invented the game of football. They also played for a few years in the QRFU and later the ERFU around the turn of the century. Both of these leagues eventually became the Eastern Division of the CFL. So if you want to split hairs, the CFL begat every football league on the planet, including the AFL. But its not important, mind you.

The way I look at it is that you support whatever league you want. In my case that's pretty well every league that I have access to either on tv or live. The fact is, those players are busting their asses for you the fan every night. Who cares if the AFL is better talent wise than the CFL or that the CFL is better. Really, the point is did you enjoy watching the football? Did you see the effort those players put into that game? That is the point.

Plus, there are Canadian players who set their sites on playing in the CFL, not the NFL, the CFL. When I played HS football I wanted nothing more then to pull on the green and white jersey of........the Saskatchewan Roughriders, not the Eagles, not the Packers, the Riders. So what if some think the CFL has a weaker talent pool than the AFL, the point is most of the league is there because they want to be. Don't think for a moment that if they didn't want to play in B.C. and they would rather be an Orlando Predator, they wouldn't be? In my recollections, I do think that more former-CFLers are playing in the AFL then former-AFLers in the CFL. But that doesn't matter.

[Pounder]

The only position the AFL has modestly proved to possibly develop is the quarterback position... and Kurt Warner played in Europe after playing in the AFL.

There are only four teams that have stood the test of time financially in the AFL. There are two more that haven't assumed the usual pattern of a good first year and falling numbers afterward. Everyone else is more or less in that pattern; they were born to die. The level of initial success HAS been raised, but that's still meaningless if you can't sustain it. (Well, obviously, the last couple of years hasn't had the jury come in yet.)