4th in the west

[The Abyss]

Rio Rancho, New Mexico (January 4, 2008) - The American Indoor Football Association solidified its Western Division for 2008 late Friday by awarding an expansion franchise to New Mexico.
The team will be known as the New Mexico Wildcats and will play its home games at the new Santa Ana Star Center in suburban Rio Rancho.

The Wildcats are owned by Steve Mascarenas and Cathy Oliver-Mascarenas. Ms. Mascarenas will serve as Managing Partner for the franchise. The team will hold an introductory press conference on January 11th.

"This was the missing piece in the puzzle to secure the West for the coming season," said AIFA co-founder John Morris. "We wanted to make sure this team would have solid ownership and a first class facility. We couldn't be happier with the way things turned out."

"The AIFA is so special that people just want to be part of it," said Steve Mascarenas. "I think that's what we're seeing here in Albuquerque. There's a lot of excitement here."

The Wildcats will play their inaugural home game against the Arizona Adrenaline on Saturday, April 26th. This will give the team nearly four months in which to assemble its organization and plan for the home portion of the schedule.

In a move with important long-term implications, the AIFA simultaneously announced an agreement with Global Entertainment Corporation of Phoenix, Arizona. The league has received a Letter of Intent from this prominent arena developer, granting the AIFA the right of first refusal for indoor football in all of its current and future arena facilities. The Santa Ana Star Center and the Tim's Toyota Center (home of the Arizona Adrenaline) are both Global Entertainment buildings.

"Global Entertainment contacted us, and we've been talking with them ever since," said AIFA co-founder Michael Mink. This is a win-win situation for both of us."

Albuquerque is one of the fastest growing areas in America. It currently ranks as the 45th as a television market, with over 662,000 television homes.

[mel3476]

Rio Rancho, New Mexico (January 4, 2008) - The American Indoor Football Association solidified its Western Division for 2008 late Friday by awarding an expansion franchise to New Mexico.
The team will be known as the New Mexico Wildcats and will play its home games at the new Santa Ana Star Center in suburban Rio Rancho.

The Wildcats are owned by Steve Mascarenas and Cathy Oliver-Mascarenas. Ms. Mascarenas will serve as Managing Partner for the franchise. The team will hold an introductory press conference on January 11th.

"This was the missing piece in the puzzle to secure the West for the coming season," said AIFA co-founder John Morris. "We wanted to make sure this team would have solid ownership and a first class facility. We couldn't be happier with the way things turned out."

"The AIFA is so special that people just want to be part of it," said Steve Mascarenas. "I think that's what we're seeing here in Albuquerque. There's a lot of excitement here."

The Wildcats will play their inaugural home game against the Arizona Adrenaline on Saturday, April 26th. This will give the team nearly four months in which to assemble its organization and plan for the home portion of the schedule.

In a move with important long-term implications, the AIFA simultaneously announced an agreement with Global Entertainment Corporation of Phoenix, Arizona. The league has received a Letter of Intent from this prominent arena developer, granting the AIFA the right of first refusal for indoor football in all of its current and future arena facilities. The Santa Ana Star Center and the Tim's Toyota Center (home of the Arizona Adrenaline) are both Global Entertainment buildings.

"Global Entertainment contacted us, and we've been talking with them ever since," said AIFA co-founder Michael Mink. This is a win-win situation for both of us."

Albuquerque is one of the fastest growing areas in America. It currently ranks as the 45th as a television market, with over 662,000 television homes.

Whew...nice to see they finally found a fourth ownership group to drink the AIFA Kool-Aid...

[exit322]

And apparently an arena management group...if Global is giving the AIFA right of first refusal.

There are teams in other Global buildings that certainly aren't in the AIFA...that'll go well if the AIFA tries to push out an AF2 team... "you're pushing us out for that?!" Don't make the move on April 1, the AF2 will really think you're joking.

[Sykotyk]

1. April 26th is the first home game? Is this the Rumble?

2. Global's deal seems interesting in that I'm curious how much smoke had to be blown.

But, Global did this with the CHL and look how wonderful that Youngstown SteelHounds situation worked out.

Sykotyk

[PIONEERSFAN101]

Didn't a previous AIFA release say the West schedule would begin later than the other divisions? How is THAT going to work, exactly? Will they be playing fewer total games in the West to make up for these terrible late-offseason moves?

[GoCavs1]

Their start is almost a month later than the Cav's unless they are having to play alot of away games first.

[Minor League Man]

Their start is almost a month later than the Cav's unless they are having to play alot of away games first.
I think you just nailed it...They'll play a few road games first, I bet

[rams80]

And apparently an arena management group...if Global is giving the AIFA right of first refusal.

There are teams in other Global buildings that certainly aren't in the AIFA...that'll go well if the AIFA tries to push out an AF2 team... "you're pushing us out for that?!" Don't make the move on April 1, the AF2 will really think you're joking.

So...I saw someone bring up the CHL...is there an ownership stake in the league involved as well here?

[nksports]

So...I saw someone bring up the CHL...is there an ownership stake in the league involved as well here?

Global owned the WPHL. When that league merged with the CHL, Global was given management of the league, making them defacto owners. That's why Prescott, Youngstown, Rio Rancho, Broomfield, Loveland and couple others (Rio Grande Valley) are all CHL.

[exit322]

It wouldn't be a bad thing for the AIFA if Global took over. Does the CHL have the problems anywhere near the AIFA (or CIFL or NIFL or...) ?

[preeths]

The CHL is a very well run league, but I don't see any reference to them taking over the AIFA.

[phydeaux72]

Global owned the WPHL. When that league merged with the CHL, Global was given management of the league, making them defacto owners. That's why Prescott, Youngstown, Rio Rancho, Broomfield, Loveland and couple others (Rio Grande Valley) are all CHL.

Of course Global was given management of the league, since the WPHL (Global) actually PURCHASED the CHL. It wasn't so much a merger, as it was a buyout.

[Pounder]

Death Pool author Hans Hornstein still usually calls the league the WPHL, just so people with old CHL memories are told who's boss these days. Just saying...

Global has their nicks and cuts here and there (Youngstown being rightly noted), but generally, they've been a solid operation. If true, and if the AIFA can hold it, it's a good get. Even better if Global buys M&M out, so it's best to hope that M&M act normally, prompting a panic buy.