SIFL Inaugural Season Efforts Continuing
January 23, 2009 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) News Release
Continuing tenacious efforts to launch its inaugural season, the Southern Indoor Football League announced today minor modifications in its first-season team alignment.
Six teams will be featured in the first season of play. The Houston Crusaders, originally slated to play in 2009, have converted all focus on 2010 and will be replaced by the Tampa-based Florida Kings who will play a limited schedule in 2009 before joining the league in full in 2010.
The five charter teams - the Louisiana (Lake Charles) Swashbucklers, Acadiana (Lafayette, La.) Mudbugs, Houma Conquerors, Texas Pirates and Austin Turfcats - will play an 11-game regular season with six home games as originally planned and five away. Games against the Kings will count in league standings.
"We're excited about our 2010 Florida teams and having the opportunity to schedule five games with the Florida Kings from Tampa this season," said Robert Winfrey, Director of Operations for the SIFL.
``The Kings had everything in place for full participation in 2009, but the travel logistics did not fit our business model for 2009,'' Winfrey added. ``Due to unforeseen circumstances, Houston is not in a position to field a 2009 effort that would be a sound financial decision, but remains active in league development and is poised for 2010.''
Involving the Kings is beneficial for the SIFL's inaugural season, said SIFL President Thom Hager.
"We appreciate the enthusiasm of the Florida Kings this inaugural season and their commitment to our long-term success," Hager said. "The Kings will get five nights of real-time indoor football experience in 2009 that will enhance their 2010 chemistry and development.
``Yes, we would loved to have had the Houston Crusaders participate this season," Hager added. ``I'm looking forward to the Houston Crusaders participation in 2010 and am confident that our Pasadena team will carry the ball this season in that excellent football market.''
"It has been an exciting time for the SIFL as we have ramped up our efforts to kick off this April,'' Hager continued. `We've been focusing our attention on both 2009 and 2010 seasons as the SIFL footprint can allow up to sixteen teams with two divisions.
"The vision for the SIFL began with a three-year marketing campaign,'' Hager added. "Our concept is to offer affordable family entertainment in our markets and to grow our league incrementally over three seasons. We did not launch to compete with other indoor football leagues but to augment this great game with a manageable business plan using a regional footprint.''
Hager is very pleased with development of all the teams and has been working with each market using sales training programs, task lists with time lines, and even a syllabus to cover all start up elements for a new team.
" I'm most excited about our coaching staff, especially with the addition of Chris Duliban in Austin , Coach Darnell Lee returning to Louisiana, and the legendary John Fourcade in Acadiana,'' Hager said. "The quality of our product will be outstanding for an inaugural season and beyond. We're not interested in being the largest league. We're simply focused on delivering the best product while turning profits and showcasing very talented players. It's time fans stop losing their hometown teams due to escalating operating budgets and poor cash flow."
The league schedule is being finalized for release on Monday, January 26, 2009.
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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from January 23, 2009
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