http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/stor ... /89787236/
The Hudson Valley Fort, the Hudson Valley barely knew ye.
On Friday, the Fall Experimental Football League, which contained the Dutchess County-based expansion team, the Hudson Valley Fort, announced it ceased operations.
The Fort will not play a second season.
"We're obviously disappointed it couldn't be successful," Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said. "We'll move on.
On Aug. 6 of last year, the Fort joined the fledgling three-team league, which was founded in 2014. The Fort played two home games at Dutchess Stadium, the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades, the short season Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Fort were scheduled to play a third home game, but the season finale was cancelled on account of the National Football League's trade deadline, FXFL commissioner Brian Woods said last November.
Hudson Valley lost all three of its games, including both home games.
The Fort was owned by the FXFL, with its roster stocked with NFL hopefuls. However, the Renegades front office, headed by general manager Eben Yager, handled the Forts game day operations.
Woods thanked the Renegades for their efforts.
The FXFL would like to thank our fans, Eben Yager and the entire Hudson Valley Renegades organization for their overwhelming support during the 2015 season, Woods said in a statement Friday. Unfortunately, the FXFL has made the decision to suspend operations for 2016.
Yager could not be reached for comment Friday.
Dutchess Stadiums baseball field was converted into a gridiron, which Molinaro said cost the county no money.
Molinaro also said the league made all investments. Thus, the county and the Renegades didnt expand funds to bring the team to Dutchess County or prepare the field.
Theres a reason it was called an experimental football league, Molinaro said. Their failure to succeed cost Dutchess County nothing and Dutchess County benefited from it with a couple of fun games of football.
But it didnt help the Fort competed against high school football.
According to Journal archives, on Oct. 10 last year the Forts opening night five local high school football teams had games. Army hosted a home game against Duke at West Point that day also.Officially, 1,776 fans were in attendance for the Forts home opener. Dutchess Stadium seats 4,494 fans for baseball.
Youre competing against a loyal fan base in high school football, Molinaro said. We were up against a challenge in this market, but the league didnt sustain itself in this market.
Molinaro added the FXFL didnt put forth a sustainable business model: They gave it an attempt. This model wasnt successful this time.
Molinaro said last year that he would review the results of the 2015 season before deciding if the team would return for another campaign. Had the league not disbanded, he said he expressed to the Renegades that he would welcome the Fort back.
And, should another opportunity to host football at Dutchess Stadium come up in the future, the county executive will approach it with an open mind.
Should there be an option, Molinaro said, Were prepared to host football again.
Hudson Valley Fort will not return
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This is why low level minor leagues are the last refuge of scoundrels. People involved with them can't find the gonads to just say "We gave it our best shot. The economics of it didn't work out. We just didn't have adequate capital to continue."The Fort were scheduled to play a third home game, but the season finale was cancelled on account of the National Football League's trade deadline, FXFL commissioner Brian Woods said last November.
They have to give some BS line. What the #$%^ does the NFL trade deadline have to do with anything the FXFL was doing? FXFL players weren't subject to them. What BS were they trying to sell? "Oh, you guys are going to be signed by an NFL team then traded, so we have to shut down early. Oh, and by the way, we're not paying you this week because of the NFL trade deadline."