- 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.
