Macon Knights cease operations
August 29, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
CHICAGO - After six years in the Macon, Ga. community, the Macon Knights have ceased operations, it was announced today by the arenafootball2 league (af2).
The Knights, who joined the af2 in 2001, were considered to be one of the league's leaders in community outreach thanks to the efforts of the Macon's operator, Beverly Olson. The team, however, found it difficult to operate sufficiently over time due to low attendance totals and limited sponsorship revenue.
"We (af2) are saddened by the loss of one of our longest-tenured teams in the Macon Knights," af2 League President Jerry Kurz said. "The Olsons are great people who are an integral part of the Macon community. It's unfortunate that they haven't been able to create the type of support needed to continue their operations."
The Knights most successful year was their inaugural season of 2001 in which they averaged almost 4,000 fans per game (3,951). This past season Macon averaged just 2,661 fans per game.
Despite the loss, the af2 is coming off its most successful season to date. The League just completed its seventh season of play in memorable fashion as the expansion Spokane Shock claimed the 2006 ArenaCup Championship. It was the first time in league history that an expansion team has won the league title in its first season.
Another historic element to this year's championship was where the game took place - at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ArenaCup7 was the first-ever Arena Football game played in Puerto Rico. It was also the first time that an Arena Football (AFL or af2) Championship was held outside of the United States.
Next year looks to be even more exciting thanks to the addition of two new teams set to start in 2007, the Mahoning Valley Thunder, based in Youngstown, OH, and a yet-to-be-named team based in Boise, ID. The League is also looking over applications from several other strong expansion candidates that could join the current group of 24 member teams.
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arenafootball2 Stories from August 29, 2006
- Shock to host homecoming rally - Spokane Shock
- Macon Knights cease operations - af2
- Knights Cease Operations After Six Years in Macon - Macon Knights
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