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IL1 International League

Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report

by Dan Krieger
June 3, 2008 - International League (IL1)


BASEBALL

International League: Although the Richmond Braves announced a move to Gwinnett County (GA) for the 2009 season, there is a possibility the team could play the 2009 season in Richmond. The Braves organization still has to give up its rights to the Richmond territory, but that might not happen until it is sure the new stadium in Gwinnett County will be ready for the 2009 season. There are no teams in the Triple-A International League that appear ready to move to the Richmond market, which would be on the outer boundaries of both the Double-A Eastern League and Southern League. Meanwhile, teams in the Low Class-A South Atlantic League and the High Class-A Carolina League have expressed an interest in the Richmond market.

Pacific Coast League: The new ownership group of the Las Vegas 51s plans to drop the team's current nickname after the 2008 season. Previously called the Las Vegas Stars until the 2001 season, the team changed to the 51s nickname, which was taken from the military base about 200 miles away that was said to be involved with alien and UFO research.

South Atlantic League (SALLY): With the opening of the International League's Richmond (VA) market, the three low Class-A SALLY markets with older ballparks-Columbus (GA), Savannah (GA) and Hagerstown (MD)-have been mentioned as possible relocation candidates. The owner of the Columbus Catfish has been working on a deal to move the team to a proposed ballpark in Bowling Green (KY). The new buyer of the Savannah Sand Gnats apparently has no interest in moving the club.

Atlantic Coast League: The organizer of the ACL has expressed an interest in the Aiken (SC) market, which had the Aiken Foxhounds in the inaugural 2007 season of the South Coast League. The ACL hopes to start play in the 2009 season.

BASKETBALL

World Basketball Association: The WBA Exposure League officially started its 2008 season with six teams-the Buford (GA) Majic, Cartersville (GA) Warriors, Decatur (GA) Court Kings, Memphis Blues, Mississippi Hardhats, and Tri-State Crusaders. The Memphis team is also referred to as the Blue Tornadoes.

American Basketball Association: The ABA has announced its return to Knoxville for the 2008-09 season. A team called the Knoxville Noise played off and on during the 2006-07 ABA season. The Noise also announced plans to play in the 2007 World Basketball Association, but that never took place.

FOOTBALL

Arenafootball2: The af2 officially announced it has awarded a franchise to the Buffalo market for the 2009 season, if an arena lease can be worked out. The majority owner is currently involved with the Rochester (NY) Raiders of the Continental Indoor Football League. The Buffalo Destroyers played in the Arena Football League from 1999 through the 2003 season before moving to Columbus (OH). A current owner involved in several af2 franchises is considering the Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) market for an af2 franchise. In 2005, the proposed Canada-based North American Indoor Football League had targeted the Saskatoon market with a team to be called the Saskatoon Swarm. Continental Indoor Football League: The CIFL has taken control of the Chesapeake Tide franchise based in Upper Marlboro (MD). The team has struggled with poor attendance and the league will try to find a new owner for the franchise.

American Indoor Football Association: The AIFA has stepped in to help the Utah Saints franchise, one of the league's four West division teams. The other West division teams are located in Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. Wenatchee (WA) will reportedly be one of the West division markets added in 2009. The league wants to expand the West division to six teams and is also considering markets in Colorado, California and Kansas for expansion.

HOCKEY

American Hockey League: The current AHL cities of Portland (ME), Des Moines (IA) and Rochester (NY) are all expected to be involved in National Hockey League affiliation changes before the 2008-09 season begins. The Buffalo Sabres are expected to move from Rochester to Portland; the Florida Panthers could become the sole affiliate in Rochester; the Anaheim Ducks could move from Portland to Des Moines; and the Dallas Stars could place its AHL players on several teams until a new arena in the Austin area is ready in 2009 for its Texas Stars AHL team.

International Hockey League: The IHL has announced its 2008-09 schedule and the league will return with the same six teams from its 2007-08 inaugural season-Bloomington Prairie Thunder, Flint Generals, Fort Wayne Komets, Kalamazoo Wings, Muskegon Fury and Port Huron Icehawks.

Central Hockey League: The Austin Ice Bats and Corpus Christi Rayz are not expected to return to the CHL next season, although a last minute deal with a new buyer could save the Rayz. The Ice Bats are basically being pushed out of town by an American Hockey League franchise that is expected to start play in the area for the 2009-10 season. In 1996, the Austin Ice Bats franchise was a charter member of the Western Professional Hockey League, which then merged with the CHL in 2001. The CHL is adding an expansion team in Rapid City (SD) next season and plans to add teams in Independence (MO), just outside of Kansas City, and in Allen (TX), northeast of Dallas, for the 2009-10 season.

Eastern Professional Hockey League: The EPHL's West Orange (NJ) franchise will be called the Jersey Rockhoppers, a type of penguin associated with the local area's zoo. The Mountaineers, Turtlebacks and Renegades nicknames were also considered. The EPHL plans to start play in the 2008-09 season and has announced two other teams, the Danbury (CT) Mad Hatters and a yet-to-be-named team in Rome (NY).

American Roller Hockey Association: The ARHA wants to bring a true professional mindset to inline hockey and plans to have 20 professional franchises in 4 different divisions for its inaugural 2010-11 season. Regional divisions are planned for the Northwest (Northern California/Oregon), Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, Texas), Northeast (Ohio, Illinois, New York, New Jersey) and Southeast (South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida).

Major League Roller Hockey: The MLRH will return to full professional status in the summer of 2009 with a traditional league schedule. Starting in November 2008, the MLRH will operate a Pro Tour and stage various four-team events in major markets with six teams competing for the tour championship. The league will again host its annual Euro Cup competition, which will be held this July in Washington (DC). The Euro Cup is an annual event that was started by the MLRH in 2004.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer: The city of Miami set land aside for a possible soccer stadium to be built next to a new baseball stadium for the Marlins. Investors have not come forward to pay part of the construction costs along with an MLS expansion fee, so a Miami-based expansion franchise could be on hold.

Women's Professional Soccer: The Chicago-based WPS franchise has completed its voting to choose a team nickname and the "Red Stars" won out over the "Wind" and "1871" names. The official team name will be announced on June 3rd. The WPS previously announced seven cities that will host teams in the inaugural 2009 season, but it is still considering markets like Atlanta, the Bay Area, San Diego, and Cary (NC) for an eighth franchise. The WPS announced that a Philadelphia-based team will start play in the 2010 season and hopes to work out an agreement to share the area's new stadium being built for a Major League Soccer franchise. The Philadelphia Charge franchise played from 2001 to 2003 in the former women's pro league called the Women's United Soccer Association.

Major Indoor Soccer League: The MISL commissioner has resigned and the league could undergo some restructuring before its next season. The league could reduce the length of its season to 20 games and start in December instead of October.

OTHER

National Lacrosse League: The NLL has approved the sale of the Rochester Knighthawks that should insure the team's continued operation in the league. Recent financial problems with the team's previous ownership had threatened the franchise.

Dan Krieger is the creator of "Leagues, Teams & Nicknames", which tracks the changes in league alignments, franchise movements and team nicknames in today's sports world. The latest version can be found at http://www.lulu.com/content/2533047. Dan can be contacted at dankrieger@leaguesteamsnicknames.com.

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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