CIF Enjoys Relief and Balance with Replacement Team in New Mexico
March 4, 2015 - Champions Indoor Football (CIF) News Release
Albuquerque, NM: It is with great pleasure that the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) announces that professional football will remain in Albuquerque. Within hours of the league's board electing to disallow the struggling New Mexico Stars to play in 2014, efforts began to replace the Stars with a more stable and committed group. Just ten short days later, the league has come to terms with the Duke City Gladiators to take the place of the New Mexico team.
"The Gladiators were a recently launched professional indoor football team with plans to begin play in the 2016 season", explain league commissioner Darlene Jones, "When the recent vacancy in New Mexico arose, they were very quick to volunteer and enthusiastic about doing so." The new team had been rapidly working towards gaining league approval over the past ten days including posting financial securities to ensure that they will be viable throughout the 2015 season and beyond. The team has formally met or exceeded all of the league requirements today.
Lead by Matthew Caward, the team has secured the more traditional venue in Albuquerque proper, the Tingly Coliseum. This will be the city's inaugural experience with the sport as it has only been as close as Rio Rancho. "We recognize that we are taking on a real challenge with the last minute nature of this team's launching but we are very excited to be part of an excellent league like the CIF and feel well prepared to make this team one that the city can be proud of." stated managing partner Matthew Caward.
The team will fill nearly the complete void created by the Stars dismissal and offer fans around the league a truly competitive opponent both in New Mexico and in their home venues. "The CIF takes its commitment to the fans of the league and the communities in which it plays very seriously", remarked expansion committee leader Ricky Bertz, "When this league faces the challenges that all professional sports leagues at the minor-league level have to deal with, we are pleased that we are able to find solutions and make the teams, fans, and the league whole."
Season tickets are beginning to sell fast and corporate partnerships are rapidly being built with the Gladiators. Interest in either of these categories can be further explored by calling 505-980-3374 or by logging onto wwwdukecitygladiators.com. The CIF kicked off its 2015 schedule this week. For more information, check out www.GoCIF.net.
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