Dusters to Operate as Normal in 2009
December 15, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Amarillo Venom News Release
Amarillo, TX (12/15/08) - The arenafootball2 league (af2), the official development league of the Arena Football League (AFL), will continue to operate as usual and WILL play in 2009 - the league's 10th anniversary season. The af2 operates entirely on its own and is not directly affected by the AFL's current situation.
The af2 is supported by 25 team ownership groups that are personally and financially committed to operate in 2009, a sound and sensible economic structure, and a league office which operates efficiently.
The AFL announced today that the League's Board of Directors have decided to suspend the 2009 season subject to agreement and cooperation with the Arena Football League Players Association while the League works on developing a long-term plan to improve its economic model.
"Today's decision by the AFL will not affect our preparation for a successful 2009 af2 campaign," said af2 President Jerry Kurz. "We're excited by the addition of Milwaukee to our league family and feel that this, our 10th anniversary season, will provide our fans with the most competitive and most entertaining year ever."
The 2009 af2 schedule was finalized and released in early November. Since then, all af2-member teams have been busy building rosters, selling season tickets and hiring additional staff as necessary in preparation for the 2009 season.
The Amarillo Dusters will play their first game of the 2009 season at the Amarillo Civic Center on March 27, 2009 as they take on the Oklahoma City YardDawgz. Dusters majority owner Randy Sanders spoke of the AFL's decision Monday.
"We have been aware that the AFL has been struggling with cost and financial issues in the recent past, but hoped that they would work through these issues before the upcoming campaign," said Sanders. "We are sorry to hear this news but in no way does it have a direct effect on the af2 league."
"(The af2) is set up as an independent league with our own league support securely in place," Sanders continued. "We intend to continue with our season as planned and stay true to our charter. âWe exist to provide our communities with quality entertainment at a reasonable price'-in this spirit we will continue our current plans."
The af2 is also coming off one of its most successful campaigns in 2008. Last season was the fifth time in nine (9) seasons that the league's total attendance figure topped one million fans. The campaign was capped off by the most well-attended ArenaCup championship game in league history.
The future of the af2 stands on solid ground as well as evidenced by the addition of two new expansion teams already committed for the 2010 season (Toledo, Ohio - Toledo Bullfrogs; Worcester, Mass.).
The Dusters' entire 2009 schedule is available for viewing on the team's new and improved website, www.dustersfootball.com.
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