IFL grows to nine, adds commissioner

October 11, 2007 - Intense Football League (Intense) News Release


Corpus Christi, TX.: The Intense Football League is proud to announce the addition of Fairbanks, the second IFL team in the great state of Alaska. League governors voted unanimously on Wednesday night to add this 9th team for the 2008 Season. With a team already competing in Anchorage, and doing so with tremendous success, Fairbanks became a natural addition. It is anticipated that the two teams will become very spirited rivals on the field and be of great assistance to one another economically off the field as they will travel to compete with each other and share in the expense of traveling teams to the Last Frontier to play in both cities. "This is an exciting day for the IFL, the City of Fairbanks, and all of the IFL fans," stated league President Chad Dittman. The unnamed Fairbanks team will play their home games at the Carlson Center, which seats 4,500 spectators for Indoor Football. "The arena is a beautiful, state of the art facility and there isn't a bad seat in the house," added Dittman.

The 2008 IFL season is slated to start in March and league officials expect to have the schedule released over the coming weeks. After a great conclusion to the 2007 season in which the Louisiana Swashbucklers defeated the Corpus Christi Hammerheads in Intense Bowl 3, the IFL brings back all 8 teams for 2008 and plans on completing it's expansion this month with a line up of 9 to 11 teams. The current teams include the Alaska Wild, CenTex Barracudas, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, Fairbanks, Frisco Thunder, Katy Ruff Riders, Louisiana Swashbucklers, Odessa Roughnecks, and the San Angelo Stampede Express. "We are excited about the future of the IFL and look to continue to bring more fans quality entertainment at affordable prices," explained IFL VP Tommy Benizio.

COMMISSIONER ADDED: For the first time since league inception in 2003, the IFL has added a new boss in Commissioner Dan Blum. Blum joins the IFL with 43 years of experience in football officiating and is no stranger to the indoor games as Dan was on the turf officiating indoor and arena football for five seasons. His most recent experience with the game saw him as commissioner and head of officials for another indoor football league for two years. "Dan has ties at every level of football from college to the NFL", remarked Dittman, "He is extremely well respected in the football community nationwide and there is no one that our teams would rather have in this position." The Lafayette, Louisiana resident is supported in this move by his wife Patsy. "I have been enthusiastic about this opportunity from the moment I was approached. I have long-standing relationships with several of the IFL team owners and have always respected the league as the premier in the nation at this level," said Blum, "I m proud to have the chance to help take a great, family oriented product to the next level."



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