Kansas City to join AFL as 18th team for 2006
Published on October 4, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - The Arena Football League Board of Directors approved last night in a unanimous vote via conference call to add Kansas City as an expansion team for the 2006 season. The team will be stocked with players formerly under contract to the New Orleans VooDoo, who suspended play for 2006 because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Kansas City will join the Utah Blaze as expansion teams for 2006.
"Although we regret the circumstances that brought us to this solution, we are excited to finally bring the AFL to Kansas City," said TYLER PROCHNOW, the leader of the team's ownership group, K.C. Arena Sports & Entertainment (KCASE). "Allowing the VooDoo players to remain together as a cohesive and competitive team was a major incentive for us going forward now instead of 2007."
Fifteen former VooDoo players, including AFL standouts QB ANDY KELLY and OL/DL B.J. COHEN, will compete for Kansas City for the ArenaBowl XX championship in 2006 instead of becoming free agents.
"Kansas City is a great football town and we're thrilled to be there," said Commissioner DAVID BAKER. "This is an exciting solution for a difficult situation. Tyler Prochnow and all the members of KCASE should be applauded for rallying under difficult circumstances to make this opportunity a reality."
Kansas City will be placed in the Southern Division and will play the 2006 season in Kemper Arena. The team is immediately eligible to begin signing free agents. Season-ticket deposits are now being accepted by calling 816-931-3330 or by logging on to www.arenafootballkc. com. A team nickname and colors will be announced shortly.
Following are the former VooDoo players who will compete for Kansas City in 2006:
POS. NAME HT WT EXP. COLLEGE 2005 NOTES
OL/DL B.J. Cohen 6.02 280 7 Marshall 9.0 sacks, All-Arena
FB/LB Dan Curran 6.00 230 4 New Hampshire 2004 All-Arena
DS Cliff Green 5.08 185 6 Tennessee State 3.5 TKL
OL/DL Aaron Hamilton 6.05 280 6 Tarleton State 15.5 TKL, 2.0 sacks
WR/LB James Jordan 6.02 225 1 Louisiana Tech No stats recorded
QB Andy Kelly 6.03 220 12 Tennessee 4,657 yards, 96 TDs
OL/DL Michael Landry 6.03 308 1 Southern 14.0 TKL, 2.0 sacks
OL/DL Brook Miller 6.04 295 1 San Diego State 5.0 TKL, 1 FR
FB/LB Dawan Moss 5.10 260 2 Michigan State 5.5 TKL, 1 FR
WR/LB Tremaine Neal 6.03 215 2 Valdosta State 5.0 TKL, 1 FR
OL/DL Hans Olsen 6.04 298 2 Brigham Young 11.0 TKL, 0.5 sack
DS Chris Pointer 5.11 187 3 Kentucky State 81.0 TKL, 2 INTs
WR/LB Brian Poli-Dixon 6.05 220 0 UCLA No stats recorded
OL/DL Dan Rumishek 6.04 273 1 Michigan 1.0 TKL, 1 PBUP
WR/DB Calvin Spears 6.01 195 2 Grambling 32.5 TKL, 3 INTs
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 4, 2005
- Destroyers open free agency period by signing five AFL veterans - Columbus Destroyers
- Gladiators ink seven as AFL free agent signing period begins - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Soul land top two free agent linemen - Philadelphia Soul
- L.A. Avengers trade Luis Almanzar to Austin Wranglers - Los Angeles Avengers
- Bon Jovi not Soul'd out for you - Philadelphia Soul
- Dahnel Singfield joins Dragons' backfield - New York Dragons
- Kats sign All-Arena FB/LB Frank Carter - Nashville Kats
- Kansas City to join AFL as 18th team for 2006 - AFL I
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