Over a Cup of Coffee

by Jerry Hewitt
September 3, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)

There's a case to be made that the IFL is positioning itself to control small market indoor football, including any attempts by the new AFL to reinvent a minor league Arena circuit, a la af2.

The IFL has all but choked the life out of the AIFA along with help in the way of the AIFA's bad business decisions. With Wyoming and likely Wenatchee going to the IFL, the moves all but end any chance of the AIFA ever regaining any credible markets and ownership out west. Add to that Reading going IFL, and it sends a further message that AIFA teams are tired of the NIFL-clone-like business of the AIFA.

CIFL markets are being gobbled up by the IFL as well. Maybe not existing CIFL teams, but their geographic area is getting smaller by the day. Some are surprised the CIFL is even going to kick off in 2011, but I'm not one of them. There will always be a market for teams that can't afford the IFL model or want to start out in a smaller league, and test the waters before moving up to a larger league. Based on that, the CIFL will have its place, but most likely always remain a six to eight team league with teams disappearing or moving on after a season or two.

Some feel the SIFL has made its mark in the south and is even now infringing on the IFL Texas territory. To date I haven't seen any real credible teams surface in the Florida area, but one has to wonder if a couple did show up and they went IFL, what might happen in the south. Let's be honest, the SIFL hasn't shown any signs of stability in its two year history and if their business practices don't change, some of their quality teams might look at the IFL if travel is not an issue.

The AFL is on target to be the size it was prior to the old AFL folding, but this isn't your old AFL. In some respects it may be better, but with reduced player salaries might in time see more of its players going to the other leagues. Old af2 teams except for the Spokane Shock and Tulsa Talons are struggling, with a couple leaving their old af2 small markets for the bright lights of bigger markets. The IFL appears to be no threat to the AFL, but there are certainly are a speed bump to any plans to reinvent a small market version. The IFL currently controls the small market segment of the game.

The AFL may be okay for now, but one has to wonder what would happen if the IFL decided to create its own two tier system. In my opinion, the IFL is in far better position to do this than the AFL. If the IFL decided to create a large market model it just might take off, especially if they could make it a cheaper option than the current AFL. I think this is a dream, just speculation on my part, but a possibility if the IFL continues to grow and control most of the US markets.

Why do I think the IFL dominates anything might be a valid question. Although it's not perfect, its business model appears to be working. If they continue to add solid teams while weeding out weaker ones, their domination only grows. The biggest question is if they can handle the growth; in short, is their leadership strong enough to control 30+ teams. Currently I don't see their league office structure manned with enough experience to effectively and efficiently handle their size. They need to hire professionals who have more experience with the game and in working with ownerships.

I do not feel the IFL commissioner is any worse than any other in the game, but I do feel too much is left up to him because of a lack of experience and numbers at the league level. I can see where his plate might easily start to overflow and things he should easily be able to handle become too much. The IFL is at the size where they need to look at how businesses outside of football operates. The IFL needs to look to add regional or divisional managers so everything doesn't fall at the commissioners feet. This just makes sense and is tried and proven to work.

Today I'm looking at 2011, but also beyond that which I'm sure the IFL is as well. I seen the NIFL try to dominate the sport and fail. It failed for many of the same reasons the AIFA has one foot in the grave, the lack of foresight to see that only quality teams and strong leadership will determine the future. I won't get into the battle of whether IFL leadership is strong or not, but to their credit they are building their future with strong franchises which the other leagues can't say at this point. I know SIFL fans will argue this, but I'm just looking at the track record, not what this league or that league may be saying today. The IFL has had its share of weak franchises and a couple still exist, but from what we've seen in the way of additions so far this off season it says the IFL is done with weak wannabes.

If the IFL is on the wrong path anywhere it might be in its proposed Southwest division. It appears Tucson may not be a good fit and the rumored Prescott market does not have a history of success. While in the AIFA, they drew poorly and didn't show any good marketing skills. There may be a time to open this new area up, but it may not be 2011.

Another problem I see with the IFL is no roadmap or plan on how teams should market and handle the press. It appears teams sign up, pay their money and then are on their own to figure it out. A league that wants to grow and control their market needs a better plan than what I see out of the IFL in these areas. In this area, the AFL is ahead of the IFL. The old af2 model was a good one, just too expensive and the IFL needs to take a look at it and see the value of helping teams in the marketing and press areas. Some might say all is well in these areas and it's not bad in general, but it could be better. Better usually results in more ticket sales which few, if any teams don't need or want. The move to use PointStreak as the league's statistical provider was an upgrade this season.

Granted the IFL is not perfect and it has plenty of room to improve, but it is the best thing going at this level. That isn't my opinion, but the opinion of most ownerships currently in the game. This off season it appears the IFL is set to take total control of the Midwest and West and no I'm not forgetting the CIFL presence in the upper Midwest, but they are no threat to any IFL plans. The East is still a weak link for the IFL and could be addressed in 2012. Texas with a couple teams going SIFL this year could send a red flag, but nothing the IFL needs to concern themselves with at this point. I see 2012 as the year the IFL pushes into the deep south and maybe the Southwest with a better effort than just this Tucson, Prescott thing.

The key for 2011 is a no-problem season in the way of financially troubled teams. The IFL did a poor job in handling these issues in 2010, although only lost one team as a result, but that clearly showed they had no real plan to help struggling franchises. I hope they have looked at this and put into play a real plan. I'm also hoping the IFL ownerships have woken up to the fact that their leadership can no longer be just a figurehead and has to be given the power to control more of the action off the field. I see these two areas as major concerns for future growth and success for the IFL.

Indoor Football League Stories from September 3, 2010

• Outlaws Launch New Program - Billings Outlaws
• Over a Cup of Coffee - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt

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.