Over a Cup of Coffee
by Jerry Hewitt
Published on September 10, 2010 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
The American Football Association has made a lot of noise this offseason, nearly all of which it would have rather avoided. I have said on more than one occasion that the AIFA reminds me of the old National Indoor Football League, but I don't want anybody to think the AIFA ownership is anywhere near as dishonest as those who headed up the NIFL. I feel AIFA management just has the wrong idea of how the sport should be governed, especially when it comes to expansion.
Let's take a quick look back at the 2010 season. The AIFA went into this year's campaign with 13 teams, seven in the East and six in the West. Four of the six in the West were new. Having a majority of new teams in the West was pretty much business as usual for the league, as they have had to set up new franchises yearly to provide opponents for their Western flagship team in Casper, Wyoming. 2010 was no different. The league added Wenatchee, Yakima, San Jose, and Wasilla, Alaska. Returning was Wyoming and Ogden, Utah. It wasn't long into the season when it became apparent that Wasilla didn't have the funds to travel or pay their share of travel for visiting teams. Also shortly into the season, Ogden found itself without a home venue and became a travel-only team. The East was more stable as all seven that started the season finished it, though before tiny crowds in some locations.
The season itself proved to be the least of the AIFA's worries. In the West, it seems pretty easy to guess that Wasilla and Ogden will not return. Wenatchee appears to be in the process of joining the IFL, and the biggest bombshell was Wyoming also jumping to the IFL, leaving only San Jose, Yakima, and newly-formed Reno. The rapid series of defections, particularly the loss of lynchpin Wyoming, lead some to wonder if the AIFA West is dead. The question of what happens to the three remaining teams still is unclear. The rumor is that Reno originally tried to get into the IFL, but was turned down. San Jose is independently owned so their future is solely in their hands. Yakima is in part owned by the league and their only option might be shut down. Now it would not surprise any if the AIFA did set up one or two new teams out west to keep that division alive, but that may just delay the inevitable.
The East has always been the strength of the AIFA with teams such as Reading, Erie and Baltimore keeping things somewhat stable. Now Reading, the strongest team in the region, has jumped ship, joining the IFL. It was announced this week that the New Jersey Revolution would not return, and Fayetteville's owner has called it quits. The most shocking news came last week, when two of the Baltimore owners were charged with charges which included embezzlement and misappropriation of funds, money allegedly used to purchase the team. The cases against the two could effectively shut down that team. Had this not happened, many expected the Mariners to also jump to another league. This leaves the AIFA with maybe Erie, Harrisburg, Richmond, and newly formed Trenton in the East. Harrisburg is 100% league owned. Trenton at least in part is also league owned. Without any expansion this leaves the AIFA with only four teams in the East. if Erie leaves it's hard to imagine the AIFA will try to play with just three teams.
It is difficult to believe there is much gas left in the AIFA's tank. It appears their model has failed. Even if Baltimore is revived with league money, it makes no sense to continue when its obvious the AIFA strategy of seeding markets and then selling off the teams has failed. The AIFA has shown itself a fighter, but it may make more sense for it stop throwing good money after bad and to release all non league owned teams from any contracts allowing them to join other leagues. There is at least one report of unpaid bills to an AIFA contractor which might suggest the league does not have enough funds to set up any new league-owned franchises in the East or West. It may also be an indicator of low funds that AIFA ownership withdrew its promise to help fund travel in the playoffs. Last, the AIFA has burned more markets in its five year existence than any other league since the NIFL and that is not good for the sport in general. It may be time for the AIFA ownership to bite the bullet, recognize that their efforts have failed and get on with their lives outside of football.
American Indoor Football Association Stories from September 10, 2010
- 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.
