Over a Cup of Coffee
by Jerry Hewitt
Published on September 22, 2010 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
This past weekend the American Indoor Football Association held its annual league meetings, but in a new twist hosted the East teams in Baltimore and the West franchises in Reno. I look at this as maybe somewhat counterproductive when all the principals aren't together in one place, but I'm sure it was also a big cost-cutting move.
I'm looking for reasons I should buy into the company line and be able to report the AIFA has righted the sinking ship. Unfortunately for AIFA fans, I found no indication the AIFA isn't still taking on water. The good news is that if the AIFA does dissolve, the few solid franchises left in the league have some options for next year. Any of the AIFA teams in the East can look at the CIFL, IFL, and even UIFL and decide which is the better fit for them. The only exception would be Richmond since another IFL team already occupies that area, though that doesn't rule out some kind of accomodation between the two.
Despite the fact that the league announced the meetings to the public in a press release on September 11, it has failed to issue any update on what actually happened at them four days after they finished, as of this writing. Fortunately, we're not reliant on the league for information. According to sources, AIFA ownership is trying to revive Fayetteville, Carolina and possibly Florence in addition to salvaging Baltimore. No one I talked with could confirm there was any independent ownership representing these teams, so it may be safe to conclude they will be owned by the AIFA. Multiple sources indicate the only independent ownerships to attend the East meetings were Erie and Richmond.
Now I do have a better idea of the AIFA West and it is not good news for Tucson fans. I am told the AIFA will go with five teams: Yakima, Reno, San Jose (still rumored to be relocating to Stockton), and a yet-to-be-named fifth team. I actually had that fifth location told to me, but am keeping it under wraps until I can get confirmation. I'll just say that if Tucson fans were looking for a closer opponent, they are out of luck. From what I've been told, the Thunder Kats' closest opponent will be about 12 1/2 hours by car. We are pretty used to seeing at least one team stuck on an island. Now the AIFA West may be just a series of islands. Also on that un-named fifth team I do not see it making it through the season. I'm speculating this will not be a very rich team and could drown in travel expenses if they have to make more than one trip to the dessert. Unsurprisingly, neither Ogden nor Wasilla were mentioned as returning.
American Indoor Football Association Stories from September 22, 2010
- AIFA Completes Successful Meetings - AIFA
- Tucson Thunder Kats have joined the AIFA - Tucson Thunder Kats
- 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.
