Quality, not quantity standard for WIFL team roster
Published on October 2, 2006 under World Indoor Football League 2 (WIFL 2) News Release
DAYTONA BEACH , Fla. - His time in the Canadian Football League gave World Indoor Football League Commissioner Gary Tufford somewhat of an appreciation for hockey history.
If the National Hockey League's glory days were when the league had just six teams, why not the same for the WIFL?
"It's all about stability and long-term success," said Tufford, whose league is prepared to begin its inaugural season in February 2007 with six teams if the situation warrants. "Does the size of a league matter to the fans in each city? I don't think so.
"We'd like to eight or ten teams take the field, but we have six outstanding franchises ready to put on a quality show," Tufford added. "Some teams may have to play each other an extra time. Next problem."
For 25 years, the NHL stayed solid at six teams in what's called "The Original Six" era. Hockey historians state the small number of teams and rosters spots resulted in a very high quality of play and that rivalries developed with the teams facing each other as many as 14 times a year, also making it easier for fans to become familiar with all the players. Most importantly, the league at times played to arenas filled to 95% capacity.
"In an era where everybody thinks in huge numbers and it's all about quantity we have to take time and remember that all good things begin with seeds," Tufford said. "That is what we are doing here is planting seeds.
"If this is to grow and we hope to reap the kind of fruit we believe it is capable of bearing then we have to be patient,'' Tufford added. "I always believed the old adage that `all good things come to those that wait.' Not that we aren't trying to put the best package together but it isn't life or death if we have fewer than more teams right now".
Tufford also noted the Canadian Football League has been solid with 8-9 teams for many years and that two other indoor leagues fared well with six teams or less in 2006. Even the Arena Football League started with four teams in its inaugural year and gradually worked its way up to the present 17.
"From a business standpoint, it looks a lot better having an established number of teams year in and year out rather than going from 8 to 22 teams back down to 7 and up to 20 or so again," Tufford said. "The CFL as well, when I was playing it was great. The League was tight and everyone knew who was who and it wasn't about anything other than great players and great competition. The fans got to see there favorite players that much more."
The WIFL currently has six teams - the Augusta ( Ga. ) Spartans, the Columbus ( Ga. ) Lions, the Carolina ( Raleigh ) Bombers, The Daytona Beach ( Fla. ) Thunder, Osceola ( Kissimmee , Fla. ) Ghostriders and the Rome ( Ga. ) Renegades.
For more information, contact Director of Communication Dan Ryan at (386) 295-8136 or visit the league's temporary web site at http://www.wifl.us.
World Indoor Football League 2 Stories from October 2, 2006
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
