Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report
by Dan Krieger
Published on December 16, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
BASEBALL
Carolina League: The Salem (VA) Avalanche of the High Class-A Carolina League has been renamed the Salem Red Sox, as the team was acquired by the Boston Red Sox and recently signed a player development contract with the Major League club. The franchise had been called the Avalanche since 1995 when it changed its nickname from the Buccaneers.
Frontier League: A proposed new ballpark that could house a new Frontier League expansion team in McHenry County (IL), a far northwest Chicago suburb, has received initial approval from the town of Woodstock.
Northern League: The sale of land that was to become home to a new ballpark for a Northern League franchise in the suburban Minneapolis town of Burnsville (MN) has apparently fallen through. The group trying to start the proposed Metro Millers franchise plans to continue work toward a ballpark in the area.
BASKETBALL
American Basketball Association: The previously announced Hampton Roads (VA) ABA expansion franchise for the 2009-10 season has now started play in the 2008-09 season as the New Hope Trailblazers. The league has confirmed that the Gallup (NM) Talons and San Diego Wildcats will not play as planned in the 2008-09 season and are now listed as 2009-10 teams. Several other markets or teams are listed as 2009-10 expansion teams under league review: Boston, Charlotte, Columbus (OH), Fresno, Hawaii, Hollywood (CA), Monterey (CA), Oakland, Philadelphia, Santa Monica, Shreveport Stallions, South Metro Savannah (GA), St. Louis Stunners, Westchester Phantoms and Youngstown (OH). The Texas City Rangers are now listed as a current team in the Southwest division.
Continental Basketball Association: The Pittsburgh Xplosion has announced the team will not play in the 2008-09 CBA season. This reduces the league to only four teams, so three of the CBA teams-the Albany Patroons, Kentucky Miners and Minot Skyrockets-will play inter-league games with teams from the American Basketball Association early in their schedules. The CBA's Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry have declined to play any ABA games.
United Basketball League: The UBL's Tulsa team name has changed from the Thunderbirds to the Tornadoes and a new Deming-based team called the New Mexico Power has been listed as one the of the league's "D-League Teams".
Louisville Basketball League: The LBL is the only official farm league of the American Basketball Association and is reportedly moving forward in its development toward an inaugural season that starts in February 2009.
Americas Basketball International: The proposed ABI states that it will have 4 teams from the United States and 8 to 12 teams from Central America, South America and the Caribbean playing in its inaugural season. Four teams in the United States are now affiliated with cities-the Pensacola Reign, Birmingham (AL) Gladiators, Dalton (AL) Wolfpack and Nashville Frontiers.
FOOTBALL
Arena Football League: To address speculation that the AFL would not be playing a 2009 season, the league announced that the 2009 season would not be suspended. Another proposed vote on the matter could still change the status of the league as it looks for a workable business model. Various rumors had the league playing with fewer teams in 2009, sitting out the 2009 season entirely, or folding altogether. The league announced Monday that it would cancel the 2009 season.
Arenafootball2: With the troubles facing the Arena Football League, the af2 claims it will not be affected by the possible failure of the AFL and it will continue with its 2009 season as planned. In addition to the Toledo Bullfrogs joining the af2 in 2010, a franchise in Worcester (MA) is expected to join in 2010.
Indoor Football League: The IFL, which was created this past summer from the merger of the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football, has announced its 2009 alignment that features 19 teams split into 2 conferences and 4 divisions. The Intense Conference has a five-team Pacific Division (Alaska Wild, Billings Outlaws, Bloomington Extreme, Colorado Ice and Fairbanks Grizzlies) and a four-team Central Division (Omaha Beef, Sioux City Bandits, Sioux Falls Storm and Wichita Wild). The United Conference features a five-team Atlantic Division (Maryland Maniacs, Muskegon Thunder, Saginaw Sting, River City Rage and Rochester Raiders) and a five-team Lone Star Division (Abilene Ruff Riders, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, El Paso Generals, Odessa Roughnecks and San Angelo Stampede Express).
American Indoor Football Association: The AIFA has listed its 2009 alignment that features 16 teams split into 2 conferences and 4 divisions. The Eastern Conference has a three-team North Division (Canton Legends, Erie RiverRats, and Reading Express) and a four-team East Division (Baltimore Mariners, D.C. Armor, Florence Phantoms and Harrisburg Stampede). The Western Conference has a four-team South Division (Carolina Speed, Columbus Lions, Fayetteville Guard and South Carolina Force) and a five-team West Division (Arizona Adrenaline, New Mexico Wildcats, Ogden Knights, Utah Valley Thunder and Wyoming Cavalry).
Southern Indoor Football League: The Houma (LA) franchise in the new SIFL will be called the Houma Conquerors. The city of Houma was previously home to the Bayou Bucks (2002-04) in the National Indoor Football League. The SIFL plans to start its inaugural season with six teams in 2009, three in Louisiana and three in Texas.
National Football League: The city of Walnut (CA) is trying to stop proposed construction on a new NFL football stadium planned for the nearby City of Industry. An initial target of 2012 was proposed for completion of the stadium.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League: A group building a new 7,500-seat arena in Abbotsford (British Columbia) is pursuing an AHL franchise and is apparently interested in the Calgary Flames' AHL affiliate, the Quad City Flames, as a tenant. The Quad City Flames are playing their second season in Moline (IL) after moving from Omaha (NE) where the team was called the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights for two seasons. The AHL Flames have a contract through 2011, but have the league's second-lowest average attendance.
Southern Professional Hockey League: With the recent loss of the Augusta (GA) Lynx from the ECHL, the SPHL has expressed interest in placing a franchise in the city. A team could be added as early as next season if the right ownership group is found. The ECHL is considered a Double-A level of play, while the SPHL is considered a level below as a Single-A league.
SOCCER
United Soccer Leagues W-League: The operators of the W-League's Jersey Sky Blue have transferred its W-League rights to Quickstrike FC in New York, so they can concentrate on its Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) franchise called Sky Blue FC that starts play in April 2009. The W-League team will be renamed the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues and serve as a feeder for the Sky Blue FC pro team. The W-League's Chicago Gaels have changed their name to the Chicago Red Eleven and will serve as the W-League affiliate in Illinois for the Chicago Red Stars of the new WPS. The Fort Collins Force has changed its name to the Colorado Force FC for more regional marketing. The W-League announced that it will have 37 teams participating in the upcoming 2009 season.
United Soccer Leagues First Division: The new USL First Division Austin Aztex club has formed an alliance with the Mexican Primera Division's Club de Futbol Monterrey, known as the Raynados (the striped ones). The Aztex club will serve as a feeder club for young talent to the Monterrey club.
United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League: The PDL has announced it plans to have 68 teams playing in 8 divisions for its upcoming 2009 season. The new McAllen-based PDL team announced it will be called the Rio Grande Valley Bravos FC. The PDL plans to add other expansion teams called the Real Colorado Foxes, Rochester (MN) Thunder, Forest City London (Ontario), Portland Timbers U23s, Victoria (British Columbia) Highlanders, a club in Midland (TX), and three more teams to be announced.
National Premier Soccer League: The NPSL plans to grow in size for its fifth season in 2009. The Northeast plans to add three Pennsylvania clubs-the Erie Admirals, Pocono Snow and Philadelphia-while the Northwest plans to add a club in Redding (CA). The final 2009 league alignment will be announced after a league meeting to be held in January 2009.
OTHER
National Lacrosse League: The NLL's Chicago Shamrox franchise has suspended its indoor lacrosse operations for the upcoming 2009 season that was to start in 15 days. The Shamrox played only two NLL seasons (2007-08) and had been looking for new local ownership since last season. Chicago was removed from the East Division and the NLL will operate with 12 teams in 6-team East and West divisions. An investor in Vancouver (British Columbia) wants to bring another NLL franchise to the city. The NLL recently won a favorable judgment against the former owner of the league's Vancouver Ravens franchise that operated for three seasons (2002-04).
Dan Krieger is the creator of "Leagues, Teams & Nicknames", which tracks the changes in league alignments, franchise movements and team nicknames in today's sports world. The latest version can be found at http://www.lulu.com/content/2533047. Dan can be contacted at dankrieger@leaguesteamsnicknames.com.
National Lacrosse League Stories from December 16, 2008
- Jax Re-Sign Bruce Alexander - Portland Lumberjax
- Jax Finish Training Camp At The Rose Garden - Portland Lumberjax
- Knighthawks Expect Scott Evans To Miss 2009 Season - Rochester Knighthawks
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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.
