Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

by Dan Krieger
February 2, 2009 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)


BASEBALL

Canadian-American League (Can-Am): In an effort to start over in Ottawa and avoid confusion with a previous team, the new Ottawa-based Can-Am franchise will be renamed for its 2009 season. The Ottawa Can-Am franchise was originally announced as the Ottawa Rapids for the 2008 season, but was renamed the Rapidz under new ownership prior to the start of the season. The Rapidz suspended operations after the 2008 season and the league had planned to add a new 2009 Ottawa franchise called the Rapids.

Super Independent Baseball: The recently announced SIB plans to be the first nationwide independent baseball organization with eight regional divisions participating throughout the continental United States. The league map divides the 48 continental states into eight proposed regions called the Glory Division (West Coast/Northwest states), Wild West Division (Southwestern states), Great Lakes Division, Heritage Division (Mid-Atlantic/Mid-South states), Freedom Division (Southeastern states), Independence Division (Northeastern states), Pioneer Division (Midwest/North Central states), and Majestic Division (Rocky Mountain states).

Northwoods League: The summer-collegiate team in Brainerd (MN) will be called the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers for the 2009 season. The team came under new ownership and was previously called the Brainerd Blue Thunder.

BASKETBALL

American Basketball Association: The ABA has another new 2009-10 franchise called the Seaside (CA) Sea Kings. Seaside is located just outside the city of Monterey (CA). The league plans to return to Hawaii next season with a Honolulu-based team called the Hawaii Pegasus. The league has tried several other Hawaiian teams called the Hawaii Mega Force, Hawaii Hurricanes and the Pacific Rim Rockers. The ABA's proposed Savannah (GA) franchise that plans to join in 2009-10 is scheduled to play some exhibition games this season against the Bahama All Pro Show. The Gwinnett Gwizzlies franchise plans to apply to the Continental Basketball Association for the 2009-10 CBA season.

United States Basketball Association: The proposed USBA, which plans to start play in April 2009, has announced tryouts for the month of March. A recent announcement stated the league will have 12 teams located throughout the Southeast, not the 14 teams originally announced. Missing from the Appalachian Division is the Huntsville Storm, while the Columbia (SC) Centurion and Norfolk Blaze are not listed in the Atlantic Division. The Augusta Raging River has been switched to the Atlantic Division and a team called the West Virginia Capitals is now part of the Appalachian Division. The league will be comprised of players looking to advance to the National Basketball Association Development League or find a spot on an international team.

International Basketball League: The team that will replace the 2008 Edmonton Chill in the 2009 IBL season has been named the Edmonton Energy. Original reports had the team being called the Edmonton Graduates (Grads) after a popular women's basketball team in the 1920s and 1930s. Also, the IBL's Elgin (IL) Racers team will reportedly sit out the 2009 season.

United Basketball League: The UBL has announced tryouts will be held next month for its 2009 season and lists seven teams: Arkansas Warriors, Central Texas Stars, Dallas Outlaws, Oklahoma OnPoint Hoops, Springfield (MO) Thrill, Tulsa Tornadoes and the UBL Texas Wranglers. The UBL reports the alignment will have all seven teams listed in one table with no divisions.

FOOTBALL

United National Gridiron League: Due to the loss of a primary investor, the proposed developmental football league known as the UNGL has delayed the February start of its inaugural season until March 22, 2009. The league has held a draft for eight teams that plan to be part of the inaugural season. Although not officially announced, the teams have been reported to include the Akron Dogs, Alabama Dragons (Birmingham), Carolina Coyotes (Winston-Salem), Dallas Skybolts, Georgia Stallions (Columbus), Louisiana Beast (Shreveport), Miami Flare and Virginia Senators (Norfolk).

American Indoor Football Association: After announcing last week that the Prescott Valley-based Arizona Adrenaline would not play in 2009, the AIFA has announced the Canton (OH) Legend franchise will also sit out the 2009 season due to the poor economy in the area. The Legends started play in 2005 and hope to return in 2010. The league was down to 14 teams from the 16 originally announced for 2009.

United States Indoor Football League: The Worcester-based New England Surge, which played as part of the 2008 Continental Indoor Football League, has been invited to join the new USIFL for its inaugural 2009 season. The new league could include teams from the American Indoor Football Association and the new Indoor Football League.

Arenafootball2: Although the Worcester-based New England Surge will play as part of a league other than the af2 in 2009, the af2 reportedly has plans to place an expansion team in Worcester under different ownership for the 2010 season. The af2 also plans to add the new Toledo Bullfrogs in 2010.

HOCKEY

Southern Professional Hockey League: The six-team SPHL has several cities under consideration for possible expansion next season. Augusta (GA) and Pensacola (FL) are considered frontrunners for SPHL expansion, while groups in Roanoke (VA), Greenville (SC) and Greensboro (NC) have expressed interest in the league. The league's Jacksonville Barracudas franchise, which is sitting out this season, has not had much success in building a new arena for a 2009-10 return.

SOCCER

United Soccer League Premier Development League: The new Seattle-based PDL franchise that starts play in 2009 will be called the Seattle Wolves. The PDL has also added new clubs called the FC Atlanta Blackhawks and the New Orleans Jesters, which replace the Atlanta Silverbacks U23 and the New Orleans Shell Shockers, respectively. The Silverbacks organization, which also operated a USL First Division club in 2008, decided to sit out the 2009 season.

Women's Professional Soccer: The Atlanta-based WPS franchise, which is expected to join for the league's second season in 2010, has announced a name-the-team contest. Fans will be able to vote from among seven team names: Attack, Beat, Blaze, Fury, Rush, Stingrays and Storm. A team called the Atlanta Beat played in all three seasons (2001-03) of the former pro league called the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA).

Major League Soccer: The MLS expansion effort in Ottawa needs approval of a soccer-specific stadium to be considered for one of two new teams to be added in 2011. Another group in Ottawa is trying to build a new football stadium for a Canadian Football League franchise and it is expected that the city will grant approval to one or the other, but not both projects. The Ottawa stadium situation could help the Vancouver expansion effort, if the league wants to add only one Canadian expansion team. Vancouver reportedly has an agreement in place to play in the renovated BC Place Stadium in 2011. The other cities in the running for the two expansion teams are Miami, Portland and St. Louis. Other expansion efforts in Montreal and Atlanta have ended.

OTHER

World TeamTennis: The Wilmington-based Delaware Smash announced the franchise would not return for the 2009 WTT season. The Smash started play in the 1998 season. All ten of the league's other teams from 2008 are expected to return.

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.



American Indoor Football Association Stories from February 2, 2009


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.


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