Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report
by Dan Krieger
July 20, 2009 - SPHL (SPHL)
BASEBALL
Northern League: The new Lake County Fielders team, which plans to start play in the 2010 Northern League season, has unveiled the design for its 8,000-seat ballpark in Zion (IL). Although no specifics were provided, the Northern League claims it has an eighth franchise that will join in 2010 with the Lake County expansion team. The league had been looking at the Kansas cities of Topeka, Manhattan and Lawrence for possible expansion. The idea of a league-operated travel team as an eighth team in 2010 was voted down.
Midwest League: An investor in Dubuque (IL) is interested in building a privately financed ballpark in the city for a Low Class-A Midwest League franchise. Apparently, there are no Midwest League franchises up for sale at this time, so the Rookie-level Pioneer League is being considered. The city of Dubuque voted down a tax levy to finance a ballpark back in 2003.
Frontier League: Those involved with renovating the ballpark on the campus of Indiana State University in Terra Haute have shifted interest from an independent franchise in the Frontier League to hosting a team in the summer-collegiate Prospect League. Initially, a Frontier League franchise had been planned for Terra Haute, but a summer-collegiate team makes more financial sense for the project. The ballpark could be ready for the 2010 season. The Prospect League evolved from the former Central Illinois Collegiate League for 2009 and some Indiana cities are involved.
Super Independent Baseball: The proposed SIB has announced it will hold a Super Independent Baseball Summer Tour in 2010 in various prospective cities throughout the country. The Tour hopes to provide the communities and potential ownership groups a gauge for determining local interest in minor league professional baseball. The SIB plans to start regular-season play in May 2011 and previously announced it will operate a 2009 fall league in the Chicago area during the months of September and October.
BASKETBALL
American Basketball Association: A group in Pikesville (KY) has purchased the name of the East Kentucky Miners, which was a team in the 2008-09 season of the Continental Basketball Association, and will operate an ABA franchise by that name in the upcoming 2009-10 season. The ABA plans to have two other Kentucky-based teams with the Bisons in Owensboro and the Bluegrass Stallions in Lexington. The league's Las Vegas Aces franchise has been renamed the Las Vegas Dynasty. The proposed Syracuse Shock Wave franchise is now listed as a 2010-11 expansion team.
Women's National Basketball Association: A group of investors is expected to announce plans next week to bring a WNBA franchise to Tulsa (OK).
Americas Basketball International: The proposed ABI plans to hold its Freewill Games from July 22 to August 1, 2009. An ABI team and five international teams from Nigeria (2), Uruguay, Venezuela, and Liberia are scheduled to participate. The ABI is trying to affiliate with the international basketball organization known as FIBA and its Americas League. The ABI is trying to establish international basketball in the United States with its teams playing clubs from different leagues in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. At one time the Birmingham (AL) Gladiators team was the league's charter franchise. The ABI is listed as "The Elite League" and plans to have four to eight teams in the southeastern and southwestern United States. Currently, the ABI lists the Gladiators, Reigns, Frontiers and Wolf Pack as team logos.
Women's Blue Chip Basketball League: A new team in Janesville (WI) called the Rock County Robins plans to join the semi-pro WBCBL for its 2010 season.
All American Basketball Association: The new AABA is reportedly planning to start up in January 2010 with teams based in small towns in North and South Carolina. The AABA director has been involved with attempts to launch the Global Basketball Alliance and proposed another version of the AABA in 2004.
FOOTBALL
Arenafootball2: The future of the Peoria Pirates in the af2 is uncertain, as the team's current owner is looking to sell the franchise. This same owner is also looking to sell the Tri-Cities Fever franchise and has stated that the franchise will be folded if a new local partner or owner is not found by the end of the summer. If the team does return for the 2010 indoor football season, it could be part of a different league. The Pirates have been part of the af2 since 2008 and the Fever since 2007.
HOCKEY
North East Professional Hockey League: The new NEPHL plans to start play for the 2009-10 with at least four teams based in Salem (NH), Fitchburg (MA), Saugus (MA) and Kingston (RI). The league is also considering the addition of a team in Danbury (CT), which had the Danbury Mad Hatters in the 2008-09 season of the Eastern Professional Hockey League.
Eastern Professional Hockey League: With the announcement of the new North East Professional Hockey League for the upcoming 2009-10 season, the future of the four-team EPHL is uncertain. The NEPHL plans to operate in the same general area as the EPHL. The owner of the Danbury Mad Hattters is apparently trying to sell the franchise, while the remaining teams could possibly join the NEPHL or fold.
Southern Professional Hockey League: The owner of the Pensacola Ice Flyers stated that enough season tickets have been sold to justify having the team play in the 2009-10 SPHL season. The team still needs to meet an August 15, 2009 deadline for selling 1,250 season tickets as part of its arena lease.
All American Hockey League: The AAHL has again postponed the release of its 2009-10 schedule as it finalizes potential expansion teams. The four teams that finished the league's inaugural season last year, the Battle Creek Revolution, Chicago Blaze, Chi-Town Shooters and Evansville IceMen, are returning for a second season.
International Hockey League: The city of Evansville has unveiled plans for a new downtown arena that is expected to become home to the Evansville IceMen, currently in the All American Hockey League. The IceMen are expected to move to the International Hockey League in 2010.
Major League Roller Hockey: The MLRH Pro Tour Championship and the co-ed SLAMM Hockey TV Show Finals were held in Buffalo last weekend. The final date for the MLRH Pro Tour included the Michigan Thunder, Florida Fusion, Buffalo Wings and Chicago Rollersnakes. The final tournament of the SLAMM Hockey League season featured the New York Flash, Miami Mambo and Quebec Mistral.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer: The MLS is no longer in discussions with potential investors who wanted to bring a second New York City area franchise to the league. The investors wanted to place a team in Queens, but were facing financial troubles and the market is no longer on the top of the list for future MLS expansion. The United Soccer Leagues First Division plans on adding the FC New York club in 2010 and it plans on playing in Queens within a few years.
United Soccer League-Second Division: There have been conflicting reports about the financial strength of the Bermuda Hogges franchise and a denial that the franchise will fold after the season.
Xtreme Soccer League: A local grassroots effort is underway to sell 2,000 season tickets and put a new ownership group in place for the Milwaukee Wave. The team would also need to find a new league after the XSL announced it would not play next season.
OTHER
ProPolo: The New York-based organizers known as ProPolo want to launch a four-team polo league in Argentina starting in 2010, with plans to expand to North America and other continents in the future.
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 2008-09 version can be found at http://www.lulu.com/content/6218580. Dan can be contacted at dankrieger@leaguesteamsnicknames.com.
SPHL Stories from July 20, 2009
- 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.
