Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

by Dan Krieger
Published on July 5, 2010 under Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)

BASEBALL

United League Baseball: The ULB has denied rumors that the Coastal Bend Thunder, based in the Corpus Christi area, is moving to Abilene (TX). The Thunder moved a four-game series to Abilene to test the market and could move some other games in the future. For the series, the Thunder has been renamed the Abilene Prairie Dogs after a previous independent team that played from 1995 to 1999.

Golden Baseball League: There have been reports that the GBL's two new teams, the Maui-based Na Koa Ikaika and the Tijuana Cimarrones are experiencing first-season difficulties.

Pacific Coast League: Although it is uncertain where the Triple-A Portland Beavers of PCL will be playing next season, it does not appear the team will return to Portland in the near future.

BASKETBALL

American Basketball Association: The ABA has announced the new Denver-based Colorado Kings and the new Gulf Coast Flash, based in Gulfport (MS), have been added for the 2010-11 season. The league's Las Vegas Aces plan to return for 2010-11 and are listed in the So Cal Division.

Premier Basketball League: The PBL would like to add six to eight teams for next season from the Puerto Rican basketball league known as Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). The BSN's Puerto Rico (Arecibo) Capitanes played in the 2010 PBL. The PBL had nine teams last season, but the Buffalo Stampede, Maryland GreenHawks, and possibly the Vermont Frost Heaves will not return in 2011.

Circuito de Basquetbol del Noreste: The new northeast Mexico basketball league know as the CIBANE started play in June. The six teams include the Aguilas de Piedras Negras, Caktus de Saltillo, Leones Regios de Monterrey, Madereros de Durango, Marqueteros de Linares, and Mineros de Fresnillo.

Women's United States Basketball Association: The WUSBA has announced its final 16 teams that will take part in the league's inaugural season in June 2011. The teams will be split into three divisions. New to the team list is the Knoxville Reign.

FOOTBALL

Canadian Football League: The city of Ottawa approved development plans that include renovations to the city's football stadium, which is expected to become home to a new Ottawa-based CFL franchise by the 2013 season. This would be Ottawa's third attempt at a CFL team. The city's last team was the Ottawa Renegades that folded after the 2005 season. The CFL recently started its 2010 season with the same eight teams it has had since the Renegades folded. The East Division includes the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes, Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, while the West Division has the British Columbia Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

United Football League: The UFL would like to expand to eight teams for the 2011 season and has expressed interest in the Portland (OR) market. The league previously announced a sixth team for Norfolk (VA) and it is also considering San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Raleigh-Durham (NC), and markets in Hawaii and Mexico.

Southern Indoor Football League: The SIFL plans to return to Houma (LA) with a team next season. The Houma Conquerors lasted only the 2009 season in the SIFL. A team called the Texas Hurricanes was unable to move from College Station to Beaumont in time for the 2010 season, but the league hopes Beaumont will be part of the 2011 season.

Regional Indoor Football League: The RIFL completed a shortened inaugural season, but plans to add several new teams for 2011. The participating teams in the 2010 schedule included the Sarasota Scorpions, Delmarva Bayriders, East Coast Executioners, and North Georgia Bulldogs. Sarasota and Delmarva each played five games, while East Coast and North Georgia each played only one game.

HOCKEY

American Hockey League: The proposed new Allentown (PA) arena, which is to eventually become home to the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms, is not expected to be ready until the 2013-14 season because of financing issues. The Philadelphia Phantoms temporarily relocated to Glens Falls (NY) as the Adirondack Phantoms prior to the 2009-10 season, while waiting for completion of its new arena in Allentown.

North American Hockey League: With the loss of its International Hockey League franchise called the Port Huron Icehawks after the 2009-10 season, the city of Port Huron will now become home to a new Tier II Junior-A team in the NAHL for the 2010-11 season. The 26-team NAHL will be split into four divisions: the Central (six teams), North (eight teams), South (six teams), and West (six teams).

Major League Roller Hockey: The MLRH has announced the latest stop on its Summer Tour will be in Washington (DC) on July 17 and 18. Events are expected to be held in the Pro Division, AAA Division, AA Division, and the co-ed Slamm Hockey League.

SOCCER Premier Are na Soccer League-Junior Division: The PASL has started a 2010 summertime Junior Division for players under 16. Teams include the Chico Bigfoot, Turlock Express, Merced Atlas, and V.C. United.

Arena Soccer Association: The new indoor soccer league called the ASA is being developed.

Dan Krieger is the creator of the Leagueology™ almanac known as "Leagues, Teams & Nicknames", which tracks the changes in league alignments, franchise movements and team nicknames in today's sports world. The latest 2009-10 edition is available at http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/leagues-teams-nicknames-2009-10/6534940. Dan can be contacted at dankrieger@leaguesteamsnicknames.com.

Southern Indoor Football League Stories from July 5, 2010

• 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.