Arena League to Officially Fold?

[TexasTerror]

This would stink. It's actually a very entertaining product and did so well for many years. It was probably better served in specific communities and expanded too rapidly for it's own good.


The Arena Football League soon will announce that it is folding, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

A league source told ESPN that the AFL is "suspending operations indefinitely," and an official announcement was forthcoming.

Arizona Rattlers owner Brett Bouchy said the league will also declare bankruptcy, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=4375473

[andy7171]

That sucks, my friend/teammate from high school was the LA Avenger head coach. I enjoyed seeing him on TV occasionally.

[Dane96]

Sad sad day.

I worked for the Firebirds when they had the City of Albany rocking. Having lunch with Mike Hohenesse everyday was quite the fun session. Just real down to earth experiences in the AFL.

Some good people worked and played in that league!

[OL FU]

Sad sad day.

I worked for the Firebirds when they had the City of Albany rocking. Having lunch with Mike Hohenesse everyday was quite the fun session. Just real down to earth experiences in the AFL.

Some good people worked and played in that league!

how many jobs have you hadxconfusedxxlolx

[NHwildEcat]

I wonder what this means for the af2? They play in smaller arenas, but I know in Manchester they do not draw that well. I am sure some of these guys will get a shot with a UFL team now...good luck to those guys who are no without a job!

[andy7171]

Sad sad day.

I worked for the Firebirds when they had the City of Albany rocking. Having lunch with Mike Hohenesse everyday was quite the fun session. Just real down to earth experiences in the AFL.

Some good people worked and played in that league!

When I was at Towson we had an assistant o-line coach Mike Dailey who was the OC for Hohenesse. The NCAA made a rule if making coaches choose one job or the other even if the seasons didn't match up, so he left us for the AFL. Coach Mike was a great guy and when he moved up to the HC of the Firebirds, his QB coach, my friend Ed Hodgekiss, became his OC.

[Cobblestone]

The Arena League does well in some regions of the country but no so well in others. For example, I've lost count of the number of AFL teams to come and go in CT. The last team they had played at the Mohegan Sun Casino. All the teams seemed to draw pretty well at first but as each week went on the attendance got smaller and smaller. I wonder if this is the same problem throughout the league. I do know that Arizona always drew well but I have never seen attendance figures from other teams.

[Ivytalk]

At least the Philadelphia Soul finally won a championship before it shut down!:p

[813Jag]

The Arena League does well in some regions of the country but no so well in others. For example, I've lost count of the number of AFL teams to come and go in CT. The last team they had played at the Mohegan Sun Casino. All the teams seemed to draw pretty well at first but as each week went on the attendance got smaller and smaller. I wonder if this is the same problem throughout the league. I do know that Arizona always drew well but I have never seen attendance figures from other teams.
that's the same problem they've had in Baton Rouge for many sports.

[Gil Dobie]

Been missing my AFL fantasy league :(

[Dane96]

how many jobs have you hadxconfusedxxlolx

My dad kicked my ass my whole life about work. One thing he couldnt stand was a non-worker. That whole you earn what you get thing!!!!xthumbsupx

I had that job in undergrad as an intern...then in Grad School to help pay for school...in addition to my government job.

I was a jack of all trades for those guys...but worth the experience.

[Dane96]

When I was at Towson we had an assistant o-line coach Mike Dailey who was the OC for Hohenesse. The NCAA made a rule if making coaches choose one job or the other even if the seasons didn't match up, so he left us for the AFL. Coach Mike was a great guy and when he moved up to the HC of the Firebirds, his QB coach, my friend Ed Hodgekiss, became his OC.

Dailey was fwcking awesome. You had to hear him when we would review tape of guys-- he had a hard-on for tough nose DIII kids. I was gone by the time Mike H. left for San Jose (his son lived out there so he moved) so I didnt know Hodgekiss when Dailey took over the HC duties.

Dailey never held back..and he will forever be in my heart because of what he said to a Siena grad who was our head of marketing. For those that dont know, Siena vs. Albany is a huge local rivalry...and Siena thinks their **** doesnt stink.
Dailey took care of that real quick. Then Hohenesse broke the guys fingers with a pass...one fo the funniest things I have ever seen in my life.

Dailey also took care of Mike Perez, the former Heisman Candidate who was with the Giants for a bit. He was the highest paid player at the time...and he thought he was the greatest gift to QB'ing. Dailey would ride him like a rented mule and we would pee our pants with laughter.

[onbison09]

Sad..........was fun to watch in the offseason.

[danefan]

what really sucks is for all the guys who were on Arena League teams. they were, for the most part, out of work and their careers are done. The AF2 teams signed a pact to not sign arena league players to try and keep the league a "homegrown" league. Whatever that means.

One of the guys I played with was having a nice little career in the Arena League with New York and then Tampa Bay. When the season got cancelled he had no where to play. Not good enough still for the CFL or NFL, so he retired and is looking for a job. Not a good time to be looking for a job.

[appfan2008]

its too bad bc those players were able to make a living doing what they love but now there will be a few less spots for people take in the professional football realm

[UNHWildCats]

what really sucks is for all the guys who were on Arena League teams. they were, for the most part, out of work and their careers are done. The AF2 teams signed a pact to not sign arena league players to try and keep the league a "homegrown" league. Whatever that means.

One of the guys I played with was having a nice little career in the Arena League with New York and then Tampa Bay. When the season got cancelled he had no where to play. Not good enough still for the CFL or NFL, so he retired and is looking for a job. Not a good time to be looking for a job.
Theres that new football league starting, hopefully some og the Arena guys can make teams there

http://www.ufl-football.com/home

[Cobblestone]

Theres that new football league starting, hopefully some og the Arena guys can make teams there

http://www.ufl-football.com/home

I don't think this league will last more than one season. They'd have a chance if they weren't looking to play in the fall and compete with the NFL. At least when the USFL started they played in the spring which gave them a bit of a chance. Once they announced they were going to play in the fall that was the end of them.