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2012 Arena and Indoor Football thread; formerly TO thread
Topic Started: Thursday Dec 29 2011, 06:40 PM (1,001 Views)
famicommander
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I think I am just going to use this topic as a general catch-all for Indoor and Arena Football in 2012.

There are a lot of leagues this year, so first I'll separate them into tiers.

The top flight league is, of course, the Arena Football League. Players in every other league listed generally feed into the AFL (as well as NFL and CFL borderline players and AFL homegrown talent). AFL teams play in the largest markets, generally have TV contracts, and have been around the longest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_Football_League
http://www.arenafootball.com/frontpage


Next up is the IFL, or Indoor Football League. The Indoor game is a bit different from the Arena game, but the basic concepts are similar. The IFL is older and more established than most of the other indoor leagues and they're the only other one with a truly national footprint. This is the league that has a team in Colorado, as well as the league TO will supposedly suit up for.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_Football_League
http://goifl.com/

The rest of the leagues are more or less regional only. The only one I will bother with is the PIFL, or Professional Indoor Football League, because they have a team in Huntsville, Alabama for our good trailer-dwelling friends down there. The PIFL season starts in March and they play a game more similar to the AFL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Indoor_Football_League_(2012)


OLD OP:
------------------
ESPN
 

Terrell Owens is close to agreeing to a mid-six-figure contract to play with the Allen Wranglers in suburban Dallas, according to the Wranglers general manager Drew Pearson and owner Jon Frankel. The deal would also include an ownership stake of "likely 50 percent" for Owens, Frankel said.

Pearson, the former Dallas Cowboys receiver recently inducted into the team's Ring of Honor, said during a guest host appearance on ESPN Dallas 103.3's "Galloway and Company" that a deal is "very close" but has not been finalized with the controversial wide receiver who produced Hall of Fame-caliber numbers in 15 NFL seasons.

"We're very close," Pearson said. "Jon Frankel, our owner, has been working on this for quite some time now. When he started, he felt there was maybe about a zero percent chance he could get it done, but through his persistent efforts and really wanting to make this happen, he has been able to make contact with their people. Now it's in a stage where he thinks it's at the point where it's about 70 percent done and close to being finalized, so we'll see how it shakes out from this point."

The team's website announced that an offer, which includes a compensation package of $250,000 up to $500,000, has been extended to Owens.

Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was unavailable for comment. A source close to Owens said the two parties have had talks, but didn't say if they were close.

"They want him," the source said.

Frankel said he had detailed discussions with Jason Rosenhaus, Drew's brother and business partner, on Thursday morning.

The 38-year-old Owens' attempts to extend his NFL career have been unsuccessful this season. No NFL scouts attended his nationally televised workout earlier this fall despite the fact that he had 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals last season.

Owens, who has declared himself completely healthy after recovering from an offseason knee injury that required surgery, ranks second in NFL history with 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns. However, controversy followed the brash receiver throughout his career, and he had unpleasant departures from the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Cowboys before playing the last two seasons on one-year deals with the Buffalo Bills and Bengals.

"There's no question he can play," Pearson said. "I think right now he's probably better than over half the receivers in the NFL. You see as the season is shaking out all the injuries at the wide receiver position and they're signing guys off practice squads ... but no one took a chance on Terrell Owens. A lot of it has to do with his past history, his attitude."

Pearson acknowledged that the Wranglers' interest in Owens, one of the most polarizing, productive players in Cowboys history during his tenure with the franchise from 2006-08, wasn't just because he would be the league's most talented player. Unlike NFL teams, the Wranglers want the publicity that would come along with adding Owens to the roster.

"Whoever did sign him, say an NFL team, they would have to deal with the media circus that follows that," Pearson said. "And nobody wants that kind of distraction, especially in the middle of the season. But if we sign him, we want the media circus. We want to ignite that fire and to bring the attention to the Allen Wranglers."

The Indoor Football League's 14-game season begins on Feb. 25 with training camp starting two weeks earlier. The Wranglers, who won the 16-team league's Lone Star Division last season, play home games in the 6,200-seat Allen Events Center.

Frankel said he is discussing incentives based on attendance and merchandise sales with Owens' representatives. Frankel's primary goal is to make the fan experience as entertaining as possible at Wranglers games, and he believes Owens' fame and unique charisma make him a perfect fit.

"There's no other athlete in my opinion who could fit what I'm doing and what I'm asking more than Terrell Owens," Frankel said. "At the end of the day, it is about entertainment."

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/7401577/gm-allen-wranglers-close-deal-terrell-owens

The Indoor Football League (IFL) is generally held to be a tier below the Arena Football League, so this would be one hell of a signing for a team of this size.

There's an IFL (http://www.thecoloradoice.com/) team in the Loveland-Fort Collins Metro Area (about an hour or so North of Denver) and the Allen Wranglers are scheduled to be coming to play there, so I will definitely go catch that game if TO does indeed play.

Edited by famicommander, Thursday Jan 5 2012, 04:24 PM.
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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So... nobody else has anything to say about this?
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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Brokemon
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famicommander
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This year I will be following the
Iowa Barnstormers (the official Arena Football team of Stephen Colbert and The Board)
Colorado Ice (IFL)
Alabama Hammers (PIFL)

There's also supposed to be a team called the Colorado Lightning playing in Colorado Springs in the APFL (which is one of the smallest indoor leagues), but they seem pretty amateurish so far. I might catch a game and see how it goes.
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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It looks like Dan Gilbert (owner of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and AHL's Lake Erie Monsters) has purchased the AFL's Cleveland Gladiators outright.

That's very good news for the league. The Tampa Bay Storm are owned by the guys who own the NHL's Lightning (as well as part of the Boston Red Sox).

The Gladiators had previously been owned by a bunch of joker clowns with terrible reputations and no money, so it'll be great for the franchise to have some stability and credibility. There was rampant speculation earlier in the year that the team would have to move to Nashville or Miami, but it looks like Gilbert has saved the team.
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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Dan Gilbert's purchase of the Gladiators is complete:
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7469329/cleveland-cavaliers-owner-dan-gilbert-buys-cleveland-gladiators-arena-league?eleven=twelve
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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Some dude on Craigslist has four official AFL footballs, each autographed by the entire Colorado Crush roster (one from each season from 2004-2007), which includes the Arena Bowl Champion team from 2005.

I offered him 20 bucks for them. We'll see how that goes.
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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So it looks like 2013 will be a big year for expansion.

At the Conference Championship game last year AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz confirmed that New York would be entering the league in 2013.

Nashville almost entered this season, but due to some legal gymnastics they have to wait until next season. But the team will be owned by the Nashville Predators NHL ownership, so that should be good for the AFL.

And today news surfaced that the man who recently purchased the Detroit Pistons and their arena is interested in bringing an AFL team back to Detroit.

The Tampa Bay Storm share ownership with the NHL's Lightning and MLB's Red Sox, while the Cleveland Gladiators share ownership with the NBA's Cavaliers.

I think this is the model for the league going forward. This is the path for the league back into markets like Denver and Los Angeles.

It costs in the single-digit millions of dollars to run an AFL team. Assuming average ticket prices of 25 dollars and attendance of 10,000 per game, they're looking at 250,000 dollars per game times nine home games (not including preseason or playoffs) you're already looking at over two million dollars in ticket revenue alone.

But if you own/control your arena (as most NBA and NHL teams do) then you also keep concessions and parking money, which can be huge.

Then you factor in TV/radio contracts and sponsorships and the business model is clear. The owners make money filling their arenas with a low-costs sports team during months when most arenas are desperate for anything to fill dates.

Prime candidates in my book:
Denver - Stan and Josh Kroenke own the Pepsi Center, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the Avalanche, the Nuggets, the Mammoth, the Rapids, the St Louis Rams, and FC Arsenal. The old Crush used to play in Pepsi Center, they had great attendance, and Kroenke used to be a minority owner (along with John Elway and Broncos/Outlaws owner Pat Bowlen). Hopefully this happens next season.

Boston - the league has wanted to get into Boston for years now, and the arena just lost a tenant in the NLL's Boston Blazers. The Celtics and Bruins are extremely well supported and there's no reason to think an AFL team couldn't succeed there as well.

Seattle - the old Oklahoma City franchise almost moved to Seattle last year, but they were instead forced to fold due to legal issues with the relocation. The city has no NHL team and they lost their NBA team, so their arena is sitting pretty much empty (only a WNBA team plays there now). There are many rumors of Seattle trying to get into both the NHL and NBA, with local rich dudes using the possible teams as leverage to help get a new arena built. You'd think that an AFL team could fit right into those plans.

Anaheim - I say Anaheim instead of Los Angeles because the old owner of the AFL's Avengers, Casey Wasserman, is now tied up with trying to bring an NFL team to the market. The Staples Center is already home to two NBA teams, one NBA D-League team, one WNBA team, and one NHL team. The only reason the old Avengers were able to play there is due to Wasserman's influence, but without him I don't think an AFL team could break into that tough schedule. But Anaheim just barely missed getting an NBA team last year and the Ducks' NHL owner has been looking for more sports teams to play in the arena. Plus the media market is still LA, and that's too big for the league to ignore.

Miami - the Heat have the big three, the Panthers are going through a bit of resurgence, and if Dan Gilbert hadn't purchased the Cleveland Gladiators their old owner was planning to move them to Miami. My money is on said old owning running down to Miami and striking up a deal with Heat or Panthers ownership for an expansion franchise. Plus, the franchises in Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville are three of the most successful in terms of attendance. Arena Football seems to work well in Florida.
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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The AFL announced today that it is adding a sixth referee to the standard game setup, so there will now be two back judges instead of one.

Also, instant replay will now be available to review calls in all games. The last two seasons it was only available in NFL Network games as the network was fronting the costs, but this year the league itself is paying for the replay equipment to be placed in all arenas.

Glad to see that at least one pro sports league is attempting to improve its officiating *cough*NBA*cough*
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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So the Colorado Ice have started off the season 1-1. They lost to the New Mexico Stars 46-39 on 2/26 in New Mexico. On 3/4 they beat the Wyoming Cavalry at home, 72-36, setting a franchise record for points scored in a game in the process. Next game is 3/10 against the Tri-Cities Fever, then TO's Allen Wranglers come to town.
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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famicommander
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AFL commissioner Jerry Kurz announced Friday night that the league's former development league, af2, will be returning in the near future. That could mean teams like Birmingham and Green Bay.

He also confirmed that expansion teams will be announced at the Arena Bowl later this summer.

Come on, Denver!
Denver Broncos: defending champs, 8-6, next game 12/25 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Colorado Rockies: 75-87, missed playoffs
Colorado Avalanche: 11-18-1, next game 12/20 @ Minnesota Wild
Denver Nuggets: 12-16, next game 12/20 @ Los Angeles Clippers
Colorado Mammoth: first game 12/30 @ Buffalo Bandits
Denver Outlaws: defending champs, first game 4/22 @ Charlotte Hounds
Colorado State Rams football: 7-5, next game Idaho Bowl 12/22 vs Idaho Vandals
Colorado State Rams basketball: 8-4, next game 12/22 vs Long Beach State 49ers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 11-7, lost West Division Semifinal
Denver Pioneers Lacrosse: first game 1/24 vs Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
#2 Denver Pioneers Hockey: 12-3-3, next game 12/30 @ Providence College Friars
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