Ferdinand Cesarano Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDAWG Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Cesarano Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 I don't see how this league expects to return when the names that are most closely associated with it (Arizona Rattlers, Iowa Barnstormers, Orlando Predators) are now playing in other leagues. Unless the AFL intends to revive the Tampa Bay Storm, the Albany Firebirds, and the San Jose SaberCats, it cannot have name recognition of even a fraction of what it formerly had, or near what the other leagues currently have. We can be pretty sure that the latter two teams are not happening, as Albany until a few weeks ago had a team in the NAL (until that team was kicked out on account of Antonio Brown's knuckleheadedness), and San Jose currently has a team in the IFL (led by former SaberCat head coach Darren Arbet). I have heard nothing about plans regarding Tampa Bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManillaToad Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 The Philadelphia Soul are the team I most associate with the AFL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaTac Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 Well the Bay Area Panthers could be on their way out of San Jose https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2023/07/10/bay-area-panthers-football-venue-search.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gosioux76 Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 14 hours ago, Ferdinand Cesarano said: I don't see how this league expects to return when the names that are most closely associated with it (Arizona Rattlers, Iowa Barnstormers, Orlando Predators) are now playing in other leagues. Unless the AFL intends to revive the Tampa Bay Storm, the Albany Firebirds, and the San Jose SaberCats, it cannot have name recognition of even a fraction of what it formerly had, or near what the other leagues currently have. We can be pretty sure that the latter two teams are not happening, as Albany until a few weeks ago had a team in the NAL (until that team was kicked out on account of Antonio Brown's knuckleheadedness), and San Jose currently has a team in the IFL (led by former SaberCat head coach Darren Arbet). I have heard nothing about plans regarding Tampa Bay. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see the Arena Football League as something with such rich history that its success or failure depends on keeping some of its old teams. Certainly, I recognize the Arizona Rattlers, San Jose SabreCats and Philadelphia Soul as being some of the league's franchises, but so many have come and gone over time with the league's various iterations that starting from scratch really seems inconsequential to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilbert Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 Ive heard about a major shakeup in the indoor football landscape this offseason, including a possible merger of the IFL and CIF. With the NAL down to 5 teams and the AFL, Arena League (the one with the Ozark Lunkers and Waterloo Woo) and the AIF also restarting, next year could be very interesting. Quote Signature intentionally left blank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDAWG Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 What a stupid move this is for the AFL: BLU CANARY CAPITAL PARTNERS WITH THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE (AFL) (prnewswire.com) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4_tattoos Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 21 hours ago, ManillaToad said: The Philadelphia Soul are the team I most associate with the AFL For me it's the San Jose Sabercats, Iowa Barnstormers, LA Avengers, Tampa Storm and Orlando Predators 1 Quote Hotter Than July > Thriller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sec19Row53 Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 21 minutes ago, 4_tattoos said: For me it's the San Jose Sabercats, Iowa Barnstormers, LA Avengers, Tampa Storm and Orlando Predators Chicago Rush anyone?? I'd put them on your list above LA Quote It's where I sit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluggerplugger1 Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 1 hour ago, GDAWG said: What a stupid move this is for the AFL: BLU CANARY CAPITAL PARTNERS WITH THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE (AFL) (prnewswire.com) Yeah, this feels like a massive red flag to me. Not that this new group has been lacking in red flags since announcing AFL 3.0.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 4 hours ago, 4_tattoos said: For me it's the San Jose Sabercats, Iowa Barnstormers, LA Avengers, Tampa Storm and Orlando Predators Detroit Drive, Tampa Bay and Arizona Rattlers here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4_tattoos Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 22 hours ago, Sec19Row53 said: Chicago Rush anyone?? I'd put them on your list above LA Was that the team with the rhino logo? Quote Hotter Than July > Thriller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluggerplugger1 Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 13 minutes ago, 4_tattoos said: Was that the team with the rhino logo? That was the Grand Rapids Rampage -- a classic AFL logo imo. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tBBP Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 EDIT: already mentioned...nvm. Quote *Disclaimer: I am not an authoritative expert on stuff...I just do a lot of reading and research and keep in close connect with a bunch of people who are authoritative experts on stuff. || dribbble || Behance || Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sykotyk Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 For me, the late 90s until the NBC contract started was peak AFL. There was the 'big 4' and 'little 4'. Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Predators Arizona Rattlers San Jose SaberCats And the little four were: Iowa Barnstormers Albany Firebirds Grand Rapids Rampage Nashville Kats The Rampage were the 5th oldest team still playing in the league when they bounced during the first stoppage, behind the Big 4. The NBC deal ruined so much of the AFL. But it was the aim for David Baker getting the NFL involved. It was always about that, and it kinda ruined the league, and the sport. Getting rid of Ironman, creating the penalty for forward motion stops, etc. The league almost immediately started losing field goals. Even on 4th and 20 from your own 5, you went for it. Because the goal wasn't to score more than your opponent, it was to have the ball on the last drive because almost every drive now was a score. "Stops" became the key indicator of success. In 1996, the average game had 88 points. Though 50 or 60 points were common for one team, it wasn't regular. 2003 was the second year the average game had over 100 points. By 2008, the average ballooned to 111. AFL 2.0 reversed the trend, going from 111 in 2010 to 86 by 2019. But aside from the game itself, the NBC deal killed the AFL because it stopped caring about tried and true and successful, though small, markets and insisted on placing teams in major markets under the helm of NFL backed owners. Three of the 'Little 4' left for bigger cities. Albany moved to Indianapolis. Iowa moved to Long Island. Nashville moved to Atlanta. New York had possibly the best player at the time (set the record for most points in a game at 99), but never created a big enough fan base to survive. Indiana did modestly. Had fun rivalries with Grand Rapids and Chicago. But by then the league as a whole was suffering and the teams didn't see any increase in revenue from the NBC deal that led to its end and the league's overall demise the first time around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDAWG Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 5 hours ago, Sykotyk said: For me, the late 90s until the NBC contract started was peak AFL. There was the 'big 4' and 'little 4'. Tampa Bay Storm Orlando Predators Arizona Rattlers San Jose SaberCats And the little four were: Iowa Barnstormers Albany Firebirds Grand Rapids Rampage Nashville Kats The Rampage were the 5th oldest team still playing in the league when they bounced during the first stoppage, behind the Big 4. The NBC deal ruined so much of the AFL. But it was the aim for David Baker getting the NFL involved. It was always about that, and it kinda ruined the league, and the sport. Getting rid of Ironman, creating the penalty for forward motion stops, etc. The league almost immediately started losing field goals. Even on 4th and 20 from your own 5, you went for it. Because the goal wasn't to score more than your opponent, it was to have the ball on the last drive because almost every drive now was a score. "Stops" became the key indicator of success. In 1996, the average game had 88 points. Though 50 or 60 points were common for one team, it wasn't regular. 2003 was the second year the average game had over 100 points. By 2008, the average ballooned to 111. AFL 2.0 reversed the trend, going from 111 in 2010 to 86 by 2019. But aside from the game itself, the NBC deal killed the AFL because it stopped caring about tried and true and successful, though small, markets and insisted on placing teams in major markets under the helm of NFL backed owners. Three of the 'Little 4' left for bigger cities. Albany moved to Indianapolis. Iowa moved to Long Island. Nashville moved to Atlanta. New York had possibly the best player at the time (set the record for most points in a game at 99), but never created a big enough fan base to survive. Indiana did modestly. Had fun rivalries with Grand Rapids and Chicago. But by then the league as a whole was suffering and the teams didn't see any increase in revenue from the NBC deal that led to its end and the league's overall demise the first time around. David Baker is the perfect example of failing upward by being the President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for 6 years after the AFL. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDAWG Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 Same league as Ozarks Lunkers and Waterloo Woo: 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDAWG Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Cesarano Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 It doesn't bode well when there's a misspelling in the first announcement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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