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| ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=35593 |
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| Author: | jimmypasta [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:47 am ] |
| Post subject: | ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fo ... 8837.story =============================================== From Orlando Sentinel Farewell, Predators: Arena Football League poised to announce its demise Former Predators executive confirms the league is poised to declare bankruptcy Iliana Limón | Sentinel Staff Writer 3:17 PM CDT, August 3, 2009 The Orlando Predators have played their final game. The Arena Football League, which includes the Predators, is folding. Brett Bouchy, majority owner of the Arizona Rattlers who was trying to regain ownership of the Orlando Predators, confirmed in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel the AFL is poised to announce it will be suspending operations indefinitely. Bouchy expects the league to declare bankruptcy, going into Chapter 7 liquidation. The AFL and the players' association have yet to announce the league's demise, but numerous publications, including the Columbus Dispatch, are quoting unnamed sources confirming Bouchy's statements. The Albany Times-Union also reports Tampa Bay Storm owner Jim Borghesi posted on his Facebook page Sunday night, "The AFL will be having a press conference to announce that the league will not be returning." Related links Check out the highs and lows of the Orlando Predators franchise in the Arena Football League So long Orlando Predators - Through the years with the Preds Photos Next Up For The Orlando Predators Record: 9-7 Next Game: June 30, at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Last Game: June 13, d. New Orleans 51-49 • Photos: 2008 | • Past results: 2006 | 2005 • AFL: News | Scores | Stats Standings | Schedules League leaders 2008 Orlando Predators Photos Photos Bouchy said he was deeply saddened and surprised by the owners' decision to shutter the league. "It's just unfortunate we're in this situation," Bouchy said. "Everyone knows myself and Arizona fought hard to avoid this day. The league was divided into two groups and factions. You had one group of committed owners who contributed capital and willing to do whatever it took to bring the league back in 2010 I have been in that group the entire time. Then there was another group that just wasn't willing to make the investment. We could never get a consensus." The AFL opted to suspend operations for the 2009 season December 15, promising to use the year off to resolve major financial problems. One of the big sticking points was swelling player salaries approved shortly after the AFL reached a television agreement with ESPN. AFL salaries range from a minimum of $30,000 to $189,000 for marquee players. Most of the top franchise players were making six-figure salaries. The players union agreed in December to take a 25 percent pay cut and numerous Orlando Predators players said they thought the move would allow them to play the 2009 season, but it wasn't enough to avoid the suspension of play or the decision to permanently shut down the league. Bouchy, who has been affiliated with the Predators from 1996-2007 and was trying to buy back Orlando majority ownership after one year in Arizona, had high hopes the league would survive. "I am as shocked as anyone," he said. "If you had asked me 90 days ago, I would have told you there was a 98 percent chance that the league would be back and playing in 2010. I am so upset. I have dedicated 12 years of my life to arena football and it's a shame to see it slip away." Since the AFL has not approved Bouchy's purchase of the Preds, he says he isn't sure how season-ticket refunds will be handled. He said it is too soon to tell whether the small faction of owners who were trying to restart the AFL will be able to break away and form their own league. "I don't know how it happen, but I think there is still a chance the Orlando Predators will be back in some shape in 2010," he said. "I still believe it isn't over." Iliana Limón's Knights Notepad blog on UCF sports can be read at OrlandoSentinel.com/knightsnotepad and she can be reached at ilimon@orlandosentinel.com. |
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| Author: | RFDC [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:27 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
Moment of silence for Woodridge Ryan. |
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| Author: | Eaglo Jeff [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
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| Author: | spmack [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
Maybe The Rush can come back as an UFL team. |
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| Author: | Eaglo Jeff [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:47 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
Wasn't the USFL supposed to be coming back in 2010 as well? |
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| Author: | bigfan [ Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
hardly knew yee |
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| Author: | Spiral Stairs [ Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
RFDC wrote: Moment of silence for Woodridge Ryan. "taps" |
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| Author: | SHARK [ Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
Eaglo Jeff wrote: Wasn't the USFL supposed to be coming back in 2010 as well? Eaglo, I thought the USFL disbanded in the mid '80s...They took the NFL to court if memory serves, and a judge only gave them $1 back...That dollar can't get real far today, unless you want to get anything off the McDonald's "Dollar Menu" or one of the dollar selections at Burger King... |
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| Author: | bigfan [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
Taking the nephew to a game. He is just watching football and a cheap Arena game would be good But cant buy single game tickets yet. lol genius! |
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| Author: | Eaglo Jeff [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
 CSFMB Rush game outing. Just a thought. |
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| Author: | Jalapenos and More [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
A moment of silence for the Portland Forest Dragons. Thank you. |
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| Author: | spmack [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
I wonder if Woodridge Ryan thought I was being funny. I emailed him on facebook about a month ago asking if he were going back, and he never responded. |
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| Author: | Eaglo Jeff [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
I wonder if the Iowa Barnstormers will ever come back. They could then retire Kurt Warner's number. 
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| Author: | Krazy Ivan [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
spmack wrote: I wonder if Woodridge Ryan thought I was being funny. I emailed him on facebook about a month ago asking if he were going back, and he never responded. Was the email a one-liner? |
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| Author: | lipidquadcab [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
spmack wrote: I wonder if Woodridge Ryan thought I was being funny. I emailed him on facebook about a month ago asking if he were going back, and he never responded. He would have responded to it if you altered the date to two years ago... |
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| Author: | Jalapenos and More [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
Bring back the Detroit Drive. I agree on the Iowa Barnstormers. That arena in Des Moines is awesome. |
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| Author: | Eaglo Jeff [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
Milwaukee Mustangs "They throw the defunct teams at ya!"
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| Author: | spmack [ Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: ARENA LEAGUE GOES BYE-BYE |
Krazy Ivan wrote: spmack wrote: I wonder if Woodridge Ryan thought I was being funny. I emailed him on facebook about a month ago asking if he were going back, and he never responded. Was the email a one-liner?  No, it was serious. At least I thought it was.
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