After months of deliberation and weighing the alternatives, the Arena Football League will suspend the 2009 season. This comes as a surprise to nobody given the recent rumors concerning the league’s shaky financial health. Before the announcement, league officials had already delayed the free agency period and the 2009 regular season schedule a few times due to the current state of the economy.
One of the first indicators that the AFL was in trouble was when New Orleans VooDoo owner Tom Benson ceased operations in October. At the time, this was a bit of a shock considering the relative success of that franchise and rising ticket sales. Another circumstance that contributed to the suspension of the ’09 season was the league’s inability to find a commissioner after Dave Baker’s resignation in July.
Last week, league officials released a statement saying the league was still planning to play the 2009 season, but that they wouldn’t rule out suspending the season in order to retool for 2010. Acting commissioner Ed Policy had this to say:
“Every owner in the AFL is strongly committed to the league, the game, and, most importantly, the fans. Owners, however, recognize that, especially in light of the current unprecedented economic climate, the AFL, as a business enterprise, needs to be restructured if it is to continue to provide its unique brand of this affordable, fan-friendly sport.”
So unfortunately for all you Georgia Force fans, you won’t be able to see Chris Greisen and Troy Bergeron in action at the Gwinnett Arena this year. This is especially disappointing considering the team looked like one of the favorites to contend for an Arena Bowl title this season.
“We are disappointed that we will not be playing in the 2009 season, but we agree with and support the Arena Football League to take this time to strengthen its financial foundation to ensure its long-term success,” Georgia Force president Dick Sullivan said in a statement on Monday. “We are very proud of the achievements of the Georgia Force over the last four seasons and of ownership, and we hope to field another strong team in 2010.”
The Arena Football League has been the most successful professional football league other than the NFL. AF2, the AFL’s secondary league, will continue operations this season, and some AFL players could take that route to get ready for the 2010 season. It’s unfortunate that fans of the league will have to wait another year to experience all the action, but it’s something that the AFL needs to do in order to secure their future and continue to grow their brand.
Jones can be reached at bjones@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
