The Arena Football League that called off its 2009 season will now cease operations, according to various reports.
On his Facebook page, president of the Tampa Bay Storm, Jim Borghesi.
wrote: “The AFL will be having a press conference to announce that the league will not be returning.” (Via theAlbany Times-Union)
Arizona Rattlers owner Brett Bouchy told the Orlando Sentinel that the league will also declare bankruptcy.
“It's just unfortunate we're in this situation,” Bouchy said, according to the newspaper. “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.”
Problems for the league came after longtime commissioner David Baker resigned in July 2008. The league canceled its 2009 season in December in order to improve its business model.
The New Orleans VooDoo had already folded in October, and the Los
Angeles Avengers also ceased operations in April, leaving the league
with 15 teams.
The AFL was formed in 1987. By the late 1990s, games were broadcast on ESPN, which owns a minority stake in the league.
