The New Arena Football League is Already Doomed

The Philadelphia Soul situation explained: www.inquirer.com/sports/phila...
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The new AFL is already doomed. It took all of one week to prove the Arena Football League’s third attempt existing isn’t going to work out. In a week when its rival, the Indoor Football League, had players go into the stands during a fan altercation, the second time in a year that has happened, it was the AFL’s flop that had garnered most, if not all, the attention.
For many folks, their first exposure to the latest incarnation of the AFL was, well, nothing. Games were supposed to be broadcast on the NFL Network on Saturday night and Sunday. That didn’t happen, and no explanation was given at the time of recording.
We can read between the lines of this situation. Clearly, something happened between the two sides that made NFL Network unwilling to follow through on its pledge.
While that is certainly concerning, what happen to the Philadelphia Soul, one of the AFL’s most recognizable teams, was a massive red flag warning anyone and everyone that a huge meltdown may be taking place behind the scenes.
A report in the Philadelphia Inquirer noted that the team’s Head coach, Patrick Pimmel, stepped down the day before the team’s first game, and then most of the roster was released. By the way, no one seems to know who owns the Soul. It is believed the team is being run by the AFL after the owners backed out. But the league has provided zero transparency on the issue.
The opening weekend of AFL 3.0 should have been a huge occasion. Yet, you would have to be a diehard fan to know it was even happening. Apart from some local news spots, it was basic invisible-a blip on the radar during a time when there is so much happening in the world of sports.
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[@gregoryreichart8620]

So what you’re telling me is this is the AFL but if it was run by Bishop Sycamore’s administration…

[@SuperMAXALLEN]

I been saying this! The man had a vision

[@DrFrankensteam]

Hahaha

[@Mclovinit8171]

wrong, Bishop Sycamore did actually make money for the people operating the scam. This scam is just losing money for everyone involved 😂

[@BrandanTheBroker]

Even Bishop Sycamore managed to do better, that makes this even worse 😂

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

Bishop Sycamore Class of 95

[@mikegeiler2347]

I literally had to scrounge the internet to find out if week 1 even happened. None of the team or league websites or social media had any information. No youtube highlights, no box scores, nothing until I finally found someone else’s Twitter that had one clip. This was two days after the games should’ve been played. This league is amateur hour

[@craigrittase5340]

Doesn't even seem like it's a full hour. Just really bad.

[@Djp_16]

You and me both. I literally searched everywhere and even looked up standings. No info on the website it's crazy....

[@coments101]

Worse than amateur hour, AAL2 is amateur hour, this is just fucking sad. From having 2 full blown EA Sports video games to not even being a viable semi pro league is insane.

[@Djp_16]

I really do not understand why even try to bring a league back until you have all your ducks in a row smh. Which is sad cause a lot of people love Arena Football and alt sports In general. Just wish these leagues find a viable way to exist and sustain. I personally love Alt football like AFL, IFL, UFL etc. But fans will not continue to be hyped up for these leagues then get burned over n over n over again.

[@inter_1097]

@@coments101 I really thought the AFL was here to stay. It was getting decent crowds, lots of games on ABC.ESPN, next thing I knew they canceled the 2009 season and I was shocked..

[@ahoneybee823]

This video is how I found out the Arena league was back.

[@cckeach7]

I've been in broadcast media for 40 years and literally could find nothing on the so-called launch of the league last weekend...

[@SoggyHotDoggy]

That makes two of us.

[@TheGodKing13]

Me too

[@braedangordon5699]

Same

[@schuylerschultz804]

same

[@assassssasa]

NBC AND ABC put top broadcasters on Arena football games in the 2000s

[@Urineil]

And in the early 2000s the AFL was lit!

[@dnasty312]

​@@UrineilI still play my PS2 game! 🎮

[@mrmoose6619]

Sad. I remember when the AFL was on NBC and ESPN on the regular. Those were fun times watching and enjoying Now, the only thing I have heard about it was the Soul and their misadventures.

[@matthewbourgeois5964]

They had a chance at really surviving. In my opinion, I think they expanded too quickly

[@matthewwelsh294]

@@matthewbourgeois5964 They need to kick out Lee Hutton for starters

[@tobymaxmax658]

The AFL should have been backed by the NFL. Teams could have used it for players on the bubble.

[@Erlov71]

Show love to the IFL. Pick a team, go to games and support it.

[@therockyreview1847]

I agree. Im headed to Frisco with my buddies May 11th to support the Fighters! 🏈

[@ReinSouls]

IFL needs to add one more team. They'll be at 19 next year With the addition of Columbus, Dakota, and Fishers. Ideally the team would be in either the Carolina's or Virginia somewhere. Got a massive population in the mid-Atlantic and no teams. Once they do that four divisions with 5 teams they'll be set.

[@NemechekFan87]

Hell, i drove 2 hours to Quad City to see the Steamwheelers play against the blizzard. The game was fun!

[@Erlov71]

@@NemechekFan87 i had never been to an arena ball game until this year. Drove an hour to watch the Panthers. Had alot of fun too. Team needs to do a better job promoting itself. Alot of ppl dont know they exist.

[@farhanatashiga3721]

Tulsa seems to have a good thing going for them

[@SnackAttack77]

I played for an AFL2 team back in 2008, the Peoria Pirates, and this sucks to see the league struggle like this. The game is FUN and way more intimate than any outdoor football organization. I really wish they'd get it together. You're right about the niche players being impacted by the league's ineptitude, had a college teammate, Emory Sammons, make a name for himself for the Soul during the same timeframe. There's players that could make this a career but the powers that be just don't get it.

[@KomonAthlete]

I played for the Lexington horseman in 2008! I remember going up to play you guys in Peoria!

[@cckeach7]

The leagues provide a great place for people that want another shot at football or just like playing the game and want to make a few bucks. The one thing that's happening now that is really encouraging for the future of arena football is the presence of so many children at games. Major League Baseball is just now seeing the effects that inflated ticket prices years ago have on today's attendance figures. The fact that families can actually afford to go to arena football games that can't afford to go to MLB, NFL, and MLS games bodes well for the future of the league.

[@SnackAttack77]

@@KomonAthlete we played each other then, small world! You guys mopped the floor with us lol. Had a hell of a time for 3/4 season I played with them though, even though we were basically playing for free 🤣

[@johngraves7828]

Peoria Pirates season ticket holder! I still remember the championship game against Green Bay. Great time!

[@SnackAttack77]

@@johngraves7828 had never been to the Midwest prior to going to Peoria, it's an awesome little city!

[@BroadwayJoe99]

Now that I think about it, I think that AFL 3.0's endgame is getting the IFL and/or NAL to buy the AFL's IP, then taking the money and running. Honestly, the only thing missing from those leagues is the one thing that made the Arena Football League stand out - the goalpost/net combos - and if they weren't part of the AFL's IP and thus copyrighted, the IFL and NAL would be using them, and the AFL would be gone like a fart in a hurricane. It wouldn't terribly surprise me that shortly after AFL 3.0 goes kaput, their IP is quietly sold to either the IFL or NAL in an attempt to recoup their losses.

[@yuzumint3999]

NAL does have the nets but their ruleset is a hybrid mix of indoor and arena no one wants. IFL has former AFL teams but they dont play by arena rules and theres no will to add nets or adopt a new ruleset. A lot of people want the AFL/arena rules back because of the higher pay for talent and faster pace. This is incredibly mismanaged but I don’t think it’s entirely cynical.

[@zachbeaudoin4884]

Philadelphia Soul-of-the-Dallas-Falcons surviving the 1st week apparently was the biggest shock of Football in the last year

[@Malachi_Marx]

The IFL players went into the stands to STOP a brawl because arena security REFUSED to do so. People need to STOP demonizing it.

[@TheTapeFarm]

The Nashville Kats game was awesome. They spent a bunch of money fixing up the arena. The field looked great. Block party outside the arena… a class product beginning to end.

[@ReinSouls]

The writing was on the wall when they named a team "Washington". And it's not a team in DC. When you call a non-college team "Washington". Nobody is going to associate that with the state.

[@dnasty312]

Unless you're a rookie Russ Grimm LOL

[@rookie_x]

Also I read the NAL files a lawsuit against west Texas desert hawks The reason why is The NAL alleges said that the team signed a three-year term to play in the league and left after only one year. AFL news updates: The Iowa rampage announced that team is going to discontinue

[@elchris8788]

West Texas desert hawks were the west Texas warbirds who played for the NAL last year

[@igorszamaszow171]

With some actual springtime football courtesy of UFL to follow, there's very little reason for AFL's existence

[@supersasukemaniac]

Also,with Indoor Football League getting bigger and better, I don't think the current land scape of Indoor Football has room for the AFL, especially with how many AFL franchises currently claim IFL their permanent home.

[@tomservo75]

I've watched many minor leagues over the years. AFL, AFL2, WLAF, NFL Europe, USFL, XFL... I am a football junkie with a radar for finding minor leagues and an appetite for wanting to watch them. And I was an AFL fan during their heyday in the 90s and 00s, even having season tickets to the New Jersey Gladiators at one point (before they betrayed us and moved to Las Vegas and Cleveland). The fact that I am just hearing about the new AFL through this video says a lot.

[@manzac112]

I do wish that the NFL or any football governing body with a lot of money can sponsor minor leagues.

[@tomservo75]

@@manzac112 Anything that ruins their absolute iron-fisted monopoly is just unacceptable to them.

[@AbdulAbusada1]

3:38 that is me trying to hold the walls up in the bottom. The VooDoo was relocated from Lake Charles to Lafayette one week before kickoff due to issues, so everything had to be rushed and done quickly. The league hasn’t helped us with sending nets and money to financially prepare the stadium for a game, so we just did whatever we could, which was to set up temporary walls and nets. Hopefully the AFL can get new ownership and commissioner so this doesn’t all fall apart any more than it already is

[@thetouchback]

Much respect for doing that. Really impressive that you guys got the game played considering the lack of support.

[@DANGMQ]

The NAL is a little bit more stable than the AFL. Its main problem is that the NAL has teams that are constantly folding. They had 8 teams heading into the 2024 season, but two teams were kicked out of the NAL due to payment issues, which forced the NAL to reconfigure their schedule. However, the NAL's field and arenas are in much better condition than the AFL and all of their games are free on KZbin. The NAL had a bunch of teams leave following 2023, so 5 of the 6 current teams in the NAL are new to the NAL. Two of the NAL teams from 2023, Orlando Predators and West Texas left for the AFL and West Texas rebranded from Warbirds (in the NAL) to the Desert Hawks (in the AFL). Two other teams, the Jacksonville Sharks and San Antonio Gunslingers left for the IFL. The NAL added expansion to Colorado and Oklahoma but added the Omaha Beef and Sioux City Bandits from the CIF and the Idaho Horsemen from the lower level AWFC. The goal of the NAL should be to keep those six teams around for another year.

[@cckeach7]

My girlfriend and I have talked about the NAL and IFL merging... then working with the IFL and NFL to set up a true player development farm system

[@derekcabanaw1789]

It's amazing that the Omaha Beef is still in existence, because I was on the same plane as them flying from Denver to Billings in 2002.

[@thezackast2752]

​@cckeach7 the ifl reportedly had a minor league deal set up with the xfl in 2023. Idk if it's still going though

[@cckeach7]

@@thezackast2752 I believe they had a deal where the IFL and XFL recognized each other as the top football organizations of their type in North America. They probably still have the same agreement in place despite the XFL-USFL merger.

[@NashvilleFootballJunkie]

As a lifelong AFL fan, it’s sad to see. I’m a Kats fan and they seem to be one of 4 teams doing things right. Hopefully the IFL or the NAL can scoop up the 4 legit teams, Kats, Predators, Firebirds, and Outlaws. Sad to see this version of the AFL be such a shitshow.

[@BBallRambles]

I used to enjoy the AFL. The Rattlers were fun to watch both on tv and in person

[@Donathon-qx8kq]

Their coach/owner was Danny White

[@downnice95]

At this point the Australian Football league is bigger in America than the Arena Football League

[@Golfnut_2099]

AFL...

[@Jefff72]

I liked Ozzy Man's comparing hits in Aussie football vs soccer.

[@connorbean1162]

And the worst part is Albany, Orlando, Nashville, potentially Minnesota are all competent ran franchises. I hope when the league folds the IFL takes them in

[@supersasukemaniac]

Orlando was in NAL prior,and apparently had a sweetheart deal. Hopefully they can get that back.

[@broadcastblast544]

If you say one bad thing about this league on Reddit they ban you from the conversation. Sad.

[@MR_Nosy_Otter1]

I mean that’s Reddit for ya

[@DerrickRG]

What do you expect from an echo chamber?

[@Lancer21]

At least the IFL is able to figure out how to be stable. The AFL is just becoming the new AAF

[@rher1636]

Lousiana Voodoo had to move venues days before kickoff. From Lake Charles to Lafayette. Almost a 2 hr drive and tickets were refunded.

[@Weedmen337]

You know it’s bad when they were regulated to the Blackham. Lafayette has a 13k G league level venue in the Cajun Dome literally down the street.

[@supersasukemaniac]

it's telling that the Screenshots of IFL and NAL feature a Historic AFL Team (IFL's Arizona Rattlers.) and a team from AFL 2.0 (Jacksonville Sharks of NAL). Oh yeah i forgot this little nugget too, the Iowa Barnstormers, you know, the team that put Kurt Warner on the map, is currently in the IFL and wants nothing to do with AFL anymore.

[@lonelychameleon3595]

I didn't even know the AFL was revived...

[@jakepophal985]

Used to love it as kid

[@supersasukemaniac]

​@@jakepophal985same, I loved original AFL and the first 3 seasons of AFL 2.0.

[@supersasukemaniac]

I just started watching an IFL game, Green Bay vs Iowa, holy crap,i'm loving it so far. Especially since it lives up to it's catchphrase of "The Indoor War"

[@dantebegano]

The IFL is where it’s at in todays indoor football

[@michaelwalker7400]

We should have known it was going to be this bad when the Soul's new logo looked like it was an AI generation of a 4th graders idea of what the old logo looked like, that half the league has all black uniforms, that a team moved 75 miles overnight a week before the season starts to an arena that can't support their actual field goal posts and nets.

[@matthewwelsh294]

The IFL should be happy that this AFL is nowhere close to the 2000s AFL

[@Trevor_Spinelli]

Thank you for this vid…as a Soul fan, I have no words. I remember attending a Soul game in 2012 and the Valor-Brigade Super Bowl like 6 years back (mind you there was four teams then) what happened man. A team just folded and I expect another 8 to asap. 😭

[@a11man30]

The Iowa Rampage have folded today (5/2/24) due to promises by the Arena Football League not being fulfilled and the AFL Leadership is silent. The Rapid City Marshalls put out a statement that gives an were trying to find a way out of the AFL and go back to what they were doing. The owners of the league I have heard via internet/social media sources is that they are shady people looking to always make a quick buck and screw anyone. I hope that karma hits the AFL ownership and no one does business with them again.

[@LegitLoki]

the iowa team folded today very sad didnt even get to see them at the home game looks like i will have to go to the omaha beef games still really miss having a team in my home town

[@Crunchtime7890]

My guess they lost access to the OG site. Someone that is no longer a part of the league probably own the site and wont turn it over.

[@IncorrigibleBigotry]

Got this video in my recommendations. Saw it, enjoyed it, subscribed. Well done.

[@Phillyfan9307]

I long for the days of Jon Bon Jovi, Ron Jaworski and Pete Chiarocci. This shit is insane. Who the fuck owns the franchise?

[@r0astedduck]

I was at the final 2 games for the San Jose Sabercats, when they had to play their conference championship game and the arena bowl at the Stockton Arena. It was a great time, and the only time I watched AFL football live, only for the team to fold immediately after. It doesn't surprise me that this AFL is failing if they couldn't keep a mainstay team from their past alive

[@Damonicus1]

As an Australian, I had the PS2 game, and I loved it. It was my introduction to Arena Football.

[@inter_1097]

Wonder how many Aussies picked it up thinking AFL meant Australian Football League and wondered why no Collingwood players weren't on the cover?

[@KomonAthlete]

Half the arenas look like ass. I saw one that didn’t even have the proper nets and field goal set up. Why would the nfl network want to support a bunch of garbage. The field set up in some of the arenas are complete garbage.

[@supersasukemaniac]

Now the Rapid City Marshalls' owner chimed in saying "I'm upholding my end of the bargain,and trying to do right by my players." He even said he sees more teams potentially folding as soon as Monday,and has already told his players "if we don't hear anything from the league in 1 to 2 days,you have permission to leave."

[@farhanatashiga3721]

Well it's Tuesday now

[@CGMedia2023]

I remember the trash talking from the AFL back in the 2000s when they were claiming that they were going to take down the NFL. Good times...

[@The_Walnoys]

As a teen stumbling into a retro game store and picking up Arena Football on the PS2 back in 2019, The sport gave me an entry point to love Football. This is just painful seeing that something different and unique to watch is struggling with history to back it up especially not knowing that the 3rd reincarnation was underway. Just let it die already. The only time I could see it work is it being a summer league, not a spring one competing with the UFL (USFL/XFL) and using it as a third minor league thing like how the NHL has the AHL-ECHL-OHL/WHA. Edit: Maybe have the first season just be a month with 4-6 teams at one place with it being on ESPN/ESPN2 or the local sports channel on public access.

[@supersasukemaniac]

I think it would have worked,,if the market for Indoor Football wasn't so congested now, you can watch both IFL and NAL for free on their KZbin channels. AFL you can't watch with out jumping through a bunch if hoops right now.

[@michaelwalker7400]

If the league survives this year, they need to go crawling to the IFL and ask to merge. They expected just saying they are back would get the Barnstormers, Rattlers and other legacy AFL teams to jump back on the bus and I'm glad that didn't happen because then those legacy teams would be stuck with the stink of the new AFL on them.

[@supersasukemaniac]

I mean the Ratllers didn't even return to AFL 2.0, what made them think they would come back for Round 3, and, while Iowa did start with AFL 2.0,being one of the legacy teams from the af2, they left pretty quick.

[@Sorrell1GK]

Thanks for this well researched video. I was a big AFL fan. I even watched all the games when they had 4 teams. Even watched their Arena Bowl championship when a team that went winless in the regular season won the championship. Damn shame these people can’t get their act together. Again, thank you for the insightful video. Found more info in your vid than I did in hours and hours of online research!

[@zackcamp1912]

I’ve been playing the old AFL game on the XBOX. My home town just recently got a IFL team (oilers) and oh boy was I excited. Got Oilers season tickets day one. I got excited to see the AFL was back. I went looking for a AFL game for atleast an hour. Would you blame me for being insanely disappointed week 1 after not being able to find a single stream and just tuning into a IFL game??

[@AnotherFootballl]

Absolutely not. AFL has huge problem with visibility of their games. IFL and NAL you can watch on KZbin and this magic called AFL you need to search in some local TV.

[@rickyrosay33977]

All of these AFL failures are giving the IFL more momentum i habe the frisco fighters here in DFW as my IFL team i also used to play that AFL game but I don't care about the revival the IFL has my attention

[@violinfanatickamraz1403]

Hey. Thanks for showing the local team, Billings Outlaws!

[@redharlan40entertainment]

The Arena League is back? I couldn’t hear them over the currently undefeated Bay Area Panthers of the IFL. Wow, talk about not starting off on the right foot.

[@briannearey8902]

Bro you have to do A LOT to get kicked out of Super crack Motel

[@danielevensen5539]

This is a really good video. I don't follow Arena football at all - but I have to tell you that this video is fascinating and is really well done. I'm going to watch more of your stuff. Kudos!

[@Californiaexpat]

It comes down to promotion… I live in the city where the Oregon Black Bears play and there has been zero promotion, no one knows about the league… the times I’ve brought it up no one has a clue the AFL is in town Where are the Billboards? Where are the Radio ads? Where are placed marketing online? If no one knows, no one will show up

[@PatAnthonyMD]

Former Baltimore Brigade season ticket holder here. It's really sad to see what this league has become.

[@boredwibilly]

Thanks for the deep-dive! Seriously, I didn't even know this was happening until I heard of the headlines of the AFL's imminent failure. (I think there was a quick shout-out on Pat McAfee's show?) There's marketing and organizational mission, and then there's how to execute it. The AFL seems to have blown the "how to..." part of things. Ooof. Even without NFL collaboration, I feel there's a lot of potential for lesser leagues like the AFL to both put on a good show and give lots of deserving players game tape for recruitment.

[@cranjismcbasketball1638]

I'm really glad Indy's new arena team (Fishers Freight) is joining the IFL instead of the AFL after seeing this

[@benallen2196]

7:05 I literally did this while watching the video. I miss the original arena football League and I didn't even know that they came back in this version until watching this video. I went to the old website looking to see if there was a team somewhat near me and they didn't even have a list of teams on the website.

[@Erlov71]

Indoor ball was already running a bit thin with the leagues already playing. So these dudes decide to add 16 news teams. Yea you could see this coming. NAL and AIF would be smart to merge if possible.

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

I got into the AFL for about 4-5 years from 2003 - 2008. It was fun while it lasted but I was done after that.

[@EmpireofCheese]

My buddy’s dad had an in with the Green Bay Blizzard so we got to hit up some games. Good times, man

[@joeblenkle5546]

Wow, honestly I didn't know indoor football was still a thing. I used to cover a local team for the newspaper I worked for. It was a lot of fun. This was back in the early 90s. The team was only there a year. Can't remember if they moved or the league folded.

[@matthewwelsh294]

I think the AFL was the only league back in the early 90s

[@ThePhl4ever]

I knew it was going to be dumpster fire from the weird presser when the Soul initially were going to be playing every game on the road and then were given home games in New Jersey, not really near Philly at all. EDIT: I guess their home games are in Trenton, not terribly far from Philly but also not really in the Philly market.

[@SuperBoomshack]

I had no idea this was still a thing

[@jjthebeerman]

I'm so glad the Tampa Bay Storm is not part of this debacle!

[@UltimaOmega]

The only reason I learned that the AFL was restarting is because I follow the Rapid City team and I was surprised to learn that they were moving to the AFL after only one year in existence. Personally, I would rather see Rapid City join the IFL if for any reason, for a game between them and my local team, the Sioux Falls Storm. But best of luck to Rapid City and best of luck to the AFL.

[@Mclovinit8171]

The Iowa rampage just folded and wrote a letter basically blaming the AFL in detail and how the afl screwed their ownership out of money, more will probs follow.

[@FenriRock]

I want the Sabercats back so bad.. but not with this AFL… thankfully we have the Panthers

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

According to Wkipedia. The interim AFL Commissioner is no other than former NFL St. Louis/LA Rams Head Coach Jeff *"8 & 8 is bullskit"* Fischer. That explains a lot. P.S. - I used to watch the AFL in its heyday. Thought it was fine to watch.

[@psgchisolm]

Just found this channel and before i watched your video I decided to check out the website and see what teams they had... I went to the old website and like you said exactly. Thought they washed out. Thanks for the heads up but I'm not checking out the new site either. Like you said if they can do the bare minimum then it's not a good sign for the league.

[@brosciencegutfeelings7058]

I was hoping for some more logistical and statistical reasoning & explanation in this video. As in what exactly is the IFL doing differently & what were the quoted reasons the Vegas owners chose to stay. Etc

[@TheFort87]

When that Chinese indoor league in 2011 was basically the NFL to AFL 3.0’s 4th grade pick-up recess game

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

Fighting in the stands with the fans is tight! Really makes you part of the game. Why is this the first I have heard of the Indoor Football League?

[@MoosefeetProductions]

Was never a huge AFL fan but its downfall is truly sad. I remember watching San Jose Sabercats games on NBC in the early 2000s. There was a time when they and the sharks were pretty much the only good thing going on in Bay Area sports.

[@thetouchback]

The Sabercats were bigger than the Earthquakes in the early 2000s.

[@BlueOpinion]

Sad, sad... sad. I went to an arena football game in 2012. It was a good game and the crowd was strong. About 1,500+ in attendance.

[@taconative334]

Wow I was excited because my town (Salem Oregon) finally got a sports team I can go watch and now it seems like I won’t have long to cheer them on. I want to go to their next game because I don’t know if I ever will have a chance if I don’t!😭

[@thetouchback]

Definitely get out there if you can. It's a shame what happened to the Volcanoes. It would be nice for Salem to have something sports-wise.

[@loup-garou6869]

What i dont understand about quebec is I wouldve done all the work but they started calling me lazy and stuff.

[@peytonsawyer9461]

I was looking forward to the arena football league being back especially since they have the voodoo a team that was loved in south Louisiana so many years ago. Now after this I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the weekend or this time next week the league will be shut down.

[@YaowBucketHEAD]

As someone who's sorta followed Arena Football on and off for a while now, I always thought there's an audience for Arena Football, but it needs stability, competent managment, and an investor who's realistically willing to take some losses for a few years until everything gets grounded and moving smoothly. I think (and it might be a poor thought) that all arena teams in the country need to be in one league. Some serious merging needs to happen. This new league also needs some serious PR/advertising to get fans in the stands and a viable streaming app (I imagine finding a television network might be pretty difficult at the beginning) to garner interest and fan loyalty, which equals the teams and leagues making money. I think arena football can exist as a niche league that has a smaller yet loyal fanbase, it just needs competent, realistic, and maybe even a little conservative management to survive. I'm not sure about finding athletes to participate. I'm sure there's guys who "washed out' in the NFL and undrafted college players who want to keep playing, but trying to convince them to play for a circus of a league is the most difficult challenge they have right now.

[@tobymaxmax658]

IFL games are fun. I loved the old AFL games. To me this should have been Spring football.

[@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1]

I remember growing up in the 90s and early 00s being a Nashville Kats fan and the afl being a cool spring alternative to the nfl. It's so sad to see that this is what week one looked like.

[@tommyhartley5751]

It’s not the way I remember it. But I want to try to enjoy this as long as I can.

[@bobthebuilder47]

Long live the Kansas City Brigade!

[@jerb22471]

back in July last year they announced Tallahassee Florida was getting an AFL team. It was announced from several sources. Well 8 months later, no team... did a search and could find no information about when they pulled out. It is like it never happened.

[@joshjacobson9846]

The old website made me think this video was older than the posted date

[@jamesruggeri2695]

the xfl was the first side-league that really got enough press and hype to get a legitimate start and succeed, but they didn't go all-out and ended up selling out to the UFL which will absolutely kill both leagues. Arena football used to be super fun to see, now it's more fun to watch the drama than the actual games

[@Jefff72]

I also imagined a Canadian version but with 3 downs and multiple players in motion. Doesn't the IFL allow a player in forward motion?

[@thetouchback]

I forget which one, but there was an arena/indoor football league that had the rouge.

[@Jefff72]

@@thetouchback Oh ya, that's right. I don't remember either which one it was.

[@robmclean4352]

It doesn't help that most of the markets in this supposedly national "major" league really belong in af2 (or would if it still existed!). The AFL has no teams in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago...and *three* in Kansas...?! (And those attendances: in the four games in which they've actually released numbers, they averaged just 3,354...compare that to AFL1.0, which averaged 11,205, or even the second incarnation, which averaged 8,359! Yikes!)

[@markschnabel1353]

Two of those teams played in a different league last year. The other was going to join that league this year.

[@tylermishchenko6391]

Great video. I remember when the AFL was on NBC as a kid I got instantly hooked to the Philadelphia Soul. Eventually got season tickets. This joke of a commissioner now makes sense why Jaws wanted nothing to do with it. I met Bon fucking Jovi at an arena game when he was a partial owner! I was really excited so see the soul again after that loss in the final in the last season. Very disappointed to see how they used the Souls fantastic pedigree and destroyed it.

[@tylermishchenko6391]

I had a feeling when the soul who used to play in a damn 20,000 seat arena were a “travel team” then announced to be playing home games in Trenton that this was fishy. But never thought it would be this bad

[@julianrengifo5679]

Wow, it’s good thing the Atlantic City BlackJacks didn’t come back then. Maybe they can fit into the IFL, but right now I’m a Jersey Bearcats fan for AAL2 .

[@rocknorris9508]

Such a shame. I grew up watching the birth and dominance of the Tampa Bay Storm, even way back to the blue and magenta Zubaz pants. God it was so much fun at the games. These videos of current games are such a pale imitation of that old vibe.

[@DuckAvenger]

I was a big afl fan in the early 2000s I think it was NBC after NFL season ended. I loved it and we had a minor league afl team in my town for awhile. Would have liked to see a new league with them but as you said I didn't know it happened

[@SuperJNG18]

The only AFL I care about is the Australian Football League. Yes, you gotta get up at obscene hours to watch a bizarre hybrid of rugby, soccer, and OUR football, but my lord is it fun to watch. (My team is the Greater Western Sydney Giants, for what it's worth. #BigBigSound)

[@Barto0482]

FACTS!

[@inter_1097]

When AFL 2.0, folded I was waiting for teams to jump to other leagues but none of them did. I wonder why? A few teams jumped to other leagues before it folded (ex: Rattlers to IFL) but once AFL 2.0 went under, none of the teams found other leagues to play in.

[@matthewwelsh294]

The Albany Empire went to the NAL

[@Z64sports]

The website thing while important it isn't where I go for most things. I go to Wikipedia for that and it is updated at least weekly. I could see lots of other people doing that too

[@srikothur2845]

This sucks. I love indoor football.

[@therockyreview1847]

Support the UFL and the IFL. Some good spring football being played there.

[@tommy_bahama97]

I was actually at the Voodoo game and it was concerning to say the least. There wasn’t a stretcher for a dude on the soul who no doubt blew out everything in his knee so we watched them help this guy hobble off the field and it took a minimum of 5 minutes.

[@Vhaasen]

The website issue has absolutely blown my mind. And it sucks, because I've been watching the league since it's original inception. 😓

[@jakesmith6233]

I actually remember the Arena Football League. It was my alternative Football fix during the NFL offseason. Before previous ownership eventually caused the league to fold. I felt like it should have stayed dead!

[@Sensei_Gleech]

Heyyy I was apart of that 2018 Iowa championship team in the picture 👀 the IFL and the NAL are the most experienced now when it comes to the arena game i think those are the best for competition it seems like a lot of IFL and NAL guys went over to the AFL with expectations of more opportunity

[@MasterOfViewership]

What happened to the good days of the Dallas Desperadoes, Arizona Rattlers, Philadelphia Soul, and San Jose Sabercats?

[@doctorhino8736]

To do a URL redirect you have to have admin access to the DNS records for the original website. I think someone is holding off transferring the website until they get paid for their url and the people owning the league are holding out by just making a new site. I would be willing to bet that original sites refresh in 2023 was made on an unpaid IOU.

[@Nightmarefuel66]

I love arena football. It's a wonderful concept. Just gotta promote it right and make good choices yall!