October 21, 2024 • 18 mins
X1 Media/X1 Investigates and Arena Insider dives into the historic return of the Arena Football League. In this series, we break down the league starting under a new company, tension between owners and players, claims of unfulfilled promises, a change in leadership and more all over the span of 10 weeks.
In the fourth and final episode of the docuseries, Turbulent Revival of the Arena Football League, we break down the remaining teams that shutdown midseason, owners sounding the alarm on the future of the AFL, fallout with G6 Sports, and the remaining teams forming a new league.
Donate to Arena Insider! No donation is too small: arenainsider.com/donate-to-arena-insider
Join the conversation using hashtag "X1MediaPress" and follow us on social media: @acarter_TV and @arenainsider. Like/Subscribe on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
Visit our website: arenainsider.com
All credit for media are included in the video. Missing credit or other related questions and concerns? Email: acarter@thexonemedia.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arena-insider-press-pass--6123695/support.
In the fourth and final episode of the docuseries, Turbulent Revival of the Arena Football League, we break down the remaining teams that shutdown midseason, owners sounding the alarm on the future of the AFL, fallout with G6 Sports, and the remaining teams forming a new league.
Donate to Arena Insider! No donation is too small: arenainsider.com/donate-to-arena-insider
Join the conversation using hashtag "X1MediaPress" and follow us on social media: @acarter_TV and @arenainsider. Like/Subscribe on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
Visit our website: arenainsider.com
All credit for media are included in the video. Missing credit or other related questions and concerns? Email: acarter@thexonemedia.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arena-insider-press-pass--6123695/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Hi, Lee Hunton, AFL Commissioner, and in my hands, I
have the first authentic Zenith Partnership helmet of the AFL.
I've signed it myself. The AFL's back.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Then, following the voter remove Leehu and the third as commissioner,
Communication and the overall energy around the Arena Football League
drastically improved from a media standpoint. The day after, on
May fifteenth, new commissioner, Nashville Catz president Jeff Fisher, appeared
alongside Chris Chetti, who is part of G six Sports.
(00:45):
The company has owned the trademarks to the AFL since
twenty twenty two.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I'd like to extend the formal apology to the are
Arena Football League community, to our fans.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
You started out with the statement apologizing to the community
in that moment.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Why did you feel like that was necessary?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Because this is they never signed up for this. You know,
this is not a This is not a league that
just came out a couple of years ago. This is
thirty five plus years of history and prestige, and you know,
like you know, obviously the AFL's hit the high of
the highs and the lows of the lows, but at
the end of the day. Nobody deserved this, and the
(01:25):
fact that, you know, I bought the Marks back in
twenty twenty two, a two year window I thought was
going to be a good enough time, and it would
have been had I been operational for those twenty four months,
but I wasn't. So now I'm trying to cram twenty
four months worth of work into We're on what three
and a half weeks, and I got about sixty five
more days to go to get through this season, So
(01:46):
I know I got my work cut out. But you know,
I'm very fortunate to have my entire leadership team behind
me on this.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Arena. Sider traveled to Nashville to meet with the Cats
ownership group a few weeks after Fish was tapped as
ends from I sat down with veteran ANFL head coach
Deanos and considering how this season started so far, what
was your reaction. We start to see things kind of unfolds,
and day after day.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
It's been non stop, so it's a lot. You know,
I don't think we've had a chance to breathe yet
and have a view of it. We're just everybody's just
working so hard, trying to do so many things, everybody's
wearing many hats, and I think the goal is just
get through this year and build a strong base for
the league and for our organization, but really put a
staple on the ground and just build off it. Right,
I think it's all right now. Everybody's just working so
(02:35):
hard to build this thing, and we have a chance
to step back and see. I think it's gonna be
pretty cool what everybody's done to build this league. I
think if there's a true chance to grow this thing
and get through this year and keep building, it's going
to be with Jeff's leadership at that position. So it's
awesome for everybody.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Do you think you can turn this around?
Speaker 5 (02:53):
I think so absolutely, without a doubt.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
A lot of teams that have folded, like Georgia for
its split up is so just to name a few,
a lot of the players and the coaches have been
made one of their main concerns where that they're not
getting paid and then they didn't have they weren't playing
under the right conditions. Is your group aware of those
claims and are you planning to address them?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
I am getting case studies, live case studies on a
day to day and I'm paying very close attention to that,
but we're also looking at a broken model right now,
and that's you know, that's addressing the elephant in the room.
So we know that that the structure needs to really
be restabilized from the ground up. So everything from you know,
(03:38):
salaries to workmen's comp insurance to stadium deals to revsheer, like,
all of those things need to be really like like
we have them rebuilt. I just need to structure it
all together properly. So then that way the goal is
you know, I call this season one A and then
going into season two is one B. So it's like,
how can we get through this season keep her ahead
(04:00):
above waters while we're rebuilding the foundation for one BE
which will be next year.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
And obviously our kicker has mentioned in our group chat
since our coach has now left the group chat, things
like that that there will be a lawsuit coming. Before
coach left the group chat, our kicker laid out some
information to us that he had more information than none
of us on the team knew because of his attempts
of trying to be a general manager or in ownership
(04:27):
group or sponsors that he had kind of worked to
try to get us in a whole arena. He tried
to get us and sponsors and all this other kind
of stuff because he's well connected in the area and
wanted this to be so successful. And obviously, Lee Hutton
and coach Rockamore declined it because I felt like they
wanted to keep power. Obviously I didn't know that when
I signed, but just informed them that, hey, you will
(04:50):
be getting sued by us and the team, and obviously
our goal from that point on is like, okay, let's
get those wages that we rightfully deserve.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
During restruction, the league was moving forward with nine teams,
leaving Oregon out. The MiGs explain that situation more and
the decision behind it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
I think it's a you know, without getting into too
much details, I think it was it was a pretty
natural scenario where you know, we obviously started the not
we but I mean the season started with sixteen teams,
and you know that number dwindled down after you know,
things were starting to uncover themselves, and you know, we're
(05:36):
we're also trying to maintain the teams who can be
you know, able to stay on board and right out
the rest of the season, and you know, we try
to make some things work but you know, just based
on logistics and you know, legal relationships, you know, we
we feel that it's best at right now. The nine
teams that are on our website are the nine teams
(05:56):
that are going to finish this season.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
After that point, skepticism grew on the legitimacy of the
Black Bears organization. Humble was the main partner of the
league with the intent to provide digital services, including website
and ticket sales. On May twenty eighth, the company said
it was unsure on a partnership, but during a company
shareholder meeting in July, CEO Brian Foot shared interesting remarks
(06:19):
about officially cutting ties with the league.
Speaker 7 (06:22):
We completed full arena testing in the first half of
the year. Meeting, customers were able to buy their tickets
with us, enter an arena watch a football game. So
we completed that in the first half of twenty twenty four.
Please note AFL as a partner of ours. That's how
that's done. So it was wonderful for us to be
able to test arena games there in Oregon and get
(06:46):
our Humble stack very confident that we can go sell
other arenas, stadiums, you know, Pro Sports League concerts, whatever,
and we also reopt with Oregon, which was the team
were serving there. If they do go to another league
or move to another football league next year, we look
(07:08):
forward to working with them again as we have a
good relationship with their ownership group and they put Humbled
to the test, liked it, and reupt with us. So
that's all we can ask for, and certainly the AFL
the best of luck going forward.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
But mentioned ownership group, but there was never one to
begin with in Oregon. Before the season, the league announced
New York Giants linebacker Kaevon Thibodeaux would lead the Black
Bears ownership group. The draw was that he is a
University of Oregon alum, which is located in Eugene, about
a couple of hours away from Salem. Then Commissioner Lee
hutt And said in a release quote, there's no better
(07:42):
person to lead the Black Bears than a true organ
star like Kavon, who understands the fans' is insatiable appetite
for success. But I noticed Kavon never mentioned the Black
Bears this season, so on May twenty six, I reached
out to conffirm if he is the owner, and he said, quote,
I was never part of the league. They use my
name for publicity in court. He declined to provide further details.
Speaker 8 (08:05):
One day, Jason san Tony do a to mishandle the snap.
San Tony gonna add to the corner, passes ton the
two point con person Santoni to Palsy.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
So the owner of the Black Bears was technically Arena
Football Management, LLC, which is owned by Lee Hutting.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
My father told me that each individual's faced with a
unique set of circumstances that will eventually determine your destiny
and life. And I think when you take being an
attorney being a former athlete, and you mix those two
and then you know the equation in the sum is
AFL commissioner. I can tell you it's a great job,
(08:51):
great experience, and I think we have great partners, and
I'm ready to carry the torch and get bring something
bigger and better.
Speaker 8 (08:59):
Final score Oregon Black Bears twenty seven to Washington and
walked back twenty five.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
As time went on, the Black Bears ended up shutting
down for the twenty twenty four season, and a letter
to fans. President Pat Johnson said they were unable to
find opponents for its final home games and reimburse fans
for any tickets purchased. He also said quote, we will
immediately begin preparations for our twenty twenty five launch, but
the chances of that appear to be unlikely. The team
(09:26):
played some home games at Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center.
A representative shared with Arena Insider that the team owes
more than thirty thousand dollars to the venue. Many of
its vendors also haven't received any payment. In reviewing business files,
the team's legal address is the same as the censor,
and a person that fouled it was trevlle Gaines. When
(09:48):
asked if they knew about it, the representatives said they
were unaware.
Speaker 9 (10:00):
Get hurting everybody. Within the last couple of hours, the
Rapid City Marshalls announced the team is immediately ceasing operations.
Team owners say the decision was made due to lack
of leadership from previous Arena Football League officials and unfulfilled
promises that made it impossible for the team to sustain
operations now. It's been a troublesome past few weeks for
(10:20):
the organization. Two weeks ago, a home game was canceled
at the last minute after players refused to take the field,
upset they hadn't received their full pay and no Team
owner Wes Johnson said at a statement he understands the frustration
players had with the team and the league. He said
he was hopeful that yet Marshalls would be able to survive,
but unfortunately that is not the case.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
As weeks went on, the league appeared to be in
solid shape and was making efforts to complete the season,
including the playoffs, but on June eighteenth, the West Texas
ASA Hawks seized operations, now becoming the eight team.
Speaker 10 (10:56):
Today was kind of a sucker punch a little bit,
just because we've been feeling really good about the direction
that we've been going. Obviously, it was not good at
the beginning, but you know, things happened.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Owners that book announced team was also stepping down, but
at the same time criticized they're rena football management.
Speaker 11 (11:15):
So we told them pretty much to go screw themselves.
Speaker 12 (11:18):
We're not gonna deal with you guys anymore. You've lied
to us enough. You've already taken millions and millions of.
Speaker 11 (11:23):
Dollars from all sixteen owners at this point, because there
are sixteen teams in the league and it's a total
scam deal, and that's just what it is. Teams will
not be a part of the AFL next year if
it continues the route it's going, and I can assure
you that there's probably three or four teams I want
to be a part of the AFL next year, as
long as the structure and the false promises are they
are the way they are right now. You know, the
(11:44):
ownership group of G six I do have respect for
certain individuals of G six Sports. There are deals in place,
you know, with their media deals that they're paying money
for also with the Arena Bowl, and they're paying money
for this Arena Ball instead of giving them money back
(12:05):
to the owners that have suffered, all of us owners
have suffered this entire time.
Speaker 12 (12:10):
But instead of giving those dollars back to US owners.
Speaker 13 (12:13):
They would rather put it in media deals to make
themselves look good and also an Arena Bille Arena Bowl
to make them look good so they can, you know,
potentially have the AFL next year to save face.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
There remaining eight teams finished a season and the AFL
ain't the deal with CBS Sports Network to air the playoffs.
Speaker 14 (12:36):
So Bailey Giffin to get the Outlaws into the Arena Bowl.
Check that is a thirty nine yard attempt. That's the
official thirty nine yards. The stap good hold kick is
on the way and it is good. The Outlaws are
going to ArenaBowl thirty three.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
Wow.
Speaker 15 (12:59):
What a game.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Then the league announced his plans for the Arena Bowl,
but it was something no one expected.
Speaker 14 (13:06):
For a Rena Bowl thirty three on CBS Sports Network.
Welcome inside American Remall for excite for a championship game
unlike anything we've ever seen. It features the Albany Firebirds
from upstate New York taking on the Billings out Laws.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
It was a good sized crowd featuring mall visitors and
fans of both teams. It was clear to move us
to get the game on a bigger stage rather than
awarding the top team with the chance to host. What
was the decision behind it from an owner.
Speaker 15 (13:39):
Standpoint, We didn't have a decision. Chris and G six
had made certain promises to owners to get them to
buy into this. Obviously, the costs of the arena would
be paid for. Transportation costs, expenses, hotels, things like that
would all be covered by G six so that there
would be no laws to the teams that didn't happen.
(14:02):
We get to the Arena Bowl. I think Tuesday. I
got there Tuesday night before the Arena Bowl. Most of
the bills hadn't been paid by G six, the hotels
hadn't been paid by G six. It was just Lee
hunting lies all over again. If it wasn't for the
guys in Albany, Mike Quorda, Andy Gulcher, Jeff Fisher and
myself putting well in probably over three hundred thousand dollars
(14:26):
into the Arena Bowl, there was never going to be
an Arena Bowl.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
The Outlaws won Arena Bowl forty six to forty one.
Longtime league commissioner Jerry Kurz was brought back to the
front off his mid season to serve as general counsel
and Senior Advisor player Personnel. He spoke to us at
the game, it's.
Speaker 16 (14:49):
A walk in progress, but it always is. We need
to remember who we are. We need to be fan
based in the community. We need to be regional, so
we need to build.
Speaker 15 (14:58):
Up our market.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
They want to travel off.
Speaker 16 (15:01):
More opportunity for players. But this season started with some
challenges that I think everybody can see. The turnership around
that great leadership under G six Jet Fisher, which is
reputation on Ali and anything possible out you know, only
get better.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Right now, it's very important that we don't want to
take too many strides all at once, right we have
to make sure that the foundation is stable, and I
think getting from season one to season two is going
to be a significant jump for us. And I believe
once we do that and we don't, we don't stumble
out the gates starting season two and everything is the
(15:40):
infrastructure is there, then it allows us to build on
top of you know, the end of season two and beyond.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Heading into the offseason, there seems to be a disconnect
between G six Sports and the remaining team owners. On
September four, if I spoke with CEO Chris Chetti on it,
there will be another season.
Speaker 17 (16:01):
I was given the hand that I was dealt to
the best of my ability. I'm still, you know, financially
responsible for everything that has happened at everything that has
taken place with the league and everything that's been forward
with the league. So I still take full accountability on that.
But at the same time, I'm not rushing to make
decisions because other people are rushing me to do that,
(16:23):
you know what I mean? Like that, that's essentially my
stance on everything.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Then later that day, all of the a remaining teams,
the Firebirds, Outlaws, Nashville Kads, Orlando Predators, Salina Liberties, south
West Kansas Store, and Washington Wolfbag, in which its our regulators,
broke away from the AFL to form a new league,
Arena Football One.
Speaker 15 (16:44):
The fact of the matter is is that the Arena
Bowl costs the teams approximately between three and four hundred
thousand dollars a loss. We could have had a big
name celebrity concert national broadcast at the top seed for
a fraction of that. So it's a horrible business decision.
They're making business decisions spending other people's money. It's just
(17:06):
something that we're tired of dealing with. We're tired of
dealing with G six, We're tired of dealing with Chety,
We're tired of dealing with Lee Hunting, We're tired of
dealing with AFL management, tired to deal with AFL capital partners.
They're just a bunch of liars, frauds and people who
deceit people, and we just don't want anything to do
with it. So that's why we decided to form our
own league and distance ourselves as far as possible as
we can from those in the past.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Jeff Fisher will serve as commissioner and Jerry Kurrs will
be CEO.
Speaker 15 (17:32):
We want people that have the football knowledge of the
indoor and arena football industry to be running our organization.
And you know, with Gary Kerrs, Gary Kompton, Jeff Fisher
leading our organization, it doesn't get much better than that.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Af one aiming to establish a new beginning all while
the historic Arena Football League is preparing for what could
be the beginning to the end.
Speaker 12 (17:55):
I think we have a lot to offer our fans.
Speaker 15 (17:57):
I think that you know, when they're paying their fifteen
or twenty dollars ticket every week, we know how hard
they work for that money. We know that there's so
much other stuff they.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Could do.
Speaker 15 (18:07):
With that money. And it's very flattering when you see three,
four or five six thousand people at a game spending
their hard earned money to see your team play. And
I want to do what we need to do to
keep everyone happy, to keep a quality product on the field.
Make sure we have consistent rule sets that are exercised,
(18:27):
make sure we have good officiating, make sure we have
quality venues with quality teams, and that we have a
great twenty twenty five season all around the country.
Hi, Lee Hunton, AFL Commissioner, and in my hands, I
have the first authentic Zenith Partnership helmet of the AFL.
I've signed it myself. The AFL's back.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Then, following the voter remove Leehu and the third as commissioner,
Communication and the overall energy around the Arena Football League
drastically improved from a media standpoint. The day after, on
May fifteenth, new commissioner, Nashville Catz president Jeff Fisher, appeared
alongside Chris Chetti, who is part of G six Sports.
(00:45):
The company has owned the trademarks to the AFL since
twenty twenty two.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
I'd like to extend the formal apology to the are
Arena Football League community, to our fans.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
You started out with the statement apologizing to the community
in that moment.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Why did you feel like that was necessary?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Because this is they never signed up for this. You know,
this is not a This is not a league that
just came out a couple of years ago. This is
thirty five plus years of history and prestige, and you know,
like you know, obviously the AFL's hit the high of
the highs and the lows of the lows, but at
the end of the day. Nobody deserved this, and the
(01:25):
fact that, you know, I bought the Marks back in
twenty twenty two, a two year window I thought was
going to be a good enough time, and it would
have been had I been operational for those twenty four months,
but I wasn't. So now I'm trying to cram twenty
four months worth of work into We're on what three
and a half weeks, and I got about sixty five
more days to go to get through this season, So
(01:46):
I know I got my work cut out. But you know,
I'm very fortunate to have my entire leadership team behind
me on this.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Arena. Sider traveled to Nashville to meet with the Cats
ownership group a few weeks after Fish was tapped as
ends from I sat down with veteran ANFL head coach
Deanos and considering how this season started so far, what
was your reaction. We start to see things kind of unfolds,
and day after day.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
It's been non stop, so it's a lot. You know,
I don't think we've had a chance to breathe yet
and have a view of it. We're just everybody's just
working so hard, trying to do so many things, everybody's
wearing many hats, and I think the goal is just
get through this year and build a strong base for
the league and for our organization, but really put a
staple on the ground and just build off it. Right,
I think it's all right now. Everybody's just working so
(02:35):
hard to build this thing, and we have a chance
to step back and see. I think it's gonna be
pretty cool what everybody's done to build this league. I
think if there's a true chance to grow this thing
and get through this year and keep building, it's going
to be with Jeff's leadership at that position. So it's
awesome for everybody.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Do you think you can turn this around?
Speaker 5 (02:53):
I think so absolutely, without a doubt.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
A lot of teams that have folded, like Georgia for
its split up is so just to name a few,
a lot of the players and the coaches have been
made one of their main concerns where that they're not
getting paid and then they didn't have they weren't playing
under the right conditions. Is your group aware of those
claims and are you planning to address them?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
I am getting case studies, live case studies on a
day to day and I'm paying very close attention to that,
but we're also looking at a broken model right now,
and that's you know, that's addressing the elephant in the room.
So we know that that the structure needs to really
be restabilized from the ground up. So everything from you know,
(03:38):
salaries to workmen's comp insurance to stadium deals to revsheer, like,
all of those things need to be really like like
we have them rebuilt. I just need to structure it
all together properly. So then that way the goal is
you know, I call this season one A and then
going into season two is one B. So it's like,
how can we get through this season keep her ahead
(04:00):
above waters while we're rebuilding the foundation for one BE
which will be next year.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
And obviously our kicker has mentioned in our group chat
since our coach has now left the group chat, things
like that that there will be a lawsuit coming. Before
coach left the group chat, our kicker laid out some
information to us that he had more information than none
of us on the team knew because of his attempts
of trying to be a general manager or in ownership
(04:27):
group or sponsors that he had kind of worked to
try to get us in a whole arena. He tried
to get us and sponsors and all this other kind
of stuff because he's well connected in the area and
wanted this to be so successful. And obviously, Lee Hutton
and coach Rockamore declined it because I felt like they
wanted to keep power. Obviously I didn't know that when
I signed, but just informed them that, hey, you will
(04:50):
be getting sued by us and the team, and obviously
our goal from that point on is like, okay, let's
get those wages that we rightfully deserve.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
During restruction, the league was moving forward with nine teams,
leaving Oregon out. The MiGs explain that situation more and
the decision behind it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
I think it's a you know, without getting into too
much details, I think it was it was a pretty
natural scenario where you know, we obviously started the not
we but I mean the season started with sixteen teams,
and you know that number dwindled down after you know,
things were starting to uncover themselves, and you know, we're
(05:36):
we're also trying to maintain the teams who can be
you know, able to stay on board and right out
the rest of the season, and you know, we try
to make some things work but you know, just based
on logistics and you know, legal relationships, you know, we
we feel that it's best at right now. The nine
teams that are on our website are the nine teams
(05:56):
that are going to finish this season.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
After that point, skepticism grew on the legitimacy of the
Black Bears organization. Humble was the main partner of the
league with the intent to provide digital services, including website
and ticket sales. On May twenty eighth, the company said
it was unsure on a partnership, but during a company
shareholder meeting in July, CEO Brian Foot shared interesting remarks
(06:19):
about officially cutting ties with the league.
Speaker 7 (06:22):
We completed full arena testing in the first half of
the year. Meeting, customers were able to buy their tickets
with us, enter an arena watch a football game. So
we completed that in the first half of twenty twenty four.
Please note AFL as a partner of ours. That's how
that's done. So it was wonderful for us to be
able to test arena games there in Oregon and get
(06:46):
our Humble stack very confident that we can go sell
other arenas, stadiums, you know, Pro Sports League concerts, whatever,
and we also reopt with Oregon, which was the team
were serving there. If they do go to another league
or move to another football league next year, we look
(07:08):
forward to working with them again as we have a
good relationship with their ownership group and they put Humbled
to the test, liked it, and reupt with us. So
that's all we can ask for, and certainly the AFL
the best of luck going forward.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
But mentioned ownership group, but there was never one to
begin with in Oregon. Before the season, the league announced
New York Giants linebacker Kaevon Thibodeaux would lead the Black
Bears ownership group. The draw was that he is a
University of Oregon alum, which is located in Eugene, about
a couple of hours away from Salem. Then Commissioner Lee
hutt And said in a release quote, there's no better
(07:42):
person to lead the Black Bears than a true organ
star like Kavon, who understands the fans' is insatiable appetite
for success. But I noticed Kavon never mentioned the Black
Bears this season, so on May twenty six, I reached
out to conffirm if he is the owner, and he said, quote,
I was never part of the league. They use my
name for publicity in court. He declined to provide further details.
Speaker 8 (08:05):
One day, Jason san Tony do a to mishandle the snap.
San Tony gonna add to the corner, passes ton the
two point con person Santoni to Palsy.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
So the owner of the Black Bears was technically Arena
Football Management, LLC, which is owned by Lee Hutting.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
My father told me that each individual's faced with a
unique set of circumstances that will eventually determine your destiny
and life. And I think when you take being an
attorney being a former athlete, and you mix those two
and then you know the equation in the sum is
AFL commissioner. I can tell you it's a great job,
(08:51):
great experience, and I think we have great partners, and
I'm ready to carry the torch and get bring something
bigger and better.
Speaker 8 (08:59):
Final score Oregon Black Bears twenty seven to Washington and
walked back twenty five.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
As time went on, the Black Bears ended up shutting
down for the twenty twenty four season, and a letter
to fans. President Pat Johnson said they were unable to
find opponents for its final home games and reimburse fans
for any tickets purchased. He also said quote, we will
immediately begin preparations for our twenty twenty five launch, but
the chances of that appear to be unlikely. The team
(09:26):
played some home games at Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center.
A representative shared with Arena Insider that the team owes
more than thirty thousand dollars to the venue. Many of
its vendors also haven't received any payment. In reviewing business files,
the team's legal address is the same as the censor,
and a person that fouled it was trevlle Gaines. When
(09:48):
asked if they knew about it, the representatives said they
were unaware.
Speaker 9 (10:00):
Get hurting everybody. Within the last couple of hours, the
Rapid City Marshalls announced the team is immediately ceasing operations.
Team owners say the decision was made due to lack
of leadership from previous Arena Football League officials and unfulfilled
promises that made it impossible for the team to sustain
operations now. It's been a troublesome past few weeks for
(10:20):
the organization. Two weeks ago, a home game was canceled
at the last minute after players refused to take the field,
upset they hadn't received their full pay and no Team
owner Wes Johnson said at a statement he understands the frustration
players had with the team and the league. He said
he was hopeful that yet Marshalls would be able to survive,
but unfortunately that is not the case.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
As weeks went on, the league appeared to be in
solid shape and was making efforts to complete the season,
including the playoffs, but on June eighteenth, the West Texas
ASA Hawks seized operations, now becoming the eight team.
Speaker 10 (10:56):
Today was kind of a sucker punch a little bit,
just because we've been feeling really good about the direction
that we've been going. Obviously, it was not good at
the beginning, but you know, things happened.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Owners that book announced team was also stepping down, but
at the same time criticized they're rena football management.
Speaker 11 (11:15):
So we told them pretty much to go screw themselves.
Speaker 12 (11:18):
We're not gonna deal with you guys anymore. You've lied
to us enough. You've already taken millions and millions of.
Speaker 11 (11:23):
Dollars from all sixteen owners at this point, because there
are sixteen teams in the league and it's a total
scam deal, and that's just what it is. Teams will
not be a part of the AFL next year if
it continues the route it's going, and I can assure
you that there's probably three or four teams I want
to be a part of the AFL next year, as
long as the structure and the false promises are they
are the way they are right now. You know, the
(11:44):
ownership group of G six I do have respect for
certain individuals of G six Sports. There are deals in place,
you know, with their media deals that they're paying money
for also with the Arena Bowl, and they're paying money
for this Arena Ball instead of giving them money back
(12:05):
to the owners that have suffered, all of us owners
have suffered this entire time.
Speaker 12 (12:10):
But instead of giving those dollars back to US owners.
Speaker 13 (12:13):
They would rather put it in media deals to make
themselves look good and also an Arena Bille Arena Bowl
to make them look good so they can, you know,
potentially have the AFL next year to save face.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
There remaining eight teams finished a season and the AFL
ain't the deal with CBS Sports Network to air the playoffs.
Speaker 14 (12:36):
So Bailey Giffin to get the Outlaws into the Arena Bowl.
Check that is a thirty nine yard attempt. That's the
official thirty nine yards. The stap good hold kick is
on the way and it is good. The Outlaws are
going to ArenaBowl thirty three.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
Wow.
Speaker 15 (12:59):
What a game.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Then the league announced his plans for the Arena Bowl,
but it was something no one expected.
Speaker 14 (13:06):
For a Rena Bowl thirty three on CBS Sports Network.
Welcome inside American Remall for excite for a championship game
unlike anything we've ever seen. It features the Albany Firebirds
from upstate New York taking on the Billings out Laws.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
It was a good sized crowd featuring mall visitors and
fans of both teams. It was clear to move us
to get the game on a bigger stage rather than
awarding the top team with the chance to host. What
was the decision behind it from an owner.
Speaker 15 (13:39):
Standpoint, We didn't have a decision. Chris and G six
had made certain promises to owners to get them to
buy into this. Obviously, the costs of the arena would
be paid for. Transportation costs, expenses, hotels, things like that
would all be covered by G six so that there
would be no laws to the teams that didn't happen.
(14:02):
We get to the Arena Bowl. I think Tuesday. I
got there Tuesday night before the Arena Bowl. Most of
the bills hadn't been paid by G six, the hotels
hadn't been paid by G six. It was just Lee
hunting lies all over again. If it wasn't for the
guys in Albany, Mike Quorda, Andy Gulcher, Jeff Fisher and
myself putting well in probably over three hundred thousand dollars
(14:26):
into the Arena Bowl, there was never going to be
an Arena Bowl.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
The Outlaws won Arena Bowl forty six to forty one.
Longtime league commissioner Jerry Kurz was brought back to the
front off his mid season to serve as general counsel
and Senior Advisor player Personnel. He spoke to us at
the game, it's.
Speaker 16 (14:49):
A walk in progress, but it always is. We need
to remember who we are. We need to be fan
based in the community. We need to be regional, so
we need to build.
Speaker 15 (14:58):
Up our market.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
They want to travel off.
Speaker 16 (15:01):
More opportunity for players. But this season started with some
challenges that I think everybody can see. The turnership around
that great leadership under G six Jet Fisher, which is
reputation on Ali and anything possible out you know, only
get better.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Right now, it's very important that we don't want to
take too many strides all at once, right we have
to make sure that the foundation is stable, and I
think getting from season one to season two is going
to be a significant jump for us. And I believe
once we do that and we don't, we don't stumble
out the gates starting season two and everything is the
(15:40):
infrastructure is there, then it allows us to build on
top of you know, the end of season two and beyond.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Heading into the offseason, there seems to be a disconnect
between G six Sports and the remaining team owners. On
September four, if I spoke with CEO Chris Chetti on it,
there will be another season.
Speaker 17 (16:01):
I was given the hand that I was dealt to
the best of my ability. I'm still, you know, financially
responsible for everything that has happened at everything that has
taken place with the league and everything that's been forward
with the league. So I still take full accountability on that.
But at the same time, I'm not rushing to make
decisions because other people are rushing me to do that,
(16:23):
you know what I mean? Like that, that's essentially my
stance on everything.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Then later that day, all of the a remaining teams,
the Firebirds, Outlaws, Nashville Kads, Orlando Predators, Salina Liberties, south
West Kansas Store, and Washington Wolfbag, in which its our regulators,
broke away from the AFL to form a new league,
Arena Football One.
Speaker 15 (16:44):
The fact of the matter is is that the Arena
Bowl costs the teams approximately between three and four hundred
thousand dollars a loss. We could have had a big
name celebrity concert national broadcast at the top seed for
a fraction of that. So it's a horrible business decision.
They're making business decisions spending other people's money. It's just
(17:06):
something that we're tired of dealing with. We're tired of
dealing with G six, We're tired of dealing with Chety,
We're tired of dealing with Lee Hunting, We're tired of
dealing with AFL management, tired to deal with AFL capital partners.
They're just a bunch of liars, frauds and people who
deceit people, and we just don't want anything to do
with it. So that's why we decided to form our
own league and distance ourselves as far as possible as
we can from those in the past.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Jeff Fisher will serve as commissioner and Jerry Kurrs will
be CEO.
Speaker 15 (17:32):
We want people that have the football knowledge of the
indoor and arena football industry to be running our organization.
And you know, with Gary Kerrs, Gary Kompton, Jeff Fisher
leading our organization, it doesn't get much better than that.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Af one aiming to establish a new beginning all while
the historic Arena Football League is preparing for what could
be the beginning to the end.
Speaker 12 (17:55):
I think we have a lot to offer our fans.
Speaker 15 (17:57):
I think that you know, when they're paying their fifteen
or twenty dollars ticket every week, we know how hard
they work for that money. We know that there's so
much other stuff they.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Could do.
Speaker 15 (18:07):
With that money. And it's very flattering when you see three,
four or five six thousand people at a game spending
their hard earned money to see your team play. And
I want to do what we need to do to
keep everyone happy, to keep a quality product on the field.
Make sure we have consistent rule sets that are exercised,
(18:27):
make sure we have good officiating, make sure we have
quality venues with quality teams, and that we have a
great twenty twenty five season all around the country.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.