All your Arena Football, are belong to us

[sgrizzle]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iHL-qQb8fgpxyTeDV_50JtJLU8QgD9ATVAFG0

OKLAHOMA CITY — A news conference is planned Monday to announce the formation of a new arena football league with teams from the former AFL and arenafootball2 leagues.

Representatives of the af2 teams in Oklahoma City, Arkansas, and Spokane, Wash., all confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that they intend to be part of the new league that will be based in Tulsa, Okla.

Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz general manager Christie Cook says ownership meetings are planned this weekend in Tulsa to finalize which other cities will have teams.

The old AFL canceled its 2009 season before eventually folding in August, while af2 continued play in smaller cities across the U.S.

Games in the new league called Arena Football 1 are to start in late March or early April.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Well it isn't like we are getting 15 teams in Tulsa or something.  I have no clue where the main office for the NFL is.

[sgrizzle]

Well it isn't like we are getting 15 teams in Tulsa or something.  I have no clue where the main office for the NFL is.

New York and they have around 1,000 employees at that office. If we have the league headquarters, expect about 100 jobs, the National Championship game, etc. And 15 teams won't be housed here but it means we will be playing against teams from across the country, not just regional games.

[bmuscotty]

Just to clarify, the AF2 offices were located in Chicago and have relocated to Tulsa. I have no idea where the AFL headquarters were located before it folded. Tulsa will he the headquarters of the new indoor football league. Has nothing to do with the NFL.

[bmuscotty]

Commissioner Jerry Kurz will lead the press conference and will formerly unveil a newly formed league of Arena Football Teams as well as the League Office's location of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Representatives from the League's Board of Directors, Executives from the city of Tulsa and the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce will also make remarks.

Press Conference Info:
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tulsa South Room (2nd Floor / Main Lobby Level)
Crowne Plaza Tulsa
100 East Second Street
Tulsa, OK 74103

[sgrizzle]

Sounds like the plan is that AF2 is rebranding to AF1 and pulling in some of the AFL teams.
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1467829.html

[Townsend]

For some reason I see a sports scandal in our future...somehow Tulsa will have a scandal a few seasons from now.  I believe in us.

(edit)  Don't get me wrong...I'm excited about this.

[Conan71]

Just curious since WNBA might be responsible for catching the gay, what's the potential harms of arena football?

[bmuscotty]

Available arena dates. Most Talons games have been played on Saturday nights.

[USRufnex]

Well, tomorrow will be interesting, I guess.

The Talons and the WNBA have about 27 home dates from April/May to Aug/Sept.
I guess summer isn't a big time of the year for indoor concerts anyway, but....
Would this affect BOk's ability to host other events?

[cannon_fodder]

TO the nay sayers:

No, we will not host 15 teams.  No we will not have 1,000 jobs like the NFL.  But we will have 50-100 new corporate level jobs, gain the upper hand in hosting championship games, and increase our convention business one more notch for annual owners meetings and such. 

This is great news in my world.

[we vs us]

Well, tomorrow will be interesting, I guess.

The Talons and the WNBA have about 27 home dates from April/May to Aug/Sept.
I guess summer isn't a big time of the year for indoor concerts anyway, but....
Would this affect BOk's ability to host other events?

I'm going to guarantee you that SMG won't hamstring itself with arena football games.  Their revenue and reputation revolve around booking as many high profile events and acts as possible, and unless the new league has promised multiple years of national championship exposure (at least!), the BOK folks simply won't let it get in the way of a Paul McCartney booking.


That said, this is nothing but a good thing for the city and downtown.  CF's nailed all the salient points.