Indoor Football League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Yosemiter (talk | contribs) at 02:27, 17 October 2017 (→‎2018 season). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the league founded in 2008. For the first league with the name, see Indoor Football League (1999–2000).

Indoor Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2018 Indoor Football League season
File:IndoorFootballLeague.PNG
Indoor Football League logo
SportIndoor football
Founded2008
FounderPaul Aaron
Dan Blum
First season2009
CEOMichael Allshouse
No. of teams8
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)		Arizona Rattlers (1st title)
Most titlesSioux Falls Storm (6)
Official websitegoifl.com

The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. For the 2015 season, the league had ten teams. The league is the second highest tier in indoor/arena football behind the Arena Football League (AFL). IFL players earn a minimum of US$250 per game played (before taxes). The season is 16 games long, plus playoffs of two or more rounds.

History

Formation of the league

The merger which formed the new IFL was announced the day before the 2008 National Indoor Bowl Championship, a game which pitted the champions of the two leagues against each other. The Sioux Falls Storm (United) defeated the Louisiana Swashbucklers (Intense) 54 to 42.

2009 season

Main article: 2009 Indoor Football League season

Of the 17 teams involved in the two previous leagues, 14 carried over to the new organization's 2009 season. An additional three teams came over from the CIFL and two expansion teams began their life in the new IFL. In the United Bowl, the Billings Outlaws (Intense Conference) took the league championship by defeating the RiverCity Rage (United Conference) by a score of 71 to 62.

2010 season

Main article: 2010 Indoor Football League season

After losing two teams to attrition after the end of the 2009 season, and a third in January 2010, the IFL then added another nine franchises to boost its membership to 25 for the 2010 season. Three of the new teams were expansion franchises. Two moved over from the Southern Indoor Football League and Continental Indoor Football League. After playing nine games of the 2010 season the Alaska Wild suspended operations, leaving only 24 teams to finish the year. In the United Bowl, the Billings Outlaws (Intense Conference) took the league championship by defeating the Sioux Falls Storm (United Conference) by a score of 43 to 34.

2011 season

Main article: 2011 Indoor Football League season

Seven new teams were added to the IFL for the 2011 season. Some of these were new expansion teams, and others moved to the IFL from the AIFA. The IFL also lost nine teams during the offseason, bringing the total number to twenty-two for 2011. In the United Bowl, the Sioux Falls Storm (United Conference) took the league championship by defeating the Tri-Cities Fever (Intense Conference) by a score of 37-10.

2012 season

Main article: 2012 Indoor Football League season

For the 2012 season, the IFL switched to a two-conference format with no divisions,[1] due in large part to the loss of all the Texas-based teams (except the Allen Wranglers) to the newly formed Lone Star Football League. The Wranglers brought attention to the league for offering a US$500,000 contract to unemployed wide receiver Terrell Owens to become the team's part-owner and wide receiver. Owens accepted the contract. ESPN3 carried Owens's debut game against the Wichita Wild. The front office of the league saw changes as well, as Commissioner Tommy Benizio resigned.[2] The league appointed assistant commissioner, Robert Loving, as the interim Commissioner.[2]

2013 season

Main article: 2013 Indoor Football League season

On October 12, 2012, the Bloomington Edge announced that the team had been sold to the owners of the Bloomington Blaze hockey franchise and would relocate to the new Champions Professional Indoor Football League for the 2013 season.[3] On January 21, 2013, the league announced that the owner of the Cheyenne Warriors died and that the team would not be entering the league this season as planned.

2014 season

Main article: 2014 Indoor Football League season

The league added the Minnesota-based Bemidji Axemen to expand to 10 teams but the Chicago Slaughter were sold and changed leagues, returning the IFL to nine teams for the 2014 season. In February 2014, the league announced that it would return to Montana in 2015 with the new Billings Wolves franchise.[4]

2015 season

Main article: 2015 Indoor Football League season

On July 27, 2014, Iowa Barnstormers president Jeff Lamberti hinted at joining the league by telling a local TV station that the franchise will explore "all options" in the off-season of their continuance to play, including leaving the Arena Football League and going to the IFL for 2015.[5] They joined the IFL in August 2014, becoming the fourth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since the Texas Revolution (formerly the Arkansas Twisters), the Tri-Cities Fever and the Green Bay Blizzard. (The Revolution have since left the IFL for Champions Indoor Football.)

2016 season

Main article: 2016 Indoor Football League season

This was the first season the IFL utilized roster restrictions which call for all teams to carry no more than seven players with three or more years' experience in Indoor/Arena football.[6] For the second consecutive season, an AFL team was strongly rumored to join the IFL, as Spokane Shock owner Nader Naini said on August 10, 2015 that he was considering all options for the team.[7] On September 1, the Shock officially joined the IFL, becoming the fifth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since the aforementioned Barnstormers, Fever, Blizzard and Revolution.[8] The Shock, however, would have to enter the IFL under a new identity as the Arena League announced on October 12 that they would retain the rights to the Shock logos and name, possibly for future use by another franchise in the state of Washington.[9] The team subsequently held a name-the-team contest, which resulted in their new identity as the Spokane Empire.[10][11]

On September 9, the Minnesota Havok (based in Mankato) were announced as an IFL team.[12] However, on January 29, just four weeks before the 2016 season was to kick off, the Havok were terminated by the league for failing to meet operational standards.[13]

On November 25, the Minnesota Axemen folded due to the team "Not fulfilling their commitments to the league."[14] Commissioner Mike Allshouse called the move a proactive one to prevent the team having to fold mid-season.[15]

2017 season

Main article: 2017 Indoor Football League season

On June 30, 2016, the IFL announced that the Tri-Cities Fever franchise would be dormant, but in good standing with the IFL, for the 2017 season.[16]

Project FANchise, a group aiming to create a professional sports team where fans help run the day-to-day operations, announced they would operate a new team, the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles in Salt Lake City. A fan vote determined the team's name and logo, and select fans will have access to player personnel decisions and in-game play calling. Project FANchise also bought the Colorado Crush in October and began operating the team in the same manner.

During the 2016 season, the Billings Wolves' website was hacked, was never completely fixed, and was non-operational for months. Several former staff members claimed that the team had folded after the completion of the season. On October 24, 2016, the Wolves announced they had left the IFL because of state regulations and failing to find new ownership for the team.[17]

On October 17, 2016, the IFL announced it had added the Arizona Rattlers, previously of the Arena Football League, for the 2017 season.[18] The Rattlers are the third team in three consecutive seasons to leave the AFL for the IFL. The league rejected the bid of another former AFL franchise, the Jacksonville Sharks, who are located outside the IFL's regional territory. They subsequently announced their charter membership in an entirely new league, the National Arena League[19]

2018 season

Main article: 2018 Indoor Football League season

After the 2017 season came to a close, the website for the Colorado Crush was shut down with no formal announcement on the franchise's future. Project FANchise, who also ran the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles, had announced they would start their own league and left the IFL, with both teams going up for sale.[20] On July 12, 2017, the Spokane Empire announced that they would be suspending operations effective immediately.[21]

On July 25, 2017, the IFL announced that only the Arizona Rattlers, Cedar Rapids Titans, Green Bay Blizzard, Iowa Barnstormers, and Nebraska Danger had committed to play for 2018.[22] However, both expansion clubs and current member clubs have until September 1 to commit to the 2018 season.[23] On August 30, the Sioux Falls Storm announced that they had joined Champions Indoor Football for 2018 after winning six consecutive championships from 2011 to 2016. The Storm was shortly followed by the Wichita Falls Nighthawks.

The IFL then added the Bloomington Edge and West Michigan Ironmen from the CIF on September 12.[24] The CIF apparently then attempted to sue the IFL, Edge, and Ironmen for leaving the CIF after the two teams had already signed league affiliation agreements with the CIF for 2018. The IFL then threatened to sue the CIF, Storm, and Nighthawks in return despite neither former IFL team signing an affiliation agreement with the IFL for 2018.[25] The CIF then retracted their lawsuit with the IFL but also removed the Storm and Nighthawks from their 2018 schedule.[26] After the IFL meetings in October 2017, the Storm returned to the IFL[27] but the Nighthawks had to suspend operations.[28]

Teams

Current

Team Location Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head Coach
Arizona Rattlers Phoenix, Arizona Talking Stick Resort Arena 15,505 1992 2017 Kevin Guy
Bloomington Edge Bloomington, Illinois Grossinger Motors Arena 7,000 2006 2018[a] Nick Ruud
Cedar Rapids Titans Cedar Rapids, Iowa U.S. Cellular Center 5,700 2012 2012 Marvin McNutt
Green Bay Blizzard Green Bay, Wisconsin Resch Center 8,600 2003 2010 Chris Williams
Iowa Barnstormers Des Moines, Iowa Wells Fargo Arena 15,181 1995 2015 Dixie Wooten
Nebraska Danger Grand Island, Nebraska Eihusen Arena 6,000 2011 2011 Mark Stoute
Sioux Falls Storm Sioux Falls, South Dakota Denny Sanford Premier Center 10,678 2000 2009 Kurtiss Riggs
West Michigan Ironmen Muskegon, Michigan L. C. Walker Arena 5,100 2015 2018 Tyrese Lynk
  1. ^ The Edge originally joined the IFL in 2009 before leaving in 2012 and rejoined for the 2018 season

Map of teams

class=notpageimage|
Current IFL team locations (Current teams in blue; expansion teams in red)

Former

Left for another league

Folded

Failed expansions

  • Binghamton – Owner suspended the 2012 season and never returned.[citation needed]
  • CenTex Barracudas – Originally announced as a 2009 IFL member but then was not included in 2009 alignment.
  • Cheyenne Warriors – Owner died shortly before 2013 season began and team suspended IFL operations prior to first season They played a few games in the DIFL, and shutdown entirely in May 2013.[42][43][44]
  • Everett Destroyers – Originally announced as a 2009 IFL member but then was not included in 2009 alignment.
  • Frisco Thunder – Originally announced as 2009 IFL member but then announced they would take season off while Dr Pepper Arena was being renovated and never returned.
  • Minnesota Havok – Announced for 2016 season but were terminated by the league one month prior to the season for failure to reach minimum operational standards.

Timeline

West Michigan IronmenSalt Lake Screaming EaglesArizona RattlersSpokane EmpireWichita Falls NighthawksIowa BarnstormersBillings WolvesMinnesota AxemenNew Mexico StarsCedar Rapids TitansWyoming CavalryWenatchee Valley VenomReading ExpressNebraska DangerLehigh Valley SteelhawksBricktown BrawlersArizona AdrenalineTri-Cities FeverRichmond RevolutionLa Crosse SpartansGreen Bay BlizzardChicago SlaughterAustin TurfcatsTexas Revolution (indoor football)Everett RaptorsAmarillo VenomWichita WildWest Michigan ThunderHawksSioux Falls StormSioux City BanditsSan Angelo Stampede ExpressSaginaw StingRochester RaidersRiverCity RageOmaha BeefWest Texas RoughnecksMaryland ManiacsFairbanks GrizzliesEl Paso GeneralsCorpus Christi HammerheadsColorado Crush (IFL)Bloomington EdgeBillings OutlawsAbilene Ruff RidersAlaska Wild

United Bowl Championship

Main article: United Bowl (IFL)

The United Bowl is the IFL's championship game. It has been played every year since 2009. The current United Bowl Champions are the Arizona Rattlers, who won their first United Bowl championship in 2017. The Sioux Falls Storm won six straight United Bowls from 2011 to 2016.

The IFL continues to use the "United Bowl" name originally used by United Indoor Football. The UIF used this name before they merged with Intense Football League to form the Indoor Football League. The UIF held United Bowl I, II, III, and IV in 2005 through 2008, with all four being won by the Sioux Falls Storm. Although the name "National Indoor Bowl Championship" was used for the 2008 contest between the UIF and the Intense Football League, the "United Bowl" name continues to be used for the combined league's championship instead.

Hall of Fame

The Indoor Football League Hall of Fame was established in 2014. The inaugural 2014 class of inductees included quarterback Terrance Bryant, radio sportscaster Rich Roste and former IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio. The 2015 class included quarterback Chris Dixon, running back LaRon Council and defensive back/kick returner B.J. Hill. The 2016 class included linebacker Mark Blackburn, defensive back Lionell Singleton and Colorado Ice/Crush owner Tom Wigley. The 2017 class included wide receiver James Terry, head coach Robert Fuller and defensive lineman Cory Johnsen.[45]

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ a b "IFL Elects Commissioner". www.keloland.com. KELO-TV. September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  3. ^ Deacon, Joe (October 12, 2012). "Bloomington Edge sold to Blaze owner, changing to new league". Bloomington Pantagraph. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  4. ^ Zimmer, Mike (February 19, 2014). "Billings Wolves to bring indoor football back to Billings in 2015". Billings Gazette. Billings, Montana. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  5. ^ Barnstormers May Leave AFL, Join Different League, John Sears, WHO-TV website, July 27, 2104
  6. ^ New IFL roster regulations coming in 2016, Mike Leischner, KWSN website, June 17, 2105
  7. ^ Shock weighing options for future league affiliation The Spokesman-Review, August 10, 2015
  8. ^ "IFL Announces Addition of Spokane Shock". Indoor Football League. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  9. ^ http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/101215aag.html
  10. ^ http://spokanefootball.com/news/?article_id=1680
  11. ^ http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20151209rw47ga
  12. ^ "Minnesota Havok Join IFL". Indoor Football League. September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  13. ^ [1]
  14. ^ IFL Issues Statement on Minnesota Axemen, IFL website, November 25, 2015
  15. ^ [2], by Mike Leischner, KWSN Website, December 3, 2015
  16. ^ "IFL Issues Statement on Tri-Cities Fever". OurSports Central. June 30, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "Billings Wolves suspend operations; team could return in 2018". MontanaSports.com. October 24, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "IFL Announces Addition of Arizona Rattlers". IFL. October 17, 2016.
  19. ^ http://jacksonville.com/sports/2016-10-18/jacksonville-sharks-create-new-league
  20. ^ "WEEKLY SPORTS LEAGUE & FRANCHISE REPORT". OurSportsCentral. April 24, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  21. ^ "Spokane Empire to cease operations and will not play football in 2018". KHQ-TV. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  22. ^ "IFL Plans for 2018 Season". IFL. July 25, 2017.
  23. ^ "Riggs: Storm will take time before committing to IFL for '18". KSWSN. July 25, 2017.
  24. ^ "IFL Announces Addition of Bloomington & West Michigan". IFL. September 12, 2017.
  25. ^ "Tryon addresses legal aspect of switching leagues". KWSN. October 5, 2017.
  26. ^ "CIF Commissioner Issues State of the League Address". Salina Scoop. October 4, 2017.
  27. ^ "LETTER FROM TODD TRYON". Sioux Falls Storm. October 4, 2017.
  28. ^ "Nighthawks suspend operations for 2018". KAUZ-TV. October 16, 2017.
  29. ^ a b LSFL Welcomes West Texas and Amarillo
  30. ^ Sandalow, Brian (July 27, 2010). "Board approves return of indoor football, signing imminent". The Monitor. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ Swashbucklers Leave IFL for new SIFL
  32. ^ Saginaw Sting Named 6th And Final Team For UIFL, 2011 Season Now Set For Kick-Off Archived November 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ Sioux City Bandits will leave IFL
  34. ^ IFL Takes Necessarry Action In Anchorage
  35. ^ Outlaws get forfeit win
  36. ^ a b c d e f 2011 IFL Schedule Announced Archived December 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. ^ Early in the game, SportsQuest is falling behind
  39. ^ Owner shuts down IFL's River City
  40. ^ Tucson Thunderkats suspend operations Archived January 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ Venom to sit out 2012 season
  42. ^ "IFL Announces Revised 2013 Schedule". Indoor Football League. January 21, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ Nowlin, Jack (June 1, 2013). "Do Cavs have a future in Casper?". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  44. ^ Riley, Alex (June 1, 2013). "Cheyenne Warriors have ceased operations". Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  45. ^ "HALL OF FAME". goifl.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indoor Football League.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indoor_Football_League&oldid=805702000"