With kickoff closing in, Arena Football already eyes expansion
The Chicago Rush will be the most-televised team in the new Arena Football League in 2010, with six of the team's 16 games featured as part of the league's national television package with the NFL Network, the AFL announced today.
And the reborn league already has plans for expansion less than a year after it ceased operations.
The new AFL is looking to expand into the Philadelphia, Southern California, Denver and Pittsburgh markets. In the meantime, the 15-team league will play a 16-game schedule over 18 weeks starting with the weekend of April 2-4 and concluding with the Arena Bowl in August.
Commissioner Jerry Kurz said on a conference call Wednesday that the league has had serious negotiations to place teams in those markets beginning with the 2011 season.
Kurz says a new group of owners spent $6.1 million for the assets of the defunct Arena Football League, including the name, history and records. It will relaunch in April with 15 teams - including a handful from the former AFL and others from what used to be known as arenafootball2.
As part of the new TV deal with the NFL Network, the dates of three of Chicago's games were changed:
• The season opener at Iowa has been moved from Saturday, April 3, to Friday, April 2.
• The home opener vs. Cleveland has been moved from Sunday, April 11, to Friday, April 9.
• The team's Friday, April 23, game against Utah has been moved to Sunday, April 25.
All three games now will kick off at 7 p.m. central. In addition, the times of two games - June 4 vs. Jacksonville and July 23 at Spokane - were moved to 7 p.m. central as well.
Additionally, road games at Arizona and at Dallas were pushed from Friday night games to Saturday, April 17, and Saturday, May 22, respectively.
"We are thrilled about the partnership with the NFL Network," said Ken Valdiserri, Rush president/general manager. "I know Rush fans will appreciate the ability to follow their team, beginning with the 2010 season opener in Iowa."
Rush coach Mike Hohensee is back with the team, along with former ownership partner Mike Ditka.
"This was too good of an opportunity for me to pass up," Ditka said. "I have the utmost respect for the players. They are playing for the pure love of the game."
As part of the new agreement, the NFL Network will televise a Game of the Week each Friday night during the AFL season along with the playoffs and ArenaBowl. The lone exception will be the weekend of the NFL Draft (April 22-24), when the network's AFL broadcast will air on Sunday, April 25 from Allstate Arena, the home of the Rush.
The Rush, however, will face other competition from rival leagues in the Chicago market. The Chicago Slaughter opens its season later this month as a member of the Indoor Football League with its games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. The Continential Indoor Football League will field a new team, the Chicago Cardinals, and play this spring at the Odeum in Villa Park.