Arena Football League expected to close its doors
The Arena Football League, after closing down in 2009 to reorganize, is on the verge of closing for good and declaring bankruptcy, according to several media reports.
The Chicago Rush, which regularly drew about 15,000 fans to games at Allstate Arena, would cease operations along with the other 14 AFL franchises. The Los Angeles Avengers shut down last April, and the New Orleans VooDoo folded in October 2008, two months before the league suspended its 2009 season.
Internet outlets for Newsday, the Columbus Dispatch, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Orlando Sentinel all report the demise could come in the next day or two, with bankruptcy action by the end of the week. One report said a majority of AFL owners reached the conclusion to cease operations at a meeting on Monday. While some of the reports quoted anonymous sources, no AFL officials were quoted in any of the reports.
Over the weekend, however, a former chief operation officer for the Tampa Bay Storm, Jim Borghesi, reportedly wrote on facebook that the end was near.
At least one report said that although the league would shut down indefinitely, it remains possible that some owners could decide to start a new league.
Joe Aguilar of the Daily Herald will have more on the AFL and the Chicago Rush later today.