AFL, Chicago Rush will suspend 2009 season

The Chicago Rush said they might be gone for now but that they definitely will return.

Rush president Mike Polisky on Monday said he fully expects his team to take the field again in 2010 but added numerous changes are needed in the front office to make the Arena Football League viable economically before the players can again strap on the pads.

"The entire economic model of the AFL needs to be changed," he said during a news conference Monday at Rush team headquarters in Des Plaines. "It's important for all the teams to work as a unified force to make those changes to help the league grow."

The Rush and the AFL, which operates out of the Allstate Arena, voted late Sunday to suspend operations for the 2009 season, the league's 22nd season.

Polisky said, during the year off, the league will meet regularly to come up with a plan to ensure each team can make money while also keeping prices down for fans.

He said 2009 season-ticket holders would receive a full refund and would be the first contacted to return in 2010. He added the Rush averages about 15,800 for each home game.

"We have some of the best and most loyal fans in the league," Polisky added. "I'm sure our fans are very disappointed, but we have to support the suspension of play."

Polisky said the Rush was not having trouble financially but said other organizations in the 16-team league were having a hard time making enough money to break even.

He said that with the recession and problems with the nation's credit business the timing was right for the league to take a year off to restructure. It remains unclear what will happen to the players under contract and the league employees in the coming year.

"We are currently finalizing plans on the rest of those issues," Polisky said. "But as far as we are concerned we will be up and ready to play in 2010."

The AFL has been in limbo for weeks. The league had delayed indefinitely the start of free agency, the release of next season's schedule and a dispersal draft to award players from the defunct New Orleans Voodoo.

In addition, the league has not selected a permanent replacement for longtime commissioner David Baker, who resigned two days before ArenaBowl in July. Polisky said the loss of the commissioner has nothing to do with the league suspending play.

The Rush was formed in the summer of 1999 when former Chicago Bear and NFL Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, along with businessmen Arthur Price, Alan Levin and Peter Levin, acquired the rights to an AFL franchise in Chicago. The team began play in the spring of 2001.

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka came in as an owner in 2004, and the Rush won the title in 2006.

Ownership in other teams include Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, singer Jon Bon Jovi and NFL Hall of Famer John Elway.

In response to the suspension of play, the Chicago Slaughter Pro Indoor Football team coached by former Bear Steve McMichael announced Monday it is issuing a 10 percent discount to all Rush fans purchasing season tickets for their league.

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