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If Arena Football had 32 teams like the NFL

11/26/2021

4 Comments

 
Picture
Disgruntled fans and internet trolls have united in a breathtaking grumble fest.  When it comes to my favorite sport, the glory, glamour, and glitz of it all is quickly overshadowed by the incessant groans and nearly constant bellowing of would be fans yelling, "Why are there so many arena leagues!?" 

In fairness, they're not wrong.  Whether some want to play arena rules, and some want to play indoor rules becomes a moot point when the leagues are too small to garner national television attention.  Owners scramble to make enough money to justify continuing to play, in hopes of not folding.  Some owners commit shady fraud: not paying players, leaving them stranded with lodging bills, etc. . ., perhaps because some of these owners thought they had enough money, only to find out their expenses transcended their wisdom.

So why are there so many leagues?  Why can't league commissioners and owners get along enough to merge into a giant arena league, that captures the attention of national television studios--and fills in the gap of springless football?  It wouldn't be fair of a naive, clueless fan like myself, to speculate why commissioners and owners do what they do.  Until I know, I'll assume they do the best they can.  Still, from the standpoint of the fan, I can't help but think all the owners of these teams would benefit financially from a national television deal.  It would mean profit and sustainability for them.  It would mean more money for players, coaches, staff, and perhaps a lot more hype!  From many fans, there may be a resounding call to "put your differences aside."   However, the fact is there are many leagues playing in 2022.  

If Arena Football united in a single league with 32 teams, like the NFL, they wouldn't compete with the juggernaut league that is 102 years old, but they would achieve a relevance that would not be overshadowed by the attempts of the XFL and USFL--to give the masses some smash-mouth spring football.  The image above shows what the league would look like if the Indoor Football League (16 teams), Champions Indoor Football (9 teams), and the National Arena League (7 teams) merged.  With that much national attention and competition, it's hard to imagine arenas NOT being sold out weekly.  

But alas, the fact is we're not there yet.  In addition to the above leagues, we have the AAL, AIFA, PAFL, the AWFC, and a Texas only league that does professional arena football.  Trying to keep up with all of these is akin to enduring a whiplash inducing roller-coaster.  Some fans, if they could speak to the owners and commissioners of these various leagues, might be saying, "whatever your differences are, please set them aside for the betterment and progress of the game itself."  Chances are, their bottom lines could all increase.  But then again, I'm naive and clueless.  The game still rocks my socks off!

by Ducon Williams
4 Comments
MICHAEL J. HILLIARD
11/27/2021 03:25:54 pm

With every new season and new expansion team I keep on thinking that we are a season or two from leagues merging. And I would like to see that.

But also season after season is a story or two about shadiness going on. So I don't want it to happen. Don't want some shady owner or league soiling the IFL.

32 teams like the NFL or teams like MLB? One conference has arena rules while the other one has indoor rules? Do you call it the Arena Football League with arena rules or with indoor rules? There are options and possibilities.

I would rather see stable teams, owners and leagues before an uber league. Just for the reputation of the sport as a whole. Can't move forward if that doesn't happen.

As for options what about the midwest teams of the IFL & CIF patching things up and merging? What about the western teams of the IFL merging with the AWFC?

IF there is one thing I know about the sport as a whole is that it's always in flux and something is always going on. So who knows what will happen?

Reply
Ducon Williams
11/29/2021 12:11:11 pm

I'd have to agree with you on all of what you said, Michael. You know your stuff.

If you'd look at the history of how the NFL was it's first 14 years (IFL entering it's 14th) you'd see a similar story. The point is, discovering shady owners is just part of the vetting process. You don't know who's going to do what until you partner with them and find out if you can trust them going forward.

Great suggestions, man! I'm excited to see what the future holds.

Reply
MICHAEL J. HILLIARD
11/29/2021 12:29:55 pm

Thanks.

I wouldn't say I know my stuff. As I keep on saying, I just like to follow the sport as a whole. Then once in a while refresh the memory banks with tales and teams of the past.

I've said and think it's not as easy as it seems to own and run a team let alone a league.

One thing I was wanting to say. There are NOT to many teams. Only when a map like yours is done such notion is created.

The country is big enough to have more than one league.

Expansion talk is all fine, fun and interesting but at times it does more harm than good. Plus it has to make sense.

Example: The only way a North Carolina would make sense and fit in a league like the IFL is if there were teams in between.

That's where opportunities come in. A chance for a regional league. Let those east coast team and leagues form and fill out.

That's assuming said leagues and teams have stood the test of time and integrity. Once that happens THEN let's talk league merger or collaborations.

Ducon Williams
12/6/2021 01:07:07 pm

Word! Solid plan. I dig the approach!

Reply



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