San Jose SaberCats plan return to Arena Football League

Wednesday June 16, 2010

Former Champions Slated For 2011 Return

SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 16, 2010) – Following a two-year absence, the San Jose SaberCats are poised to regain their status as a premiere franchise in the Arena Football League with a return to the field in time for the 2011 season.

The announcement was made by the club’s ownership group, which consists of Fry’s Electronics Executive Vice President Kathryn J. Kolder and brothers John, Dave and Randy Fry.

Darren Arbet will assume a greater role in the direction of the franchise as part of the club’s ownership group.

“We are ecstatic to finally make this official,” Arbet said. “The landscape of the new AFL has changed dramatically from what we were used to. Things will be different but we intend to bring our loyal fans the same brand of quality football they have come to expect from the SaberCats organization.”

A model franchise in the AFL from 1995 to 2008, the SaberCats made four Championship game appearances capturing three ArenaBowl titles, won eight division crowns and qualified for the playoffs 12 times in their 14 years of existence, including the final nine seasons. The team owned the best record in the AFL from 2000 to 2008.

“We couldn’t be happier to have a mainstay franchise like the San Jose SaberCats back in the AFL,” said League Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz. “When I think of the Arena Football League, I think SaberCats.”

The league cancelled its 2009 campaign, ending a 22-year run. The new version of the AFL launched in April 2010 with games televised nationally on NFL Network every Friday night at 5 p.m. (PT). Arbet and Dave Fry are scheduled to appear at halftime of Friday’s Jacksonville at Orlando NFL Network game to discuss specifics of the SaberCats entry into the League.

The current AFL consists of 15 teams, including: Arizona Rattlers, Alabama Vipers, Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings, Cleveland Gladiators, Chicago Rush, Dallas Vigilantes, Iowa Barnstormers, Jacksonville Sharks, Milwaukee Iron, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, Orlando Predators, Spokane Shock, Tampa Bay Storm, Tulsa Talons and Utah Blaze.