Portland Thunder |
Thunder's AFL future up in the air
Portland Tribune The two-year run of the city's most recent Arena Football League franchise could be over because of financial difficulties -- perhaps with the league more than the team. "We have not re-signed our commitment for 2016 yet," Thunder owner Terry Emmert says. Football Investors Take on Rocker Vince NeilCourthouse News Service Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil helped defrauded investors in the ill-fated Las Vegas Outlaws Arena Football League franchise, which folded in August, an investment group claims in court. All-in playoff fiscally responsible, competitively irresponsibleAdam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com So you're saying there's a chance… Let's remember that the dearly departed San Jose SaberCats were beaten one time and one time only in the 2015 regular season. That loss came to the then 1-9 LA KISS at home at the SAP Center. That LA team finished out the regular season at 4-14. Arena Football League announces 2016 scheduleAFL Press Release The 29th Arena Football League season is set to kick off on Friday, April 1, as the 2016 AFL schedule was officially released today. Thunder Acquire Tryout Participant Joshua Stangby Portland Thunder Press Release The Portland Thunder have been assigned wide receiver Joshua Stangby, head coach Andy Olson announced on Thursday afternoon. Quirky 2016 schedule sets Rattlers up for ArenaBowl runAdam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com Trust me. I've already done plenty of bellyaching about the 2016 playoff format the AFL put in place on Thursday. Theoretically, the AFL should be a more competitively balanced league this year. We've removed teams from both the top (San Jose) and the bottom of the league (Las Vegas, New Orleans and Spokane), and what should be left is a bunch of teams who should all finish between 4-12 and 12-4. AFL Schedule to be Announced Next WeekAFL Press Release The Arena Football League announces that eight teams will play in 2016 and the schedule will be officially released next week. New Era inks deal to become Official Sideline Cap of the AFLAFL Press Release New Era, the popular international lifestyle brand best known for its partnerships with Major League Baseball and the National Football League, has signed on to become the Official Sideline Cap for the Arena Football League (AFL). The AFL announced the partnership today. AFL schedule to be released soon, SaberCats likely out Adam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com And then there were eight. The San Jose SaberCats floated around without an owner for a month or so, but they won't be continuing in the Arena Football League or playing in a lower level of indoor football next season. Thunder Add All-Arena QB Shane AustinPortland Thunder Press Release The Portland Thunder are pleased to announce the acquisition of veteran quarterback Shane Austin, with head coach Andy Olson announcing the assignment of the 2014 All-Arena signal caller this afternoon. Butera takes big gamble, could hit jackpot with AFLAdam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com For months and months, all the Arena Football League had was nightmare after nightmare. Las Vegas. New Orleans. Spokane. San Jose. No expansion teams. Rumors of cheating. But the vision was always clear to Scott Butera. He saw sponsors. He saw television deals. He saw new teams. He saw a new country. He saw it all. And now we see it, too. And it's awesome. Butera: 2015 a year of repositioning and reorganizing; Exciting expansion opportunities for '17Adam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com ArenaFan's Adam Markowitz had the opportunity to sit down and speak with Arena Football League Commissioner Scott Butera. The following interview took place on 11/18/15. Three new US teams, three new Mexican teams to join AFL in 2017 Adam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com On Friday night, bombshells swept across the Arena Football League in the form of major announcements made by Craig Spencer of the Philadelphia Soul. Thunder Acquire OL Deveric GallingtonPortland Thunder Press Release The Portland Thunder are pleased to announce the assignment of veteran offensive lineman Deveric Gallington. AFL sets Training Camp schedule for 2016AFL Press Release The Arena Football League announced today that training camps for the 2016 season have been scheduled to begin mid-February. The season will open in early March with the official schedule to be released shortly. Despite having just eight teams, AFL confident in its long-term sustainabilityFlorida Times-Union The AFL lost another team last week, but commissioner Scott Butera and Jacksonville Sharks owner Jeff Bouchy insist it was a positive move for the long-term sustainability of the league. JLB Bryce Peila returns to ThunderPortland Thunder Press Release The Portland Thunder are pleased to welcome back Bryce Peila, with head coach Andy Olson announcing the assignment of the third year jack-linebacker earlier this morning. San Jose exit unfortunate, but future plan is coming together for AFLAdam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com I'm not in San Jose, so maybe this is easy for me to say as a fan of the Arena Football League who lives some 3,000 miles away from the SAP Center. But the news of the exit of John and David Fry from the AFL was not only a necessity, but it was actually a net positive in the long run for those of us who are more fans of the game and the sport of arena football rather than fans of individual teams. AFL issues statement on San Jose SaberCatsAFL Press Release Arena Football League Commissioner Scott Butera announced today that, for reasons unrelated to League operations, the owners of the San Jose SaberCats have notified him that they will no longer continue as members of the AFL. Thunder Acquire OL Mark JacksonPortland Thunder Press Release The Portland Thunder continued to add to their 2016 roster on Wednesday, with head coach Andy Olson announcing the assignment of free agent offensive lineman Mark Jackson. |
|