Indoor Football League

Indoor Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2018 Indoor Football League season
Indoor Football League logo
Sport Indoor football
Founded 2008
Founder Paul Aaron
Dan Blum
Inaugural season 2009
CEO Michael Allshouse
No. of teams 9 (+1 on hiatus)
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)		 Iowa Barnstormers (1st title)
Most titles Sioux Falls Storm (6)
Official website goifl.com

The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. The league is the second highest tier in indoor/arena football behind the Arena Football League (AFL), and has operated continuously under the same name and corporate structure longer than any other current indoor football league, considering that the AFL's 2009 season was cancelled and the original league filed for bankruptcy that year. IFL players earn a minimum of US$200 per game played (before taxes). The season is typically about 14 games long, plus playoffs of two or more rounds.

History

Formation

The league was formed as a merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football, announced the day before the 2008 National Indoor Bowl Championship, a game which pitted the champions of the two leagues against each other. The Sioux Falls Storm (United) defeated the Louisiana Swashbucklers (Intense) 54–42.

2009 season

Of the 17 teams involved in the two previous leagues, 14 carried over to the new organization's 2009 season. An additional three teams came over from the CIFL and two expansion teams began their life in the new IFL. In the United Bowl, the Billings Outlaws (Intense Conference) took the league championship by defeating the RiverCity Rage (United Conference) by a score of 71–62.

2010 season

After losing two teams to attrition after the end of the 2009 season, and a third in January 2010, the IFL then added another nine franchises to boost its membership to 25 for the 2010 season. Three of the new teams were expansion franchises. Two moved over from the Southern Indoor Football League and Continental Indoor Football League. After playing nine games of the 2010 season the Alaska Wild suspended operations, leaving only 24 teams to finish the year. In the United Bowl, the Billings Outlaws (Intense Conference) took the league championship by defeating the Sioux Falls Storm (United Conference) by a score of 43–34.

2011 season

Seven new teams were added to the IFL for the 2011 season. Some of these were new expansion teams, and others moved to the IFL from the AIFA. The IFL also lost nine teams during the offseason, bringing the total number to twenty-two for 2011. In the United Bowl, the Sioux Falls Storm (United Conference) took the league championship by defeating the Tri-Cities Fever (Intense Conference) by a score of 37-10.

2012 season

For the 2012 season, the IFL switched to a two-conference format with no divisions,[1] due in large part to the loss of all the Texas-based teams (except the Allen Wranglers) to the newly formed Lone Star Football League. The Wranglers brought attention to the league for offering a $500,000 contract to unemployed wide receiver Terrell Owens to become the team's part-owner and wide receiver. Owens accepted the contract. ESPN3 carried Owens's debut game against the Wichita Wild. The front office of the league saw changes as well, as Commissioner Tommy Benizio resigned.[2] The league appointed assistant commissioner, Robert Loving, as the interim Commissioner.[2]

2013 season

On October 12, 2012, the Bloomington Edge announced that the team had been sold to the owners of the Bloomington Blaze hockey franchise and would relocate to the new Champions Professional Indoor Football League for the 2013 season.[3] On January 21, 2013, the league announced that the owner of the Cheyenne Warriors died and that the team would not be entering the league this season as planned.

2014 season

The league added the Minnesota-based Bemidji Axemen to expand to 10 teams but the Chicago Slaughter were sold and changed leagues, returning the IFL to nine teams for the 2014 season. In February 2014, the league announced that it would return to Montana in 2015 with the new Billings Wolves franchise.[4]

2015 season

On July 27, 2014, Iowa Barnstormers president Jeff Lamberti hinted at joining the league by telling a local TV station that the franchise will explore "all options" in the off-season of their continuance to play, including leaving the Arena Football League and going to the IFL for 2015.[5] They joined the IFL in August 2014, becoming the fourth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since the Texas Revolution (formerly the Arkansas Twisters), the Tri-Cities Fever and the Green Bay Blizzard. (The Revolution have since left the IFL for Champions Indoor Football.)

2016 season

This was the first season the IFL utilized roster restrictions which call for all teams to carry no more than seven players with three or more years' experience in Indoor/Arena football.[6] For the second consecutive season, an AFL team was strongly rumored to join the IFL, as Spokane Shock owner Nader Naini said on August 10, 2015 that he was considering all options for the team.[7] On September 1, the Shock officially joined the IFL, becoming the fifth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since the aforementioned Barnstormers, Fever, Blizzard and Revolution.[8] The Shock, however, would have to enter the IFL under a new identity as the Arena League announced on October 12 that they would retain the rights to the Shock logos and name, possibly for future use by another franchise in the state of Washington.[9] The team subsequently held a name-the-team contest, which resulted in their new identity as the Spokane Empire.[10][11]

On September 9, the Minnesota Havok (based in Mankato) were announced as an IFL team.[12] However, on January 29, just four weeks before the 2016 season was to kick off, the Havok were terminated by the league for failing to meet operational standards.[13]

On November 25, the Minnesota Axemen folded due to the team "Not fulfilling their commitments to the league."[14] Commissioner Mike Allshouse called the move a proactive one to prevent the team having to fold mid-season.[15]

2017 season

On June 30, 2016, the IFL announced that the Tri-Cities Fever franchise would be dormant, but in good standing with the IFL, for the 2017 season.[16]

Project FANchise, a group aiming to create a professional sports team where fans help run the day-to-day operations, announced they would operate a new team, the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles in Salt Lake City. A fan vote determined the team's name and logo, and select fans will have access to player personnel decisions and in-game play calling. Project FANchise also bought the Colorado Crush in October and began operating the team in the same manner.

During the 2016 season, the Billings Wolves' website was hacked, was never completely fixed, and was non-operational for months. Several former staff members claimed that the team had folded after the completion of the season. On October 24, 2016, the Wolves announced they had left the IFL because of state regulations and failing to find new ownership for the team.[17]

On October 17, 2016, the IFL announced it had added the Arizona Rattlers, previously of the Arena Football League, for the 2017 season.[18] The Rattlers are the third team in three consecutive seasons to leave the AFL for the IFL. The league rejected the bid of another former AFL franchise, the Jacksonville Sharks, who are located outside the IFL's regional territory. They subsequently announced their charter membership in an entirely new league, the National Arena League[19]

2018 season

After the 2017 season came to a close, the website for the Colorado Crush was shut down with no formal announcement on the franchise's future. Project FANchise, who also ran the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles, had announced they would start their own league and left the IFL, with both teams going up for sale.[20] On July 12, 2017, the Spokane Empire announced that they would be suspending operations effective immediately.[21]

On July 25, 2017, the IFL announced that only the Arizona Rattlers, Cedar Rapids Titans, Green Bay Blizzard, Iowa Barnstormers, and Nebraska Danger had committed to play for 2018.[22] However, expansion clubs and current member clubs had until September 1 to commit to the 2018 season.[23] On August 30, the Sioux Falls Storm announced that they had joined Champions Indoor Football for 2018 after winning six consecutive championships from 2011 to 2016. The Storm was shortly followed by the Wichita Falls Nighthawks.

The IFL then added the Bloomington Edge and West Michigan Ironmen from the CIF on September 12.[24] The CIF apparently then attempted to sue the IFL, Edge, and Ironmen for leaving the CIF after the two teams had already signed league affiliation agreements with the CIF for 2018. The IFL then threatened to sue the CIF, Storm, and Nighthawks in return despite neither former IFL team signing an affiliation agreement with the IFL for 2018.[25] The CIF then retracted their lawsuit with the IFL but also removed the Storm and Nighthawks from their 2018 schedule.[26] After the IFL meetings in October 2017, the Storm returned to the IFL[27] but the Nighthawks had to suspend operations.[28] While the CIF did drop the lawsuit against the IFL, it filed for an injunction against the Edge and Ironmen teams from participating in the IFL for breaking the terms of their signed affiliation agreements. A temporary injunction from participation in the league was granted on January 31, 2018, with the court ruling determining that both teams had been offered bribes from the owner of the Arizona Rattlers to break their contract with the CIF.[29][30] The schedule was revised in February for the six participating teams stating the Edge and Ironmen were to return in 2019.

2019 season

In August 2018, the IFL announced that the expansion Tucson Sugar Skulls, owned by Rattlers' coach Kevin Guy, were joining the league after being rumored to have joined the CIF. On September 7, the IFL announced that the Quad City Steamwheelers would join the league from the CIF.[31] On October 5, the Bismarck Bucks of the CIF announced their move to the IFL.[32]

Teams

Current

Team Location Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coach
Arizona Rattlers Phoenix, Arizona Talking Stick Resort Arena 15,505 1992 2017 Kevin Guy
Cedar Rapids River Kings Cedar Rapids, Iowa U.S. Cellular Center 5,700 2012 2012 Mark Stoute
Green Bay Blizzard Green Bay, Wisconsin Resch Center 8,600 2003 2010 Corey Roberson
Iowa Barnstormers Des Moines, Iowa Wells Fargo Arena 15,181 1995 2015 Dixie Wooten
Nebraska Danger Grand Island, Nebraska Eihusen Arena 6,000 2011 2011 Pig Brown
Sioux Falls Storm Sioux Falls, South Dakota Denny Sanford Premier Center 10,678 2000 2009 Kurtiss Riggs

Expansion

Team Location Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coach
Bismarck Bucks Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck Event Center 10,100 2017 2019 Rod Miller
Quad City Steamwheelers Moline, Illinois TaxSlayer Center 9,200 2017 2019 Cory Ross
Tucson Sugar SkullsTucson, ArizonaTucson Convention Center8,96220182019Marcus Coleman

On hiatus

The Bloomington Edge and West Michigan Ironmen both signed league affiliation agreements with the CIF for the 2018 season and then left for the IFL. The CIF then filed for a temporary injunction against the teams to keep them from playing the IFL for 2018, which was granted on January 31, 2018.[29] Both teams' participation in the IFL was suspended for the 2018 season, while still considered members,[33] and announced they would play an independent schedule.[34] West Michigan would ultimately be sold to new ownership and rejoin the CIF in 2019.[35]

Team Location Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coach
Bloomington Edge Bloomington, Illinois Grossinger Motors Arena 7,000 2006 2018[lower-alpha 1] John Johnson
  1. ↑ The Edge originally joined the IFL in 2009 before leaving in 2012 and rejoined for the 2018 season

Map of teams

Current IFL team locations (Current teams in blue; non-active IFL members teams in red)

Former

Left for another league

Folded

  • Alaska Wild – Team suspended operations nine games into the 2010 season. The coach and multiple players left to play elsewhere and the team no longer had money to continue the season.[41][42]
  • Arctic Predators – Originally announced as 2010 IFL member, but stalemate between ownership group and head coach led to lease difficulties; IFL franchise moved and became the Kent Predators. (A different team with the name Arctic Predators then became a member of the American Indoor Football Association.)
  • Arizona Adrenaline – Ceased operations before the end of the 2011 season. Some games were played with a replacement team.
  • Austin Turfcats – Was not in IFL for 2011 season.[43]
  • Billings Outlaws – Owner suspended the 2011 season and never returned.[43]
  • Billings Wolves – Owner could not find a buyer for the team after the 2016 season and did not return.
  • Bricktown Brawlers – Ceased operations before the end of the 2011 season. Final games were played with a replacement team.
  • Charlotte Speed – Originally intended to play during the 2013 IFL season but left for the PIFL instead.
  • Chicago Slaughter – Left IFL after 2013 season to join Continental Indoor Football League, but never played in it.
  • Colorado Crush – Website shut down at the conclusion of the 2017 season after their owners, Project FANchise, left the league to start their own league.
  • El Paso Generals – Owners attempted to sell the team and after 2009 season and never returned.
  • Everett Raptors – Team folded after 2012 season.
  • Fairbanks Grizzlies – Owner suspended the 2012 season and never returned.[44]
  • La Crosse Spartans – Owners suspended the team and started the Cedar Rapids Titans. The team failed to find new ownership in 2011 and never returned.
  • Maryland Maniacs – Owner suspended the 2011 season and never returned.[43]
  • Minnesota Axemen – Membership terminated in 2015 by the league due to franchise's failure to meet league obligations.
  • Reading Express – Took 2013 season off and never returned.
  • Richmond Revolution – Owner suspended the 2012 season and never returned.[45]
  • RiverCity Rage – Owner suspended them to focus on the Omaha Beef.[46]
  • Rochester Raiders – Owner suspended the 2011 season and never returned.[43]
  • Salt Lake Screaming Eagles – After Project FANchise left the IFL to start a new league, the Screaming Eagles were never able to secure new ownership.
  • San Angelo Stampede Express – Owner suspended the 2011 season and never returned.[43]
  • Spokane Empire – Owner suspended operations after the 2017 season.
  • Tri-Cities Fever – Team went dormant after the 2016 season with the franchise remaining in good standing with the IFL, but the current ownership has no plans for a return.
  • Tucson Thunder Kats – Team joined the AIFA West before being officially accepted into the IFL but ended up suspending operations in November 2010 due to financial losses instead.[47]
  • West Michigan ThunderHawks – Owner suspended the 2011 season and never returned.[43]
  • Wenatchee Valley Venom – Owner suspended the 2012 season and never returned.[48]
  • Wichita Falls Nighthawks – Left for Champions Indoor Football after the 2017 season but folded due to league disputes.
  • Wyoming Cavalry – Owner ceased operations in September 2014.

Failed expansions

  • Binghamton – Owner suspended the 2012 season and never returned.
  • CenTex Barracudas – Originally announced as a 2009 IFL member but then was not included in 2009 alignment.
  • Cheyenne Warriors – Owner died shortly before 2013 season began and team suspended IFL operations prior to first season They played a few games in the DIFL, and shutdown entirely in May 2013.[49][50][51]
  • Everett Destroyers – Originally announced as a 2009 IFL member but then was not included in 2009 alignment.
  • Frisco Thunder – Originally announced as 2009 IFL member but then announced they would take season off while Dr Pepper Arena was being renovated and never returned.
  • Minnesota Havok – Announced for 2016 season but were terminated by the league one month prior to the season for failure to reach minimum operational standards.

Timeline

Tucson Sugar SkullsQuad City Steamwheelers (2018–)Bismarck BucksSalt Lake Screaming EaglesArizona RattlersSpokane EmpireWichita Falls NighthawksIowa BarnstormersBillings WolvesMinnesota AxemenNew Mexico StarsCedar Rapids River KingsWyoming CavalryWenatchee Valley VenomReading ExpressNebraska DangerLehigh Valley SteelhawksBricktown BrawlersArizona AdrenalineTri-Cities FeverRichmond RevolutionLa Crosse SpartansGreen Bay BlizzardChicago SlaughterAustin TurfcatsTexas Revolution (indoor football)Everett RaptorsAmarillo VenomWichita WildWest Michigan ThunderHawksSioux Falls StormSioux City BanditsSan Angelo Stampede ExpressSaginaw StingRochester RaidersRiverCity RageOmaha BeefWest Texas RoughnecksMaryland ManiacsFairbanks GrizzliesEl Paso GeneralsCorpus Christi HammerheadsColorado Crush (IFL)Bloomington EdgeBillings OutlawsAbilene Ruff RidersAlaska Wild

United Bowl Championship

The United Bowl is the IFL's championship game. It has been played every year since 2009. The current United Bowl Champions are the Iowa Barnstormers, who won their first United Bowl championship in 2018. The Sioux Falls Storm won six straight United Bowls from 2011 to 2016.

The IFL continues to use the "United Bowl" name originally used by United Indoor Football. The UIF used this name before they merged with Intense Football League to form the Indoor Football League. The UIF held United Bowl I, II, III, and IV in 2005 through 2008, with all four being won by the Sioux Falls Storm. Although the name "National Indoor Bowl Championship" was used for the 2008 contest between the UIF and the Intense Football League, the "United Bowl" name continues to be used for the combined league's championship instead.

Hall of Fame

The Indoor Football League Hall of Fame was established in 2014. The inaugural 2014 class of inductees included quarterback Terrance Bryant, radio sportscaster Rich Roste and former IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio. The 2015 class included quarterback Chris Dixon, running back LaRon Council and defensive back/kick returner B.J. Hill. The 2016 class included linebacker Mark Blackburn, defensive back Lionell Singleton and Colorado Ice/Crush owner Tom Wigley. The 2017 class included wide receiver James Terry, head coach Robert Fuller and defensive lineman Cory Johnsen.[52]

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "IFL Elects Commissioner". www.keloland.com. KELO-TV. September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  3. ↑ Deacon, Joe (October 12, 2012). "Bloomington Edge sold to Blaze owner, changing to new league". Bloomington Pantagraph. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ Zimmer, Mike (February 19, 2014). "Billings Wolves to bring indoor football back to Billings in 2015". Billings Gazette. Billings, Montana. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  5. ↑ Barnstormers May Leave AFL, Join Different League, John Sears, WHO-TV website, July 27, 2104
  6. ↑ New IFL roster regulations coming in 2016, Mike Leischner, KWSN website, June 17, 2105
  7. ↑ Shock weighing options for future league affiliation The Spokesman-Review, August 10, 2015
  8. ↑ "IFL Announces Addition of Spokane Shock". Indoor Football League. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/101215aag.html
  10. ↑ http://spokanefootball.com/news/?article_id=1680
  11. ↑ http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20151209rw47ga
  12. ↑ "Minnesota Havok Join IFL". Indoor Football League. September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ IFL Issues Statement on Minnesota Axemen, IFL website, November 25, 2015
  15. ↑ , by Mike Leischner, KWSN Website, December 3, 2015
  16. ↑ "IFL Issues Statement on Tri-Cities Fever". OurSports Central. June 30, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Billings Wolves suspend operations; team could return in 2018". MontanaSports.com. October 24, 2016.
  18. ↑ "IFL Announces Addition of Arizona Rattlers". IFL. October 17, 2016.
  19. ↑ http://jacksonville.com/sports/2016-10-18/jacksonville-sharks-create-new-league
  20. ↑ "WEEKLY SPORTS LEAGUE & FRANCHISE REPORT". OurSportsCentral. April 24, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Spokane Empire to cease operations and will not play football in 2018". KHQ-TV. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  22. ↑ "IFL Plans for 2018 Season". IFL. July 25, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Riggs: Storm will take time before committing to IFL for '18". KSWSN. July 25, 2017.
  24. ↑ "IFL Announces Addition of Bloomington & West Michigan". IFL. September 12, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Tryon addresses legal aspect of switching leagues". KWSN. October 5, 2017.
  26. ↑ "CIF Commissioner Issues State of the League Address". Salina Scoop. October 4, 2017.
  27. ↑ "LETTER FROM TODD TRYON". Sioux Falls Storm. October 4, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Nighthawks suspend operations for 2018". KAUZ-TV. October 16, 2017.
  29. 1 2 "TEMPORARY INJUNCTION BARS RENEGADE TEAMS FROM LEAVING C.P.I.F.L." KSCJ. January 31, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Ironmen will be independent in 2018, due to ruling that leaves them without a league". Local Sports Journal. February 6, 2018.
  31. ↑ "TUCSON INDOOR FOOTBALL OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR THE 2019 SEASON". Tucson IFL team. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  32. ↑ Kosirowski, Ken (October 5, 2018). "Bismarck Bucks moving to IFL, hire new general manager, head coach". MyNDNow. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Edge Statement on CIF Legal Action". Bloomington Edge. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Barred from IFL, Edge to play as independent". The Pantagraph. February 6, 2018.
  35. 1 2 "CIF Announced First Expansion Team for 2019". CIF. April 23, 2018.
  36. 1 2 LSFL Welcomes West Texas and Amarillo
  37. ↑ Sandalow, Brian (July 27, 2010). "Board approves return of indoor football, signing imminent". The Monitor. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012.
  38. ↑ Swashbucklers Leave IFL for new SIFL
  39. ↑ Saginaw Sting Named 6th And Final Team For UIFL, 2011 Season Now Set For Kick-Off Archived November 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  40. ↑ Sioux City Bandits will leave IFL
  41. ↑ IFL Takes Necessarry Action In Anchorage
  42. ↑ Outlaws get forfeit win
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 2011 IFL Schedule Announced Archived December 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  44. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  45. ↑ Early in the game, SportsQuest is falling behind
  46. ↑ Owner shuts down IFL's River City
  47. ↑ Tucson Thunderkats suspend operations Archived January 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  48. ↑ Venom to sit out 2012 season
  49. ↑ "IFL Announces Revised 2013 Schedule". Indoor Football League. January 21, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  50. ↑ Nowlin, Jack (June 1, 2013). "Do Cavs have a future in Casper?". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  51. ↑ Riley, Alex (June 1, 2013). "Cheyenne Warriors have ceased operations". Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  52. ↑ "HALL OF FAME". goifl.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
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