Indoor Football League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the original Indoor Football League, see Indoor Football League (1999–2000).
Indoor Football League
Current season or competition:
2014 Indoor Football League season

Indoor Football League logo
Sport Indoor football
Founded 2008
Commissioner Michael Allshouse
Inaugural season 2009
No. of teams 9
Country  United States
Most recent champion(s) Sioux Falls Storm
Most titles Sioux Falls Storm (3)
Founder Paul Aaron
Dan Blum
Official website goifl.com

The Indoor Football League is a professional Indoor Football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. For the 2011 season the league had 22 teams in 14 different U.S. states. The 2012 season consisted of 16 teams. Players earn a maximum of 200 dollars per game played before taxes. The Season is 14 games long, plus playoffs of two or more rounds.

History

Formation of the league

The merger which formed the new IFL was 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 to 42.

2009 season

Main article: 2009 Indoor Football League season

Of the 17 teams involved in the two previous leagues, 14 carried over to the new organization's 2009 season. An additional 3 teams came over from the CIFL and two expansion teams began their life in the new IFL. In the 2009 IFL United Bowl, the Billings Outlaws (Intense Conference) took the league championship by defeating the River City Rage (United Conference) by a score of 71 to 62.

2010 season

Main article: 2010 Indoor Football League season

After losing two teams to attrition after the end of the 2009 season, and a third in January 2010, the IFL then added an additional nine franchises to boost its membership to twenty-five 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 twenty-four teams to finish the year. In the 2010 IFL United Bowl, the Billings Outlaws (Intense Conference) took the league championship by defeating the Sioux Falls Storm (United Conference) by a score of 43 to 34.

2011 season

Main article: 2011 Indoor Football League 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 2011 IFL 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

Main article: 2012 Indoor Football League 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 US$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

Main article: 2013 Indoor Football League 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.

Teams

An asterisk * indicates a team new to the IFL for the 2013 season.

Map of teams competing in the IFL (out of date)

Current

United Conference

Team Location Arena (Capacity)
Bemidji Axemen Bemidji, Minnesota Sanford Center (4,700)
Cedar Rapids Titans Cedar Rapids, Iowa U.S. Cellular Center (6,900)
Green Bay Blizzard Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin Resch Center (8,621)
Sioux Falls Storm Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls Arena (4,700)
Texas Revolution Allen, Texas Allen Event Center (6,275)

Intense Conference

Team Location Arena (Capacity)
Colorado Ice Loveland, Colorado Budweiser Events Center (7,200)
Nebraska Danger Grand Island, Nebraska Eihusen Arena (7,500)
Tri-Cities Fever Kennewick, Washington Toyota Center (5,970)
Wyoming Cavalry Casper, Wyoming Casper Events Center (8,395)

Former

Left for another league

Folded

  • Alaska Wild - Team suspended operations 9 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.[9][10]
  • 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.[11]
  • Billings Outlaws - Owner suspended the 2011 season, and was hoping to return in 2012 but did not.[11]
  • Bricktown Brawlers - Ceased operations before the end of the 2011 season. Final games were played with a replacement team.
  • CenTex Barracudas - Originally announced as an IFL member, but not included in 2009 alignment.
  • Cheyenne Warriors - Owner died shortly before 2013 season began; team suspended operations, did not enter league in 2013 as planned, played a few games in the DIFL, and shutdown entirely in May 2013.[12][13][14]
  • El Paso Generals - Owners attempted to sell the team, but did not participate in 2010 season.
  • Everett Destroyers - Originally announced as an IFL member, but not included in 2009 alignment.
  • Everett Raptors - Team folded after 2012 season.
  • Frisco Thunder - Originally announced as 2009 IFL member, then announced they would take season off while Dr Pepper Arena was being renovated, team didn't return.
  • La Crosse Spartans - Owners suspended the team, and started the Cedar Rapids Titans. The team went up for sale in 2011, but did not sell.
  • Maryland Maniacs - Owner suspended the 2011 season, and was hoping to return in 2012 but did not.[11]
  • RiverCity Rage - Owner suspended them to focus on the Omaha Beef.[15]
  • Rochester Raiders - Owner suspended the 2011 season, and was hoping to return in 2012 but did not.[11]
  • San Angelo Stampede Express - Owner suspended the 2011 season, and was hoping to return in 2012 but did not.[11]
  • 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.[16]
  • West Michigan ThunderHawks - Owner suspended the 2011 season, and was hoping to return in 2012 but did not.[11]

Inactive

  • Binghamton - Owner suspended the 2012 season, but looking to begin play in 2013.[17] Not included on 2013 schedule.
  • Fairbanks Grizzlies - Owner suspended the 2012 season, but looking to return in 2013.[18] Not included on 2013 schedule.
  • Reading Express - Will take 2013 season off.
  • Richmond Revolution - Owner suspended the 2012 season, but looking to return in 2013.[19] Not included on 2013 schedule.
  • Wenatchee Valley Venom - Owner suspended the 2012 season, but looking to return in 2013.[20] Not included on 2013 schedule.

Timeline

Bemidji Axemen New Mexico Stars Cedar Rapids Titans Wyoming Cavalry Wenatchee Valley Venom Reading Express Nebraska Danger Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Bricktown Brawlers Arizona Adrenaline Tri-Cities Fever Richmond Revolution La Crosse Spartans Green Bay Blizzard Chicago Slaughter Austin Turfcats Texas Revolution Everett Raptors Amarillo Venom Wichita Wild West Michigan ThunderHawks Sioux Falls Storm Sioux City Bandits San Angelo Stampede Express Saginaw Sting Rochester Raiders RiverCity Rage Omaha Beef Maryland Maniacs Fairbanks Grizzlies El Paso Generals Colorado Ice Bloomington Edge Billings Outlaws Alaska Wild

IFL United Bowl Championship

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.

Another piece of history about the United Bowl name is that the United Football League, an outdoor league founded in 2009, was planning on using the name for its championship game, but the IFL retained the trademark to the name so that the UFL couldn't use it.[citation needed] The IFL had to continue using the name in some form, and though 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.

2009 United Bowl Championship

Seconds before the Outlaws 2009 United Bowl victory

The 2009 IFL United Bowl featured the Intense Conference champs, the Billings Outlaws, against the upset-minded United Conference River City Rage. The game became a scoring onslaught at the start of the 1st quarter with each team scoring touchdowns. The Outlaw defense snagged a pick in the 2nd quarter which led to another offensive touchdown and a commanding two score lead by halftime. The Rage fought back though, recovering an onside kick at the beginning of the 3rd quarter and driving the ball the length of the field for a touchdown. That would be the closest the game would get for the Rage. The Outlaws would put up just enough points to keep a comfortable lead throughout the fourth and after recovering an onside kick in the last minute of the game, the Outlaws kneeled the ball and took home the crown with a score of 71-62 in a loud, sold out Rimrock Auto Arena.

2010 United Bowl Championship

In the 2010 IFL United Bowl, the Billings Outlaws of the Intense Conference took the league championship by defeating the Sioux Falls Storm of the United Conference by a score of 43 to 34 in front of a sold out crowd in the Billings Sportsplex (a training facility, used by the outlaws after their arena suffered storm damage).

2011 United Bowl Championship

The 2011 IFL United Bowl was won by the United Conference champion Sioux Falls Storm when they beat the Intense Conference Champion Tri-Cities Fever 37-10 on July 16, 2011.

2012 United Bowl Championship

The 2012 IFL United Bowl was a re-match and was once again won by the United Conference champion Sioux Falls Storm when they beat the Intense Conference Champion Tri-Cities Fever 59-32 on July 14, 2012.

2013 United Bowl Championship

The 2013 IFL United Bowl was once again won by the United Conference champion Sioux Falls Storm when they beat the Intense Conference Champion Nebraska Danger 43-40 on June 29, 2013.

Year-By-Year

YearHome TeamAway TeamWinnerScore
2009Billings OutlawsRiverCity RageOutlaws71-62
2010Billings OutlawsSioux Falls StormOutlaws43-34
2011Sioux Falls StormTri-Cities FeverStorm37-10
2012Sioux Falls StormTri-Cities FeverStorm59-32
2013Sioux Falls StormNebraska DangerStorm43-40

References

  1. ↑ http://www.expressindoorfootball.com/news/index.html?article_id=264
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "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. ↑ 4.0 4.1 LSFL Welcomes West Texas and Amarillo
  5. ↑ Board approves return of indoor football
  6. ↑ Swashbucklers Leave IFL for new SIFL
  7. ↑ Saginaw Sting Named 6th And Final Team For UIFL, 2011 Season Now Set For Kick-Off
  8. ↑ Sioux City Bandits will leave IFL
  9. ↑ IFL Takes Necessarry Action In Anchorage
  10. ↑ Outlaws get forfeit win
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 2011 IFL Schedule Announced
  12. ↑ "IFL Announces Revised 2013 Schedule". Indoor Football League. January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013. 
  13. ↑ Nowlin, Jack (June 1, 2013). "Do Cavs have a future in Casper?". Casper Star-Tribune (Casper, WY: Lee Enterprises). Retrieved June 3, 2013. 
  14. ↑ Riley, Alex (June 1, 2013). "Cheyenne Warriors have ceased operations". Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Retrieved June 3, 2013. 
  15. ↑ Owner shuts down IFL's River City
  16. ↑ Tucson Thunderkats suspend operations
  17. ↑ http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20110930/SPORTS/109300364/Plans-indoor-football-team-Binghamton-hold
  18. ↑ http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/15972707/article-Grizzlies-suspend-operations?instance=home_sports_bullets
  19. ↑ Early in the game, SportsQuest is falling behind
  20. ↑ Venom to sit out 2012 season

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