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
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)		 Arizona Rattlers (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. For the 2015 season, the league had ten teams. The league is the second highest tier in indoor/arena football behind the Arena Football League (AFL). IFL players earn a minimum of US$250 per game played (before taxes). The season is 16 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

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 to 62 in the 2009 United Bowl.

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 to 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 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

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, will operate 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 would also buy 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, both expansion clubs and current member clubs have until September 1 to commit to the 2018 season.[23]

Teams

Current

Team Location Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head Coach
United Conference
Cedar Rapids Titans Cedar Rapids, Iowa U.S. Cellular Center 5,700 2012 2012 Marvin McNutt
Green Bay Blizzard Green Bay, Wisconsin Resch Center 8,600 2003 2010 Chris Williams
Iowa Barnstormers Des Moines, Iowa Wells Fargo Arena 15,181 1995 2015 Dixie Wooten
Sioux Falls Storm Sioux Falls, South Dakota Denny Sanford Premier Center 10,678 2000 2009 Kurtiss Riggs
Wichita Falls Nighthawks Wichita Falls, Texas Kay Yeager Coliseum 7,380 2013 2015 Billy Back
Intense Conference
Arizona Rattlers Phoenix, Arizona Talking Stick Resort Arena 15,505 1992 2017 Kevin Guy
Colorado Crush Loveland, Colorado Budweiser Events Center 5,289 2007 2009 Marvin Jones
Nebraska Danger Grand Island, Nebraska Eihusen Arena 6,000 2011 2011 Hurtis Chinn
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles West Valley City, Utah Maverik Center 10,000 2016 2017 Matthew Sauk

Map of teams

Current IFL team locations (Intense Conference teams in red; United Conference teams in blue; expansion teams in green)

Former

Left for another league

Folded

Failed expansions

Timeline

Salt Lake Screaming Eagles Arizona Rattlers Spokane Empire Wichita Falls Nighthawks Iowa Barnstormers Billings Wolves Minnesota 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 (indoor football) 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 West Texas Roughnecks Maryland Maniacs Fairbanks Grizzlies El Paso Generals Corpus Christi Hammerheads Colorado Crush (IFL) Bloomington Edge Billings Outlaws Abilene Ruff Riders Alaska 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 Arizona Rattlers, who won their first United Bowl championship in 2017. 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.[40]

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  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. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  21. ↑ "Spokane Empire to cease operations and will not play football in 2018". KHQ-TV. Retrieved 17 July 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. 1 2 LSFL Welcomes West Texas and Amarillo
  25. ↑ Board approves return of indoor football
  26. ↑ Swashbucklers Leave IFL for new SIFL
  27. ↑ Saginaw Sting Named 6th And Final Team For UIFL, 2011 Season Now Set For Kick-Off Archived 2010-11-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  28. ↑ Sioux City Bandits will leave IFL
  29. ↑ IFL Takes Necessarry Action In Anchorage
  30. ↑ Outlaws get forfeit win
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 2011 IFL Schedule Announced Archived 2010-12-15 at the Wayback Machine.
  32. ↑ http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/15972707/article-Grizzlies-suspend-operations?instance=home_sports_bullets
  33. ↑ Early in the game, SportsQuest is falling behind
  34. ↑ Owner shuts down IFL's River City
  35. ↑ Tucson Thunderkats suspend operations Archived 2011-01-18 at the Wayback Machine.
  36. ↑ Venom to sit out 2012 season
  37. ↑ "IFL Announces Revised 2013 Schedule". Indoor Football League. January 21, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  38. ↑ Nowlin, Jack (June 1, 2013). "Do Cavs have a future in Casper?". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  39. ↑ Riley, Alex (June 1, 2013). "Cheyenne Warriors have ceased operations". Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  40. ↑ "HALL OF FAME". goifl.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
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