Indoor Football League: Difference between revisions
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* [[Abilene Ruff Riders]] - Left IFL after 2010 season, now defunct |
* [[Abilene Ruff Riders]] - Left IFL after 2010 season, now defunct |
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* [[Amarillo Venom]] - Left IFL after 2011 season, now a member of [[Champions Indoor Football]]<ref name="oursportscentral.com">[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4302981 LSFL Welcomes West Texas and Amarillo]</ref> |
* [[Amarillo Venom]] - Left IFL after 2011 season, now a member of [[Champions Indoor Football]]<ref name="oursportscentral.com">[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4302981 LSFL Welcomes West Texas and Amarillo]</ref> |
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* [[Bloomington Edge]] - Left IFL after 2012 season, now a member of |
* [[Bloomington Edge]] - Left IFL after 2012 season, now a member of [[Champions Indoor Football]] |
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* [[Corpus Christi Hammerheads]] - Left IFL after 2010 season, now a member of the [[X-League Indoor Football]]<ref>[http://www.themonitor.com/sports/indoor-41230-approves-return.html Board approves return of indoor football]</ref> |
* [[Corpus Christi Hammerheads]] - Left IFL after 2010 season, now a member of the [[X-League Indoor Football]]<ref>[http://www.themonitor.com/sports/indoor-41230-approves-return.html Board approves return of indoor football]</ref> |
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* [[Lehigh Valley Steelhawks]] - Left IFL after 2012 season, now a member of the [[Professional Indoor Football League (2012)|Professional Indoor Football League]] |
* [[Lehigh Valley Steelhawks]] - Left IFL after 2012 season, now a member of the [[Professional Indoor Football League (2012)|Professional Indoor Football League]] |
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Revision as of 12:39, 7 February 2015
Current season, competition or edition: 2014 Indoor Football League season | |
| File:IndoorFootballLeague.PNG Indoor Football League logo | |
| Sport | Indoor football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Paul Aaron Dan Blum |
| First season | 2009 |
| CEO | Michael Allshouse |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Sioux Falls Storm (4th title) |
| Most titles | Sioux Falls Storm (4) |
| 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. In 2013 and 2014, 9 teams comprised the league. 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
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
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 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
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
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 9 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] If this were to occur, they would be 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.)
Teams
Current
| Team | Location | Arena | Began play |
Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intense Conference | ||||
| Billings Wolves | Billings, Montana | Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark | 2015 | Chris Dixon |
| Colorado Ice | Loveland, Colorado | Budweiser Events Center | 2009 | Heron O'Neal |
| Nebraska Danger | Grand Island, Nebraska | Eihusen Arena | 2011 | Mike Davis |
| Tri-Cities Fever | Kennewick, Washington | Toyota Center | 2010 | Adam Shackleford |
| Wichita Falls Nighthawks | Wichita Falls, Texas | Kay Yeager Coliseum | 2015 | James Kerwin |
| United Conference | ||||
| Bemidji Axemen | Bemidji, Minnesota | Sanford Center | 2014 | Dixie Wooten |
| Cedar Rapids Titans | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | U.S. Cellular Center | 2012 | Mark Stoute |
| Green Bay Blizzard | Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin | Resch Center | 2010 | Tommie Williams |
| Iowa Barnstormers | Des Moines, Iowa | Wells Fargo Arena | 2015 | Joe Brannen |
| Sioux Falls Storm | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Denny Sanford PREMIER Center | 2009 | Kurtiss Riggs |
Former
Left for another league
- Abilene Ruff Riders - Left IFL after 2010 season, now defunct
- Amarillo Venom - Left IFL after 2011 season, now a member of Champions Indoor Football[6]
- Bloomington Edge - Left IFL after 2012 season, now a member of Champions Indoor Football
- Corpus Christi Hammerheads - Left IFL after 2010 season, now a member of the X-League Indoor Football[7]
- Lehigh Valley Steelhawks - Left IFL after 2012 season, now a member of the Professional Indoor Football League
- Louisiana Swashbucklers - Left IFL prior to inaugural season, now defunct[8]
- New Mexico Stars - Left IFL after 2012 season, now a member of the Champions Indoor Football.
- Omaha Beef - Left IFL after 2012 season, now a member of the Champions Indoor Football.
- Saginaw Sting - Left for the Ultimate Indoor Football League after sitting out the 2010 season.[9] Now in the Continental Indoor Football League
- Sioux City Bandits - Left IFL after 2010 season, now a member of the Champions Indoor Football.[10]
- Texas Revolution - left IFL after 2014 season, now a member of Champions Indoor Football.
- Wichita Wild - Left IFL after the 2012 season, now defunct.
- West Texas Roughnecks - Left IFL after 2011 season, now defunct[6]
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.[11][12]
- 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.[13]
- Billings Outlaws - Owner suspended the 2011 season, and was hoping to return in 2012 but did not.[13]
- Bricktown Brawlers - Ceased operations before the end of the 2011 season. Final games were played with a replacement team.
- Chicago Slaughter - Left IFL after 2013 season, to join Continental Indoor Football League, but never played.
- El Paso Generals - Owners attempted to sell the team, but did not participate in 2010 season.
- Everett Raptors - Team folded after 2012 season.
- Fairbanks Grizzlies - Owner suspended the 2012 season, but hoped to return in 2013, but didn't.[14]
- 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, team didn't return.[13]
- Reading Express - Took 2013 season off, did not return.
- Richmond Revolution - Owner suspended the 2012 season, but hoped to return in 2013, but didn't.[15]
- RiverCity Rage - Owner suspended them to focus on the Omaha Beef.[16]
- Rochester Raiders - Owner suspended the 2011 season, team didn't return.[13]
- San Angelo Stampede Express - Owner suspended the 2011 season, team didn't return.[13]
- 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.[17]
- West Michigan ThunderHawks - Owner suspended the 2011 season, team didn't return.[13]
- Wenatchee Valley Venom - Owner suspended the 2012 season, but hoped to return in 2013, but didn't.[18]
- Wyoming Cavalry - Owner ceased operations in September of 2014.
Failed Expansion
- Binghamton - Owner suspended the 2012 season, but hoped to begin play in 2013, though they never did.[19]
- 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.[20][21][22]
- Everett Destroyers - Originally announced as an IFL member, but not included in 2009 alignment.
- 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.
Timeline
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. 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.
2009 United Bowl Championship
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 during the Fathers Day Tornado).
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.
2014 United Bowl Championship
The 2014 IFL United Bowl was once again won by the United Conference champion Sioux Falls Storm when they beat the Intense Conference Champion Nebraska Danger 63-46 on June 28, 2014.
Year-by-year
| Year | Home Team | Away Team | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Billings Outlaws | RiverCity Rage | Outlaws | 71–62 |
| 2010 | Billings Outlaws | Sioux Falls Storm | Outlaws | 43–34 |
| 2011 | Sioux Falls Storm | Tri-Cities Fever | Storm | 37–10 |
| 2012 | Sioux Falls Storm | Tri-Cities Fever | Storm | 59–32 |
| 2013 | Sioux Falls Storm | Nebraska Danger | Storm | 43–40 |
| 2014 | Sioux Falls Storm | Nebraska Danger | Storm | 63–46 |
References
- ^ http://www.expressindoorfootball.com/news/index.html?article_id=264
- ^ a b "IFL Elects Commissioner". www.keloland.com. KELO-TV. September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ Deacon, Joe (October 12, 2012). "Bloomington Edge sold to Blaze owner, changing to new league". Bloomington Pantagraph. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ Zimmer, Mike (February 19, 2014). "Billings Wolves to bring indoor football back to Billings in 2015". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ Barnstormers May Leave AFL, Join Different League, John Sears, WHO-TV website, July 27, 2104
- ^ a b LSFL Welcomes West Texas and Amarillo
- ^ Board approves return of indoor football
- ^ Swashbucklers Leave IFL for new SIFL
- ^ Saginaw Sting Named 6th And Final Team For UIFL, 2011 Season Now Set For Kick-Off
- ^ Sioux City Bandits will leave IFL
- ^ IFL Takes Necessarry Action In Anchorage
- ^ Outlaws get forfeit win
- ^ a b c d e f 2011 IFL Schedule Announced
- ^ http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/15972707/article-Grizzlies-suspend-operations?instance=home_sports_bullets
- ^ Early in the game, SportsQuest is falling behind
- ^ Owner shuts down IFL's River City
- ^ Tucson Thunderkats suspend operations
- ^ Venom to sit out 2012 season
- ^ http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20110930/SPORTS/109300364/Plans-indoor-football-team-Binghamton-hold
- ^ "IFL Announces Revised 2013 Schedule". Indoor Football League. January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ Nowlin, Jack (June 1, 2013). "Do Cavs have a future in Casper?". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, WY: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Riley, Alex (June 1, 2013). "Cheyenne Warriors have ceased operations". Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
External links
