Dec 10 2008

Is Arena Football Doomed?

Published by Dave at 4:43 pm under American Football

News reports are emerging that the Arena Football League is planning on canceling its 2009 season because of economic concerns. Apparently, jumping into bed with ESPN didn’t save this league after all.

On one hand, it would be sad to see Arena Football disappear, as it has been entertaining in the past, and if nothing else, it gave us Kurt Warner. On the other hand, how many people really paid attention to the AFL when it was in season? I didn’t even go to a Carolina Cobras game when that team was still playing at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Diehard AFL fans have to be as rare as American-born Wigan supporters.

Arena Football is a fun little sideshow, and I’m sure plenty of families enjoyed going to games and trying to catch overthrown passes. But American sports fans have too many other options, and with so many people becoming less willing to spend the cash these days, I have a feeling the 50-yard indoor war might be have just become yet another victim of this craptastic economy. It probably won’t get much in the way of a eulogy, either. It was there, and now it’s gone. Oh, well.

Of course, I didn’t think International Rules would make a comeback, either, so what do I know? 2010 is a long way off.

(H/T: Awful Announcing.)

2 responses so far

2 Responses to “Is Arena Football Doomed?”

  1. # Willon 10 Dec 2008 at 4:52 pm

    Of course this shows up on the first refresh after I ask you about it in your “Two Things” post. Given the constant churn of regional semi-pro leagues and the fact that AF2 seems to be sticking around, I don’t think we have to worry about indoor gridiron going away completely, but I do believe the AFL got too big for its britches.

  2. # a different Daveon 19 Dec 2008 at 1:30 am

    I’m thinking football fans won’t miss the AFL any more than soccer fans will miss the MISL.