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Post by daytonadan on Oct 28, 2008 15:32:57 GMT -5
LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Louisiana Swashbucklers, one of indoor football’s most successful franchises both on and off the field, have left the Indoor Football League, owner Thom Hager announced on Tuesday, October 28.
Hager informed the IFL owners during a conference call this morning.
“I have nothing but respect and admiration for Tommy Benizio and his efforts to get the IFL up and running,” Hager said. “But the Swashbucklers have had to look at some intense business decisions.
“We can’t continue operating in the red … we need to have a smart business plan that gives us and our partners in other markets the opportunity to turn a profit while offering our growing fan and sponsorship bases a first-class, family-based entertainment product,” Hager added.
The Swashbucklers won the Intense Football League championships in 2007 and 2008, the latter with a perfect 16-0 record. The team’s season ticket base has grown from 912 its inaugural season to 3,182 this year.
Plans for the Swashbucklers future will be announced shortly.
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Post by exit322 on Oct 28, 2008 16:17:53 GMT -5
That didn't take long.
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Post by superpicker on Oct 28, 2008 16:35:54 GMT -5
I reckon they're getting ready for those Obama tax hikes on small businesses.
we should perhaps expect more of the same ?
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Post by gusher on Oct 28, 2008 18:00:30 GMT -5
LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Louisiana Swashbucklers, one of indoor football’s most successful franchises both on and off the field, have left the Indoor Football League, owner Thom Hager announced on Tuesday, October 28. Hager informed the IFL owners during a conference call this morning. “I have nothing but respect and admiration for Tommy Benizio and his efforts to get the IFL up and running,” Hager said. “But the Swashbucklers have had to look at some intense business decisions. “We can’t continue operating in the red … we need to have a smart business plan that gives us and our partners in other markets the opportunity to turn a profit while offering our growing fan and sponsorship bases a first-class, family-based entertainment product,” Hager added. The Swashbucklers won the Intense Football League championships in 2007 and 2008, the latter with a perfect 16-0 record. The team’s season ticket base has grown from 912 its inaugural season to 3,182 this year. Plans for the Swashbucklers future will be announced shortly. Interesting word choice.
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Post by exit322 on Oct 28, 2008 19:28:29 GMT -5
And how much more intense will it get?
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Post by Banana Cat on Oct 28, 2008 20:02:22 GMT -5
Interesting. While in the Intense League they've were in the red. I don't think recreating the Intense League will help them there. Maybe they should try AIFA...or fold.
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Post by gusher on Oct 28, 2008 20:29:16 GMT -5
I would think there are several shades of red some better than others but none of them good. A more regional footprint would help travel. But I am sure there is more to a sound business plan than just how close a team is to another.
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Post by Doom on Oct 28, 2008 20:54:58 GMT -5
they are leaving for the SIFL, Southern Indoor Football Leauge, wow thats even more original than Indoor Football League, rofl.
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Post by afan on Oct 28, 2008 20:55:35 GMT -5
If every team in the red folded, who woudl we watch? There'd be no one left! While I am surprised a little, not a huge shocker. Makes sense. Still think the expansion was too much too fast, too crazy. Probably won't be the last to defect.
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Post by Banana Cat on Oct 28, 2008 21:46:24 GMT -5
Looks like they pulled out first in the hopes more will follow. By pulling out they show they're serious. I expect more to follow, but not sure how many. If most former Intense teams follow I wonder if Benizio will remain as Commish? The next few weeks will tell the tale.
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Post by afan on Oct 29, 2008 7:09:46 GMT -5
Should be an interesting one.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Oct 29, 2008 8:38:19 GMT -5
and that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach that I've had for 2 months now just got a little more "rumbly"
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Post by stormfootball on Oct 29, 2008 10:32:23 GMT -5
In the article I read on OSC yesterday it mentioned the acual dollars in travels cost for the Bucs from this past year to what it was going to be this upcoming year (cant find the article now). It was a very significant hike in traveling dollars. I was under the impression that for the most part the old Intense teams would pretty much play each other regional with the exception of a couple out of conferance games with some of the old UIF teams. They must have had a good idea at the team meeting about the schedules and apperently it ended up being much more traveling. It seems like it was almost double the travel costs. Wish i could find that article again. Nevermind, i just had to look for it i guess www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3733552
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Post by phydeaux72 on Oct 29, 2008 11:01:52 GMT -5
I'll repost what I posted on the IFF board:
----------------------------------------------------
The most humorous thing about this Louisiana situation, is where Thom Hager came up with those ridiculous numbers. There is no way that his travel budget would have increased that much, if any. The schedule hasn't even been released yet. And when it is, he would have been playing the same regional group of teams that he's been playing all along.
The real issue is that the league is growing. Every team owner has equal ownership and an equal vote in the league. And all of a sudding Hager becomes a small fish in a big pond. This is an ego thing for Hager. Under this new IFL structure, suddenly Hager isn't as "significant" (for lack of a better word) in a 20+ team league as he was previously in a 9 team league.
Furthermore, Hager wants to reduce the schedule to 10-12 games and pay his players $100 per game, or less if he can get away with it. Mark my words, the SIFL is going to be the next APFL or IIFA. And Thom Hager becomes the next Ralph Adams.
Just my two cents.
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Post by daytonadan on Oct 29, 2008 11:14:14 GMT -5
I'll repost what I posted on the IFF board: ---------------------------------------------------- The most humorous thing about this Louisiana situation, is where Thom Hager came up with those ridiculous numbers. There is no way that his travel budget would have increased that much, if any. The schedule hasn't even been released yet. And when it is, he would have been playing the same regional group of teams that he's been playing all along. The real issue is that the league is growing. Every team owner has equal ownership and an equal vote in the league. And all of a sudding Hager becomes a small fish in a big pond. This is an ego thing for Hager. Under this new IFL structure, suddenly Hager isn't as "significant" (for lack of a better word) in a 20+ team league as he was previously in a 9 team league. Furthermore, Hager wants to reduce the schedule to 10-12 games and pay his players $100 per game, or less if he can get away with it. Mark my words, the SIFL is going to be the next APFL or IIFA. And Thom Hager becomes the next Ralph Adams. Just my two cents. And I'll repost what I posted on IFF Now it's really starting to get good...
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