Rome (GA) Announced as 2012 UIFL Expansion

[50 Yard Fan]

ROME, GA – The Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) is pleased to announce that the first expansion team for the 2012 season will be in Rome, Georgia.

With the expansion to Georgia, the UIFL has announced that the league will be split up into two divisions. The exact alignment of the two divisions, tentatively named North and South, will be determined once expansion is complete. The two divisions will not play each other during the regular season. The league championship will be contested against the winner of the divisional playoffs.

The Rome River Dogs will be owned by Cecil Van Dyke, who also owns the Eastern Kentucky Drillers and the Huntington Hammer. They will play their home games in the Forum Civic Center.

“The Van Dyke family is happy to have the opportunity to help bring indoor football back to the Rome area,” said Van Dyke. “My partner, Kacee Smith, has been involved with a very successful semi-pro football team and I know that he will be leading the charge to make the Rome River Dogs the best team in the South Division of the UIFL. We are looking forward to the 2012 season.”

UIFL co-owner Andrew Haines adds, ““We are thrilled to be working with Mr. Van Dyke and the rest of the Van Dyke family as we expand for the 2012 season. We believe that this current expansion will enhance the visibility and viability of the league.”

Another expansion team is expected to be announced on Wednesday.

The UIFL, a six-team league, is currently in the middle of their first season. Teams are currently in Canton, Ohio, Saginaw, Mich., Huntington, WVa., Pikeville, Ky., Highland Heights, Ky., and Johnstown.

[Banana Cat]

Moved this to it's own post, since it deserves it's own thread.

It will be nice to have the Rome market back, I just hope this effort will last this time.

The UIFL is definitely following the same path Haines took with the AIFL. He only seems to last a few years in each of the leagues he creates though, so the jury is out on how strong these teams are financially and whether they'll last once he departs or is evicted. I think he's definitely capitalizing on the "perceived success" of having games played so far with few problems in the media, with the creation of these expansion teams right now.

[exit322]

He's also capitalizing on markets that want the extra bookings, and arenas that aren't terribly interested in background checks.

Of course, so does every other league :-P

[Banana Cat]

Hard to believe arena's don't do background checks. I think they just view Haines as an acceptable risk (and ask for some money up front...I'd hope).

[Banana Cat]

romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/12180718/article-Indoor-football-coming-back-to-Rome?instance=news_page_secondary_local

Indoor football coming back to Rome

by staff reports Rn T.Co
6 Mar 2011



While the NFL may be headed for a lockout, Greater Rome will be able to get its football fix from a different source next year.

In 2012, the new Ultimate Indoor Football League’s Rome River Dogs will begin play in the league’s new Southern Division, UIFL co-founder Andrew Haines announced during a press conference on Saturday morning at The Forum.

The team’s co-owners are Kacee Smith, general manager of Rome’s semi-pro football team the North Georgia Bulldogs, and Cecil Van Dyke, who owns two other teams in the UIFL.

The River Dogs are just one of several teams expected to be announced by the UIFL in the upcoming weeks.

Smith, who will also serve as team president, is confident the team will be successful from the start.

“Over the past five years, the North Georgia Bulldogs have been very successful,” Smith said.

“That’s the kind of success I’m looking to have with the River Dogs. I want to win a championship. I know we’re going to be a winning team. I want to put a good product on the field — something Rome can be proud of.”

The coaching staff has not yet been filled, but is next on the agenda for the new owners.

Ticket prices are tentatively going to be priced from $8 to $20, and season ticket prices will soon be announced.

The team also hopes to soon have a location downtown where people can buy team merchandise.