All remaining teams separate from Arena Football League to form ‘Arena Football One’

The remaining eight teams from the Arena Football League this past season will form a new league, effectively ending all ties to the historic franchise.

The new league, Arena Football One, currently includes the Albany Firebirds, Billings Outlaws, Nashville Kats, Orlando Predators, Salina Liberty, Southwest Kansas Storm, Washington Wolfpack and Wichita Regulators. A source informed Arena Insider that more teams may join in the coming months.

On September 1, Billings Outlaws owner Steven Titus submitted an United States Patent and Trademark Office application to register the name. AF1, which originally dates back to 2009, was previously registered under G6 Sports who currently own the identity of the AFL. The branding was legally abandoned in 2011.

The application is pending and awaiting an USPTO examiner.

The move indicates a potential end to the Arena Football League for right now. G6 Sports and the remaining team owners led an effort to save last season despite eight teams ceasing operations and a change in league leadership.

However, Chris Chetty, AFL CEO and G6 Sports managing member, informed Arena Insider shortly before Wednesday’s announcement that his group were at a crossroads with the team owners and some of the new league staff.

“They basically want to see all debt paid first,” Chetty said. “There’s a lot to shake up and move around. I was given the hand I was dealt with to the best of my ability. I’m still financially responsible for everything that has happened with the league. I take full accountability but at the same time I’m not rushing to make decisions because other people are rushing me to do that.”

Also prior to the announcement, Chetty said he was informed some teams may return but nothing was definitive.

“There has to be a process in place to vet not only the existing teams but new teams coming in and there was never one in place,” Chetty said. “How do we know if we are in the right markets and have the right ownership groups? That all still has to be flushed out. I’m starting at ground zero on this and everything starts with capitalization and bringing in the right investor. Until that happens, there is no decision that I can make or there is no contract that I can sign because once that’s in place then the rest takes care of itself.”

This remains a developing story and this post will be updated with more details as it becomes available.

About Author

Anthony Carter

Anthony Carter is the founder and publisher of X1 Media and Arena Insider. Carter grew up in Philadelphia, PA and graduated from Elizabethtown College. He’s a former news anchor, reporter and producer. Carter is also a proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Want to connect with Anthony? Send him an email: [email protected]

See author's posts