Oregon Blackbears reach agreement to complete 2024 season.

SALEM, Ore — The Oregon Blackbears were expected to be the latest team to fold this season but reached an 11th hour agreement with the Arena Football League to stay.

The Blackbears shared on social media that it agreed in principle with the league to complete the rest of the 2024 season based on a new licensing agreement. The franchise was initially one of the two teams that were going to be forced to shut down following the league’s shifting of ownership and leadership.

In his introductory interview on May 15, interim commissioner Jeff Fisher hinted there was a possibility of an 11th team added to the current 10 teams.

“Trust me we’re going to be building out this league and adding franchises,” Fisher said. “There was a long period of time where we didn’t know there was a lack of ownership.”

Prior to the season, the league announced current New York Giants player Kayvon Thibodeaux as the owner of the Blackbears. It’s unclear if he is still involved but current President Pat Johnson is still part of the team.

The Blackbears won against the Washington Wolfpack Saturday, 24-22, and remain undefeated at 3-0.

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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: acarter@thexonemedia.com

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