BREAKING. A source with the Philadelphia Soul confirmed with
@arenainsider
that the Arena Football League has failed to: pay housing, pay staff, coaches and players and only paid one way tickets to New Orleans for their game against Voodoo but did not pay returning flights (1/?)
DEVELOPING: A source says the remaining Arena Football League owners reportedly appointed current Nashville Kats owner Jeff Fisher as interim commissioner in a unanimous vote. An official announcement is expected to come on Tuesday.
More to follow on
@arenainsider
BREAKING: The eight remaining Arena Football League teams from this past season will now play under Arena Football One (AF1). The official logo:
Story to follow soon on
@arenainsider
It’s official: Jeff Fisher confirmed he will be the interim commissioner of the Arena Football League. Fisher announced it during a press conference tonight
NEW: According to an AFL press release, there will be ten teams from here on out:
Albany Firebirds, Billings Outlaws, Nashville Kats, Orlando Predators, Rapid City Marshals, Salina Liberty, SW Kansas Storm, Washington Wolfpack, West Texas Desert Hawks, Wichita Regulators
The Philadelphia Soul and the Arena Football League were mentioned as a topic in today’s episode of the Pat McAfee show.
“The Arena [Football] League is in a bad spot…but we want to let everybody know, we’re pulling for you”
🎥 :
@PatMcAfeeShow
NEW: New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux told me that he was never part of the Oregon Blackbears ownership group as previously announced by the Arena Football League.
Thibodeaux said, “the league used my name for publicity”
The new Arena Football One (AF1) announced Jeff Fisher as Commissioner and Jerry Kurz as CEO.
In the release, the league says it will welcome a number of expansion teams in the coming days -
@arenainsider
JUST IN: A spokesperson with the NFL confirmed to Arena Insider, it will not broadcast any Arena Football League games on its network this season. He declined to provide any more information behind the decision.
Today marks two years of telling stories in the Rogue Valley. Going on 4 years being in Medford. Thank you always for the support. More than grateful and blessed 🙏🏾
Governor Brown also mentioned the western agreement, and says that she will continue to discuss plans with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Washington Governor Jay Inslee
Developing: Following Iowa’s announcement, a source tells me that it’s likely more teams will follow suit and discontinue its season sometime this week. Something to keep an eye on
BREAKING: As first reported by
@ShadySportsNet
, a West Texas Desert Hawks player informed me that the team has shut down. More details to follow -
@arenainsider
I saw all the tweets so I had to go watch and wow…. If it’s one thing I know about Arena Football…it’s never over till it’s over. (Cleveland Gladiators flashbacks) Albany Firebirds remain undefeated at 5-0
JUST IN: Arena Football One announced its second expansion team will be in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The franchise will share more on its team name and personnel in the coming days.
Story to follow on
@arenainsider
AFL News: The Arena Football League finalized its playoff and Arena Bowl format.
Playoffs begin: July 6,
Semifinals: July 13
Arena Bowl (neutral) : July 19
The 4 seed will host the 5 seed | 1 seed (first round bye) will host the winner
2 seed will host 3 seed in semis
Just finished speaking with Billings Outlaws owner Steven Titus. He discussed the issues with the league, message to AFL fans, why he's calling on Commissioner Hutton to step down and who he thinks should replace him. New episode of Press Pass will release Saturday
Billings Outlaws owner Steven Titus shared a statement regarding tonight’s last minute cancellation of their game against Rapid City Marshals.
“Their refusal to play is due directly to the incompetence, lies and deceit by the current AFL office…I am absolutely disgusted”
Update:
The United States Trademark Office issued a refusal on former commissioner Lee Hutton’s application to claim the Arena Football League logo. The application which was filed in November 2023 was refused because of a “likelihood of confusion.”
Days prior to Saturday’s game, Marshals’ WR and JLB Tim Lukas spoke out on his IG
“If by speaking out I lose my job or another opportunity in the AFL, so be it. I’d rather stand by my morals and integrity than allow corruption at the top to win.”
Story:
Today (Feb 8th) marks one year since being at KOBI ! Since joining, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to report, produce, anchor, and forecast weather. Always grateful for everyone that continues to help and support me. The grind continues !
Following the recent report by Pro Football Newsroom, Billings Outlaws owner Steven Titus has confirmed to Arena Insider that there has not been a motion or vote to remove Chris Chetty as CEO. The Outlaws are in Jersey and the game is still on as scheduled at American Dream
Respectfully, everything about this 26 second clip frustrates me to the fullest extent as a journalist…
I’ll have more to say in one of the episodes on Arena Insider Press Pass
JUST IN: Arena Football One announced its third expansion team will be in Monterrey, Nuevo León in Mexico. The league says it will be the first international team to join for the inaugural 2025 Season.
@arenainsider
On Facebook, Former Iowa Rampage offensive coordinator Donovan Morgan said “Now the owners are leaving all these guys out here stranded with no money and no place to stay after Monday. This is not all on the AFL, the owner plays a big part in this as well.”
New videos of the
#PattonMeadowfire
in Lakeview shared to us by Shannon Theall. As of last update, it's estimated at 100 acres. Level 3 GO orders in effect for: Highway 140 West to Antelope Canyon, from Antelope Canyon to Drews Gap Loop and Patton Meadow Road areas.
Developing: In an interview with Arena Insider, Louisiana Voodoo Head Coach James Shiver shared that CEO Travelle Gaines resigned from the Arena Football League. He is still assisting with the Voodoo in the time being according to Shiver.
I spoke exclusively with Louisiana Voodoo Head Coach James Shiver tonight. He opens up about why he's also calling for Hutton to resign, his players and coaches not getting paid/housing issues, and addresses all rumors. All of that + more on the next episode of Press Pass
BREAKING: Minnesota Myth players have been informed to return home immediately. According to an email sent this morning, officials were looking to get additional funding for the team but the timing did not work. Story to follow on shortly
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter on the Voodoo
“Earlier this year, my team and I started to see multiple red flags in dealing with league representatives. Things they said didn’t make sense, and ultimately we had to make a judgement call…” (1/2)
DEVELOPING: Following the Philadelphia Soul's hiring of Tyrone Washington, the league is using Dallas Falcons players of the American Arena League (AAL2) to play for the Soul in tonight's game against the Louisiana Voodoo according to a source.
From the resignation of its head coach, to being kicked out of their housing, to being released and replaced, its been an unimaginable last few days for the Philadelphia Soul. Here's my story recapping all of the events, featuring kicker Conor Mangan:
The Marshals are now the sixth team in the Arena Football League to shut down this season. They’re also the third team that was not owned by the league.
BREAKING: In an unexpected reversal, Governor Kate Brown has announced that 15 Oregon counties which includes Jackson, Josephine and Klamath will move back to high risk starting this Friday
AFL CEO Chris Chetty told Arena Insider that there has been interest from some of the teams returning for a new season but, “nothing is definitive.”
So far this morning, Albany Firebirds, Billings Outlaws and Washington Wolfpack shared posts, “A new era begins today.”
Just a few photos of the Billings Outlaws celebration after winning ArenaBowl 33. Sorting through about 300 photos and will upload an album from the event at some point
Dom Montiel (
@Dom_Montiel
) from Marshfield High School in Coos County, announced he will join OSU beavers. The number one ranked QB in the state, made his decision during national signing day. Got a chance to speak with him today about it:
Interesting schedule change:
The Salina Liberty will travel to play the Nashville Kats.
The Philadelphia Soul were scheduled to be on the road against the Kats, and the Oregon Blackbears were scheduled to host the Liberty.
Developing: The option to purchase tickets for all three home games scheduled for the Philadelphia Soul in Trenton, NJ was removed from Cure Insurance Arena’s website. Still no official update yet on the team’s status for the rest of the season
Arena Football One announced the Stockton Crusaders as its first expansion team for its inaugural 2025 season.
The team will play at the Adventist Health Arena.
@arenainsider
Louisiana Voodoo Head Coach James Shiver joined
@arenainsider
to speak on a number of issues and to dispel any rumors. Here’s what he said regarding the nets and dasher boards during the team’s week one game against the Philadelphia Soul
Full episode out now
Philadelphia Soul kicker Conor Mangan shared this video on his Instagram page
“We were supposed to be playing the Louisiana Voodoo but that doesn’t seem to be happening at least from my perspective. We didn’t get on the airplane, we didn’t hear anything..."
Officially graduated from Elizabethtown College today with a BA in Communications. Thankful for everyone who has helped me to this point and the road doesn’t end here.
UPDATE: The Arena Football League podcast with commissioner Lee Hutton has been pulled from the AFL YouTube.
It was scheduled to begin at 11pm et.
#AFL
Developing: There will not be any scheduled week 10 games (final week) this Saturday in the Arena Football League according to a league source. More details about the situation will be announced soon.
NEW: According to Georgia court documents obtained by Arena Insider, the National Arena League filed a complaint on Thursday against the West Texas Desert Hawks (Warbirds under NAL), alleging the team breached its contract (1/?) 🧵
Chris Chetty with G6 Sports on issues with the Arena Football League season “We were asked to just sit back and let them take full control with the intent to purchase the trademarks from us. We tried to do a deal over the last 15 months.” 🧵
JUST IN: Timelapse video from Cal Fire cameras show the moment the Mountain Fire crossed containment lines in Northern California. New evacuation orders and warnings in effect
@KOBITV
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has declared a state of emergency over wildfire threat across the state. The declaration will also allow the National Guard to deploy firefighting resources
@KOBITV
The Arena Football League updated the standings on its website to reflect the Desert Hawks shutting down.
1. Albany (clinched)
2. Billings (clinched)
3. Salina (clinched)
4. Orlando
5. SW Kansas
6. Nashville
7. Wichita (eliminated)
8. Washington (eliminated)
Going through old files and I took these around this time 10 years ago. Wells Fargo Center and then-named Quicken Loans Arena. The difference to today is crazy
The Orlando Predators announced it will be conducting a thorough audit of its accounts after discovering "a substantial amount of outstanding funds that were authorized to be pulled but never collected."
The team said once the audit is complete, it will begin issuing refunds.
“It’s unfortunate because the coaches and players are really suffering from this… I shed tears over this.” Former Iowa Rampage player Tamatoa Silva spoke with Arena Insider about his time with the team.
Story + new episode of Press Pass out now:
DEVELOPING: A rep for the Dallas Falcons of the AAL2 told me that they are playing in its league game this weekend and are “no longer needed by the Soul.”
There’s no word yet on if that means the AFL resigned the former players that were released from the roster…(1/?)
Our Arena Insider/X1 Media docuseries “The Turbulent Revival of the Arena Football League” will premiere this Friday, July 19. We’ll break down everything that happened this season along with unreleased interviews. Here’s the trailer:
Story:
The Arena Football League confirmed the championship is still on as scheduled for Friday at American Dream and Chetty is still with the league.
“At this time, we will not be addressing any further rumors or speculations, as our priority is delivering an exceptional event.”
Following the recent report by Pro Football Newsroom, Billings Outlaws owner Steven Titus has confirmed to Arena Insider that there has not been a motion or vote to remove Chris Chetty as CEO. The Outlaws are in Jersey and the game is still on as scheduled at American Dream
Interesting follow up: I asked Titus again on if he meant that the Voodoo were having venue issues, and he meant the Blackbears after all.
“Not sure why Oregon. We were told by the league to not play there for safety reasons…Very strange situation.”
Billings Outlaws owner Steven Titus told Arena Insider, the league informed him that the Blackbears have venue issues and will not be able to play home games until it’s fixed
Next on Press Pass: I spoke with former Minnesota Myth Special Teams Coordinator Javon Hering. He spoke on players and coaches not getting paid, ownership/AFL front office, what led to his sudden resignation, next steps and message to players around the league. Will release soon
BREAKING: The Rapid City Marshals announced it ceased operations. The team stated the decision is because of the lack of leadership from the previous Arena Football League management and “unfulfilled promises”
Story to follow on arenainsider
@acarter_TV
’19 has made the most out of the skills he developed while working at the radio station and ECTV as an undergraduate at Etown. His talent is now on full display as a multi-media journalist for NBC5 News in southern Oregon.
Read more: .
Just spoke with AFL Commissioner Randall Boe and he tells me that as of right now, no teams have seized operations yet. Decisions are still being made and they are currently reviewing all options. Stay tuned for full recap on Arena Insider
It’s opening night for the Arena Football League and still no update from league officials. I am learning more details about the situation with Philadelphia that I’ll report at a later time
Here is the playing field for the Louisiana Voodoo vs. Philadelphia Soul.
-Albany and Nashville fields look like a AFL field.
-the cross bar nets and posts aren’t even level.
-the padded walls look rushed and ridiculous.
#AFL
Last press conference, my question to Raudabaugh, “how has Anthony made an impact on the Soul organization these last five seasons” his response 😂😂😂. Honored to have reported on the best QB and best organization in the league
@soulfootball
“We chose not to allow a questionable entirety to occupy the LC Event Center without paying rent or providing a certificate of insurance. This was the right decision to make…”
JUST IN: The Southwest Kansas Storm announced it will continue its game against the Iowa Rampage despite their announcement to fold. The Storm said an agreement made with the AFL will allow the game to continue as scheduled. The Rampage will travel to the game Saturday
HUMBL announced it is expanding its partnership with the Oregon Blackbears for ticket sales.
Blackbears President Pat Johnson said in the release “We have had a great experience so far with HUMBL…We look forward to working with [HUMBL] for the remainder of the 2024 season”
Minnesota Myth owner Diana Hutton on the Myth ceasing operations
“Unfortunately the effort was lost in the waves of negative chatter and misinformation that plagued social media, led by intentional efforts from non-supportive teams within the league and other individuals.”
Oregon Blackbears President Pat Johnson released a statement for the first time since the team shut down in late May.
“Due to uncertainties regarding our scheduling issues with the AFL, we were unable to confirm opponents for our last two home contests…🧵