Post by Legends2008 on Dec 24, 2008 0:54:04 GMT -5
Announcement of arena football team for Wenatchee could come next month
By Brian Adamowsky
World sports writer
WENATCHEE — A local group and the American Indoor Football Association are nearing an agreement that could bring an indoor football team to Wenatchee by the end of January, one of the league's owners said Tuesday.
The team would start play in the West Division of the Western Conference in 2010.
"We're very close to finalizing a lease with the Town Toyota Center and are working diligently towards getting that done," said Michael Mink, co-owner and chief operating officer of the AIFA. "We hope that sometime in January we'll be able to make some kind of announcement."
Mink and John Morris, co-owner and chief executive officer of the AIFA, visited Wenatchee in late September and met with potential owners, city officials, arena administrators and the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council to gauge interest in bringing a team to town.
At that point, Mink and Morris felt very confident they'd be able to put a deal together.
Three months later, that deal appears to be on the brink of getting done.
"We look forward to having Wenatchee on board for the 2010 season," Mink said. "Logistics-wise, everything is pretty much done. We're just waiting on a couple things to come back from legal and we'll be good to go."
Mink said he couldn't identify the members of the ownership group until a deal is finalized, but he did say that all potential owners are from the Wenatchee Valley.
"We're excited about the city and we're excited about the people in the city," said Mink, adding the introductory press conference would be in Wenatchee instead of in Baltimore, where the league's home office is located.
"This will be a community team and everything will be done out there," he said.
In 2008 the AIFA added five new markets, Orem and Ogden, Utah; Washington D.C.; Harrisburg, Pa. and Greenville, S.C.
Mink said that the cancellation of the Arena Football League season has nothing to do with the AIFA since it is independently owned.
"We're business as usual," he said. "We want them to come back, but we're going to continue doing our thing."
By Brian Adamowsky
World sports writer
WENATCHEE — A local group and the American Indoor Football Association are nearing an agreement that could bring an indoor football team to Wenatchee by the end of January, one of the league's owners said Tuesday.
The team would start play in the West Division of the Western Conference in 2010.
"We're very close to finalizing a lease with the Town Toyota Center and are working diligently towards getting that done," said Michael Mink, co-owner and chief operating officer of the AIFA. "We hope that sometime in January we'll be able to make some kind of announcement."
Mink and John Morris, co-owner and chief executive officer of the AIFA, visited Wenatchee in late September and met with potential owners, city officials, arena administrators and the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council to gauge interest in bringing a team to town.
At that point, Mink and Morris felt very confident they'd be able to put a deal together.
Three months later, that deal appears to be on the brink of getting done.
"We look forward to having Wenatchee on board for the 2010 season," Mink said. "Logistics-wise, everything is pretty much done. We're just waiting on a couple things to come back from legal and we'll be good to go."
Mink said he couldn't identify the members of the ownership group until a deal is finalized, but he did say that all potential owners are from the Wenatchee Valley.
"We're excited about the city and we're excited about the people in the city," said Mink, adding the introductory press conference would be in Wenatchee instead of in Baltimore, where the league's home office is located.
"This will be a community team and everything will be done out there," he said.
In 2008 the AIFA added five new markets, Orem and Ogden, Utah; Washington D.C.; Harrisburg, Pa. and Greenville, S.C.
Mink said that the cancellation of the Arena Football League season has nothing to do with the AIFA since it is independently owned.
"We're business as usual," he said. "We want them to come back, but we're going to continue doing our thing."
wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081223/SPORTS/712249968/1001
