Post by David on Jun 30, 2016 16:39:19 GMT -8
6.30.16 -
Tri-Cities Fever owner Teri Carr and the Indoor Football League have announced that the Fever will go dormant for the upcoming 2017 season.
According to the IFL's announcement, the Fever have not folded, which would mean that they've ceased all operations. The Fever will continue to be a member of the IFL with "good standing," but they won't play in the 2017 season. This means that Tri-Cities is classified as a dormant franchise. According to the IFL, dormancy means a team and its assets are to be sold to another ownership. The Fever and its assets can be sold to play in the same market, relocate under new ownership, or relocate with the team's current ownership.
The announcement comes 5 days after the Fever lost to the Nebraska Danger 52-32, finishing the season with a 3-13 record. It was the franchise's worst record since joining the IFL in 2010 and its worst franchise record since 2009.
The Fever's tenure as an organization has been relatively successful. The franchise was founded in 2004 as members of the National Indoor Football League,. In their inaugural season, the Fever finished the season 9-5 and earned a berth in the Indoor Bowl. They defeated the Rome Renegades 47-31 to win the championship.
Prior to the 2007 season, the Fever joined arenafootball2. In 3 seasons in the af2, the Fever made the playoffs once and experienced losing seasons in 2 of their 3 seasons. The team was purchased by current owners Teri and JR Carr in September 2009. That same month, the af2 ceased operations and formed a new league called Arena Football 1 (AF1). The Fever were to become a member of AF1, but would eventually drop to the Tier 2 league, the new AF2 in November 2009. However, due to lack of teams for AF2, the idea of a 2-tier Arena Football league was scrapped, and shortly afterward, the Fever joined the Indoor Football League.
The Fever re-discovered its winning ways under former Spokane Shock head coach Adam Shackleford. In their first season in the IFL, the Fever went 7-7, making the playoffs for the first time since 2007. In 2012 and 2013, the Fever would make back-to-back United Bowl appearances, losing both games to the Sioux Falls Storm.
The 2016 season was the team's worst season in the IFL, in which the team had a stout defense but struggled mightily on offense, which couldn't settle on a starting QB for the bulk of the season.
Fever owner Teri Carr issued the following statement, which was published in the Tri-City Herald.
"The owners of the Tri-Cities Fever, JR and Teri Carr, are announcing that the team will be going “dormant” for the 2017 season. Dormant means that the business will continue to own the franchise and be a member in good standing with the Indoor Football League, however the team will not play during that season. Being dormant allows the franchise and all of its assets to be sold and play either locally or in another location (with league approval) or for the Carr’s to move and operate the franchise in another location. This decision was based on increasing expenses without recognizing an increase in revenue.
The Fever has had both on the field and off the field success. On the field they have been to the Championship games 3 times, winning the Championship in 2005 and back to back appearances in 2011 and 2012. They have been given awards by the league for Franchise of the Year, Executive of the year, Community Involvement and Best Game Day Operations. Most recently, Lionell Singleton (DB), was inducted into the 2016 IFL Hall of Fame.
It has been the goal of the franchise to be an active and contributing member of the community. This is a goal that was accomplished. The Fever continually gave all that they were able to through volunteering, donations and fundraising. As an example, in 2015 they contributed over $70,000 to local nonprofits, youth organizations and schools through fundraising and donations. They were contributors and partners to the United Way’s Attendance Matters, Junior Achievement, Tri-City Cancer Center and Afterschool Matters. Additionally players and staff members are in schools and at event appearances 3 days a week.
However, all of the efforts that members of the team and the business have put into the community have not led to increased support from the Tri-Cities. The fan base has remained solid and steady, while the sponsorship support has remained near the same, but those numbers are not enough and the team suffers substantial financial losses every year that are continuing to grow due to increased expenses.
Teri Carr stated, ‘We already have a budget that is as bare bones as I can get it. You can’t save your way to a profit. Over the years, my staff and I have tried a wide variety of ways to increase ticket and sponsorship. While some of those efforts have seen results, the results are never enough to make up the difference. I wish it was as easy as winning and losing, but even after the team made it to the Championship 2 straight years our attendance the following year was the lowest it had ever been. The bottom line is that having the team here in Tri-Cities is just not important to enough of the community to offer it the support that is needed for longevity. With our passion for the game and the business we thought we could work our way there, but it becomes clearer after every season that is not going to happen.’
“I feel it is important that all of the season ticket holders and sponsors know how much their support over the last 12 seasons has meant to us. We survived as long as we did because of them. Their passion for the team helped the Tri-Cities be recognized as one of the “Premier” franchises in Indoor Football.”
The Fever has had both on the field and off the field success. On the field they have been to the Championship games 3 times, winning the Championship in 2005 and back to back appearances in 2011 and 2012. They have been given awards by the league for Franchise of the Year, Executive of the year, Community Involvement and Best Game Day Operations. Most recently, Lionell Singleton (DB), was inducted into the 2016 IFL Hall of Fame.
It has been the goal of the franchise to be an active and contributing member of the community. This is a goal that was accomplished. The Fever continually gave all that they were able to through volunteering, donations and fundraising. As an example, in 2015 they contributed over $70,000 to local nonprofits, youth organizations and schools through fundraising and donations. They were contributors and partners to the United Way’s Attendance Matters, Junior Achievement, Tri-City Cancer Center and Afterschool Matters. Additionally players and staff members are in schools and at event appearances 3 days a week.
However, all of the efforts that members of the team and the business have put into the community have not led to increased support from the Tri-Cities. The fan base has remained solid and steady, while the sponsorship support has remained near the same, but those numbers are not enough and the team suffers substantial financial losses every year that are continuing to grow due to increased expenses.
Teri Carr stated, ‘We already have a budget that is as bare bones as I can get it. You can’t save your way to a profit. Over the years, my staff and I have tried a wide variety of ways to increase ticket and sponsorship. While some of those efforts have seen results, the results are never enough to make up the difference. I wish it was as easy as winning and losing, but even after the team made it to the Championship 2 straight years our attendance the following year was the lowest it had ever been. The bottom line is that having the team here in Tri-Cities is just not important to enough of the community to offer it the support that is needed for longevity. With our passion for the game and the business we thought we could work our way there, but it becomes clearer after every season that is not going to happen.’
“I feel it is important that all of the season ticket holders and sponsors know how much their support over the last 12 seasons has meant to us. We survived as long as we did because of them. Their passion for the team helped the Tri-Cities be recognized as one of the “Premier” franchises in Indoor Football.”
IFL Commissioner Michael Allshouse responded to the statement, saying "Since the Fever's arrival in 2010, Teri and J.R. Carr have been instrumental to the success and growth of the IFL. They possess all the traits that you look for in an ownership group and playing partner. The entire IFL family wishes them well."
At this point in the time, the IFL will remain with 10 teams for the 2017 season. The addition of the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles will fill the void left by the Fever's dormancy.
- DKH
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