Post by David on Jul 12, 2017 18:01:33 GMT -8
7.12.17 -
SPOKANE, WA - In an unexpected announcement, the Spokane Empire organization has announced they will cease operations in 2018.
Through a message from majority owner Nader Naini, the Empire's ownership made the decision not to play in the upcoming 2018 Indoor Football League season, citing time to find "potential local partners" to continue indoor football in the city of Spokane. Should local ownership partners not be located, the team could be sold outright.
The team stated it will refund all 2018 season ticket deposits.
Although the term "cease operations" is stated in the headline, it was not stated in the letter specifically. The details of the team's future fall in line with dormancy, which means a team and its assets are to be sold to another ownership. The team's assets can be sold to play in the same market, relocate under new ownership, or relocate with the team's current ownership.
Dormancy is not an uncommon decision in the Indoor Football League. After the 2016 season, the Tri-Cities Fever went dormant for the 2017 season in "good standing."
The Empire are coming off a disappointing 8-8 campaign after making a run to the United Bowl in their inaugural season in the IFL. After starting 7-2, Spokane lost 6 of their last 7 games and were eliminated from playoff eligibility in the last week of the regular season after a 45-42 loss to the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles.
In their first IFL season, in 2016, the Empire finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and advanced to the United Bowl before falling to the Sioux Falls Storm, 55-34.
In spite of the team's longevity, there's been a partly cloudy sky for Spokane dating back to at least the 2014 Season. In a letter to Shock season ticket holders prior to the 2015 Season, Naini stated that the business operation was "losing a significant amount of money." According to Jim Meehan of The Spokesman-Review, Naini and a California partner lost "multiple seven figures in four years."
When the team moved to the IFL prior to 2016, it was noted that the IFL's operation costs were much lower than that of the AFL. Unfortunately, the losses kept coming; per Meehan, it is believed that the Empire lost $600,000 in 2016.
The Empire, while successful, saw a significant drop in attendance after the re-brand and shift to a new league. In an article from The Spokesman-Review on May 25, 2016, Naini noted that 2017 would be a key year for the Empire, stating "My partners and I have made a commitment to this. If the community tells us it’s not interested in this asset, we’re not crazy. We’re going to want to see those numbers rise."
The team's attendance problems and financial losses weren't the only reasons; according to SWX's Sam Adams, the Indoor Football League's uncertain future was also a factor in the decision.
Adams also stated that the Empire was the third team to leave the IFL this off-season or fold altogether, joining the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles and the Colorado Crush. This was backed up by Meehan, who cited a league source that stated he did not expect either team to return. Both the Screaming Eagles and the Crush are owned by Project FANchise.
Not mentioned in Adams's report was the news that the Wichita Falls Nighthawks might be looking to join another indoor football league, specifically the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) league.
The team's ceasing of operations brings about a bittersweet end to a successful run of indoor/arena football in Spokane. Founded in 2005 as the Shock, Spokane saw immediate success from 2006-2009 as members of arenafootball2, appearing in three ArenaCup Championships and winning two. The team moved to the Arena Football League in 2010, winning ArenaBowl XXIII in their first season. Last year, its first season in the IFL as the Empire, Spokane reached the United Bowl Championship before falling to the six-time defending champion Sioux Falls Storm.
Here's the full statement from Empire ownership:
We would like to thank the players, coaches, sponsors, fans and the entire Spokane Empire organization for another terrific season of professional indoor football. We came up short of our pre-season goals but it was not for a lack of effort.
When we took over the Spokane Shock franchise four years ago, we felt we could provide great family entertainment at an affordable price while putting a competitive team on the field for The Inland Northwest to enjoy for many years to come. When we made the decision to leave the challenged Arena Football League two years ago and join the Indoor Football League, we did so with the desire to become part of a league with a solid foundation and committed ownership groups which we believed would allow us to continue the effort to offer up affordable sports entertainment with a winning team on the field. With strong local support, we felt confident the business would thrive.
After much deliberation, we have made the decision not to play football for the 2018 season to allow ourselves time to explore our alternatives including identifying potential local partners who would like to join in the effort to continue indoor football in Spokane or an outright sale of the team. We will be refunding all 2018 season ticket deposits to the legion of faithful fans who continue to support the team.
To our current and former players, coaches and employees, thank you for your years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to Spokane indoor football.
And to all our passionate fans who continued to support the team and came out week after week, year after year, you were the backbone of the franchise. We thank you!
If you are interested in discussing partnership or ownership of the team please contact the Spokane Empire Office at info@spokaneempire.com or by calling 509-242-7464.
When we took over the Spokane Shock franchise four years ago, we felt we could provide great family entertainment at an affordable price while putting a competitive team on the field for The Inland Northwest to enjoy for many years to come. When we made the decision to leave the challenged Arena Football League two years ago and join the Indoor Football League, we did so with the desire to become part of a league with a solid foundation and committed ownership groups which we believed would allow us to continue the effort to offer up affordable sports entertainment with a winning team on the field. With strong local support, we felt confident the business would thrive.
After much deliberation, we have made the decision not to play football for the 2018 season to allow ourselves time to explore our alternatives including identifying potential local partners who would like to join in the effort to continue indoor football in Spokane or an outright sale of the team. We will be refunding all 2018 season ticket deposits to the legion of faithful fans who continue to support the team.
To our current and former players, coaches and employees, thank you for your years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to Spokane indoor football.
And to all our passionate fans who continued to support the team and came out week after week, year after year, you were the backbone of the franchise. We thank you!
If you are interested in discussing partnership or ownership of the team please contact the Spokane Empire Office at info@spokaneempire.com or by calling 509-242-7464.
- DKH
This story was updated with more information from The Spokesman-Review. It will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
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