Post by DiamondThief on Oct 7, 2018 15:27:26 GMT -8
10/7/18 --
--UPDATED 10/9--
The Indoor Football League has formally announced that the Bismarck Bucks are joining the league beginning in the 2019 season.
The Bismarck Bucks made an informal announcement on their Facebook page on October 5 that they would be joining the league for the upcoming season.
"The Bucks are proud to announce we have joined the largest indoor professional football league in America, the IFL - Indoor Football League. Get ready for a totally FAN-tastic 2019 season!" the team stated on the social media platform on October 5.
Per our source here at SCtoC, Bismarck has been "in" the IFL for some time, but were waiting until they secured a significant local sponsor. Our source speculated that sponsor is Sanford Medical. There has been no formal announcement by the league regarding the addition of the Bucks and the securing of sponsorship.
The Bucks also announced they have hired indoor coaching veteran Rod Miller as the team's head coach. Miller moves over from the Omaha Beef, where he was defensive coordinator last season. He has over 20 years of coaching experience with the IFL, Champions Indoor Football, Arena Football League and China Arena Football League.
The Bucks make the move from Champions Indoor Football to the IFL after having played in the CIF for two seasons, 2017 and 2018. The Bucks reached the playoffs in both seasons. In 2017, they finished 5-7 before losing to the Sioux City Bandits in the Conference Semifinal, 82-43. In 2018, they also finished 5-7. They lost to the Salina Liberty in the North Conference Semifinal, 81-51.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of the Bismarck Bucks to the IFL," league commissioner Michael Allshouse said in a release on the IFL's official website. "The addition of the Bucks continues to solidify our geographic footprint and intensifies local rivalries. We are looking forward to a long and productive partnership with the team and city."
Bismarck, located in central North Dakota, will be the northern-most team in the IFL. They play their home games at Bismarck Events Center which has a seating capacity of 10,100 persons. The Bismarck Events Center previously served as the home of the Dakota Wizards of the Continental Basketball Association and National Basketball Association's Developmental League. The arena also has also hosted the 2002 Ford World Men's Curling Championship, as well as an annual event of the Professional Bull Riders Association.
The Bucks are able to switch leagues this season, as their League Affiliation Agreement with the CIF has expired.
Bismarck is the third team to join the IFL for the 2019 season, joining the Quad City Steamwheelers and the expansion Tucson Sugar Skulls.
All six teams which comprised the IFL are returning to the league for 2019; Arizona Rattlers, Cedar Rapids River Kings, Green Bay Blizzard, Iowa Barnstormers, Nebraska Danger and Sioux Falls Storm. The league is entering its 11th season. The Iowa Barnstormers won the 2018 United Bowl, 42-38, over the Sioux Falls Storm. The River Kings are the re-branded name of the Cedar Rapids Titans.
This site also has learned of the strong probability of one new expansion team which, if it were to join the IFL, would be the league to 10 teams.