Post by DiamondThief on Nov 25, 2019 20:17:21 GMT -8
11/25/2019 --
In news which seemingly came as a surprise to the Indoor Football League community, the league announced the addition of a new team for the 2020 season.
The addition of a new expansion team to be located in Frisco, Texas brings the league up to 13 teams for its 12th season. The Frisco area is no stranger to indoor football, having most recently been the home of the Texas Revolution of Champions Indoor Football. The Revolution moved to Frisco in 2018 after spending seven seasons in Allan, TX. After one season at Comerica Center (then known as Dr. Pepper Arena), the team moved to the Ford Center at the Star. The team would play 3 games at the Ford Center before being evicted due to unpaid financial obligations and eventually folded days later.
Prior to the Revolution, Frisco and the Dr. Pepper Arena were also home to two other indoor football teams: the Frisco Falcons of Lone Star Football League, and the Frisco Thunder of the Intense Football League. The Falcons were supposed to play in 2012, but folded before the league schedule was released in 2011. The longest tenured team, the Thunder, played from 2007-2008. When the Intense Football League merged with United Indoor Football to form the modern IFL, the Thunder sat out the season due to construction at their home arena. However, the Thunder never returned.
The unnamed Frisco team will become the third expansion team to join the IFL for the upcoming season. The Oakland Panthers and Spokane Shock have already made their official announcements. Also, the league added the Duke City Gladiators, who made the move from the CIF after five seasons in that league. The IFL consisted of 10 teams in 2019. Despite the loss of the Nebraska Danger due to a lack of buyer after they were put up for sale, the league has increased its team membership to a baker's dozen.
Announcements of the coaching staff, player acquisitions and the team's identity will be made in the coming days, per Sean Whitmire, director of communications for the IFL.
Frisco's team will be family owned. Steve and Kim Germain and their children Jessica, Austin and Zach will helm the new franchise.
"We are super excited about doing business in Frisco, Texas," said Jessica Germain in a league press release. "We literally could have placed this team in any city in the country and we chose Frisco because of it's reputation as Sports City U.S.A., and just because there is so much excitement and energy in and around the city. Frisco is a spectacular are and the people of Frisco deserve this exciting sport."
The Revolution last played at Ford Center at the Star. It was not disclosed in the league's announcement if the new team will play at the same facility, which has an overall capacity of 12,000 persons. The National Football league's Dallas Cowboys utilize the arena as a practice facility. The new team may also opt to call home to Comerica Center. While also located in Frisco, Comerica seats 3,500 for hockey, which could be considered an equivalent capacity to indoor football.
Frisco, Texas is considered a part of the larger Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. It is located roughly 30 miles north of Dallas in North Texas. Its population, according to April 2019 United States Census estimates, is listed at 186,087 people. Nearby Toyota Stadium in Frisco has hosted the FCS Championship Game since 2010.
"Anytime you can add another quality ownership group that fits our future vision and mission to grow the IFL, It makes a great day. We are growing in the right markets with the right people at the right time," said Todd Tyron, commissioner of the IFL. Tyron took over for Mike Allshouse in that post last month, making this his first official team addition in the league.
Per Whitmire, the league is set to release its season schedule later this week.
- ANM
To share this post on social media, please go to the right side of the page (the top of the page on the mobile site) to the social media icons and choose which social media site(s) to share the thread. To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.
