Arena Football League Done, Declaring Bankruptcy

((HT: Orlando Sentinel/Limon))

The Orlando Predators have played their final game.

The Arena Football League, which includes the Predators, is folding.

Brett Bouchy, majority owner of the Arizona Rattlers who was trying to regain ownership of the Orlando Predators, confirmed in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel the AFL is poised to announce it will be suspending operations indefinitely. Bouchy expects the league to declare bankruptcy, going into Chapter 7 liquidation.

The AFL and the players' association have yet to announce the league's demise, but numerous publications, including the Columbus Dispatch, are quoting unnamed sources confirming Bouchy's statements. The Albany Times-Union also reports Tampa Bay Storm owner Jim Borghesi posted on his Facebook page Sunday night, "The AFL will be having a press conference to announce that the league will not be returning."

Bouchy said he was deeply saddened and surprised by the owners' decision to shutter the league.

"It's just unfortunate we're in this situation," Bouchy said. "Everyone knows myself and Arizona fought hard to avoid this day. The league was divided into two groups and factions. You had one group of committed owners who contributed capital and willing to do whatever it took to bring the league back in 2010 I have been in that group the entire time. Then there was another group that just wasn't willing to make the investment. We could never get a consensus."

The AFL opted to suspend operations for the 2009 season December 15, promising to use the year off to resolve major financial problems. One of the big sticking points was swelling player salaries approved shortly after the AFL reached a television agreement with ESPN.

AFL salaries range from a minimum of $30,000 to $189,000 for marquee players. Most of the top franchise players were making six-figure salaries. The players union agreed in December to take a 25 percent pay cut and numerous Orlando Predators players said they thought the move would allow them to play the 2009 season, but it wasn't enough to avoid the suspension of play or the decision to permanently shut down the league.

Bouchy, who has been affiliated with the Predators from 1996-2007 and was trying to buy back Orlando majority ownership after one year in Arizona, had high hopes the league would survive.

"I am as shocked as anyone," he said. "If you had asked me 90 days ago, I would have told you there was a 98 percent chance that the league would be back and playing in 2010. I am so upset. I have dedicated 12 years of my life to arena football and it's a shame to see it slip away."

Since the AFL has not approved Bouchy's purchase of the Preds, he says he isn't sure how season-ticket refunds will be handled.

He said it is too soon to tell whether the small faction of owners who were trying to restart the AFL will be able to break away and form their own league.

"I don't know how it happen, but I think there is still a chance the Orlando Predators will be back in some shape in 2010," he said. "I still believe it isn't over."

Here's the highlights from the last Arena Bowl between the Philadelphia Soul and the San Jose SaberCats. The Soul won 59-56...
((HT: ESPN/ABC/AFL))