Power Outage: Pittsburgh Won't Field AFL Team In '15 As Owners Cite Lost Money

The AFL on Monday said that the four-year-old Pittsburgh Power "will not field a team" in '15, according to Jerry DiPaola of the PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW. Team ownership, including co-Owners Lynn Swann and Trib Total Media, "was split on a willingness to spend more money." Power Owner & Chair Matt Shaner: "The team was losing money." AFL Commissioner Scott Butera said, "At the end of the day, ownership decided circumstances weren't right, and they didn't want to continue." Butera added that the Pittsburgh market "was vital to the AFL's marketing plans." He "didn't rule out returning a franchise" to the city. Shaner, who values the franchise at $10M, said he has spoken to “a couple” of interested buyers. DiPaola noted Pittsburgh is "one of three cities losing AFL franchises next year, joining San Antonio and Des Moines." Las Vegas "will be an expansion franchise in the 12-team league" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 12/16).