The AFL yesterday announced that the New Orleans VooDoo have "ceased operations," just one month after the league "took control of the team as part of what the league said was a 'strategic plan to solidify its financial condition,'" according to Christopher Dabe of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. The VooDoo in recent seasons "ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance." The team "averaged 4,066 fans over nine home games" in '15, which "fell well shy of the 5,504 that ranked next to last among 14 teams" in '14. The VooDoo "never posted a winning record in the five seasons since then-owner Dan Newman moved the Shreveport-Bossier Battle Wings to New Orleans and renamed them the VooDoo" in '11. This "was not the first time a New Orleans VooDoo team ceased operations." Saints & Pelicans Owner Tom Benson "held control of the team for four seasons before he suspended operations" after the '08 season (NOLA.com, 8/9).
ONE AND DONE: In Las Vegas, Steve Carp notes the Outlaws' "tumultuous inaugural season in the Arena Football League came to an ignominious end" yesterday when the league "announced that the team had ceased operations and would not participate in the upcoming playoffs despite supposedly having clinched a berth late Saturday." The AFL team owners "decided to not further foot the bill for the Outlaws this season." The league in a statement said, "Since no team ownership is in place, there is no funding for an Outlaws playoff appearance" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 8/10).
