The AFL has partnered with rock band Kiss and former AFL team owner Brett Bouchy to bring an expansion team to Southern California for the '14 season. The L.A. Kiss will play at Honda Center, and all inaugural season-ticket holders will be invited to a free Kiss concert at some point during the year (AFL). USA TODAY's Ted Berg reports the band's logo "will be incorporated into the team uniforms," and the band will "run the team in conjunction" with Bouchy. Kiss' Paul Stanley said, "We don't want to wear too many hats. When it's appropriate, we will defer to the people who have experience with this. We're bringing something new to the party." Kiss' Gene Simmons: "We're not going to be passive players in this. We're really going to be part of this thing. ... There's been a lot of attention to detail, to nuances, so that people don't think this is a rock band in football helmets. This is real football, and this is good for the game." Berg notes Kiss will "perform at halftime of the league's championship game, ArenaBowl XXVI, in Orlando on Saturday" (USA TODAY, 8/16). In California, Jeff Miller reports Stanley "designed the team's logo, which, though yet to be revealed, almost certainly will incorporate flames in some way." Bouchy said, "This isn't just another licensing deal for KISS. We are joint partners in the venture. They all have ownership. They are going to be very involved and active with the team" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/16).
