The Arizona Rattlers yesterday officially joined the Indoor Football League, a move that "should have a positive impact" on the league, according to Jim Meehan of the Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW. The Rattlers bring "name recognition, stability and a tradition of success," having won five titles. The Rattlers are the latest franchise to "exit the AFL for the IFL," following the Spokane Empire last season and the Iowa Barnstormers two years ago. The departure of the Rattlers, Orlando Predators, Jacksonville Sharks, L.A. Kiss and the Portland Steel leaves the AFL with just four teams for the '17 season. Empire Managing Owner Nader Naini said that the Rattlers are a "high-quality organization" that "brings a lot of credibility and shows we're building something sustainable in the IFL." Meehan writes it will be "interesting to monitor the Rattlers' attendance" next season after the club averaged nearly 13,000 last season. The Empire "suffered a significant drop in season-ticket sales" during the first season in the IFL, averaging 5,275 per game, which was down 2,750 fans per game from the '15 average (Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW, 10/18). In Phoenix, Richard Obert notes Rattlers CEO & Majority Owner Ron Shurts "felt too much money was being lost staying in a league that he wasn't sure could stay afloat because of attrition" since the '10 reboot. Had the Rattlers stayed, they "would have been the only team in the West." Shurts: "We couldn't afford to sit out a year and expect our fans to come back. ... Maybe the AFL will continue. We couldn't take that chance." Obert notes the Rattlers "will negotiate with the AFL to keep their logo" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/18).
SHARK ATTACK: In Jacksonville, Don Coble notes the Sharks "decided to go out on their own by creating a coalition that should result in a re-vamped power arena league next season." Sharks Operating Manager Jeff Bouchy said, "We now believe that we have found an exciting fit in a dynamic, growing league that has international appeal and a league which will bring us back to the roots of arena-style football." Coble notes the Sharks had hopes of joining the IFL, but the application was "rejected since it didn't fit geographically with the league's current roster of 11 teams based in the Midwest and West Coast." Bouchy said that every AFL team a year ago "absorbed losses" of more than $1M (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION 10/18).
KISS IT GOODBYE: In California, Ryan Kartje notes Kiss players and season-ticket holders "remain completely in the dark" after the club reportedly shut down operations. No official "announcement about the team's status has been made by the team or the league." Calls made to Kiss officials over several days "were not returned." The team’s formation was "announced with much fanfare" in '13, but much of the "buzz faded after the team's first season" in '14. The Kiss was the "fourth attempt at an AFL team" in the SoCal market (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/18).
