Another New AFL Franchise! Portland, this time it’s YOU!
Get fired up, Portland dancers. WOOT! The BlazerDancers are no longer the only game in town. (At least, I assume not. Every other team in the league has a dance team. No reason why this one shouldn’t.) More tomorrow, after the press conference.
Arena football returning to Portland
By Tim Becker
KOIN
October 1, 2013PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Arena football is coming back to Portland. KOIN 6 News has learned a press conference is scheduled for Wednesday to announce the sale of an existing AFL team to investors led by a well-known local businessman.
The Arena Football League season began in late March this year, and ended with the Arena Bowl on Aug. 17.
It was around mid-August when rumors of the team possibly moving to Portland first surfaced. At that time, the Trail Blazers were reportedly in negotiations to purchase an AFL team, but nothing materialized then.
The Portland ownership group met with other AFL owners last week. The owners of the new Portland team want to have as many players as possible with Oregon ties, and want to bring affordable professional sports to Portland. A head coach has already been identified.
Because the still-unnamed team will be playing in the Moda Center, the Trail Blazers will be involved in the news conference.
This won’t be the first Arena football franchise in Portland. The Forest Dragons played here for three seasons — 1997, 1998, and 1999 – before relocating to Oklahoma City.
The commissioner of the AFL did not return calls for comment from KOIN 6 News.
