Post by fwp on Jan 8, 2010 9:21:27 GMT -5
www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/01/08/sports/doc4b46e8043c812298409543.txt
WASILLA — The Indoor Football League may not be expanding to Wasilla, but the American Indoor Football Association is ready to.
More than a month after the IFL’s efforts to place a team in Wasilla failed, the AIFA announced earlier this week that the league intends to make the Wasilla-based Arctic Predators its 14th team.
“It’s awesome. I think we made the right decision,” said Hans Deemer, who has worked for more than a year to bring indoor football to the Mat-Su Valley. The AIFA plans to place the Predators in its West Division, where they would compete against teams from Washington, California, Utah and New Mexico.
The league features a 14-game regular-season schedule starting in March, and the Predators intend to play their seven regular-season home games and an exhibition contest at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla.
City of Wasilla Recreation and Cultural Services Manager James Hastings, who oversees the Menard sports complex, said that could be made official during the Wasilla City Council meeting on Monday.
Deemer has reserved the use of the facility, but Hastings said the city cannot begin any contract negotiations or enter any agreement for an extended lease without approval from the city council.
A majority vote on Monday would give city officials the opportunity to enter negotiations with Deemer, the Predators and the AIFA.
“If that’s the case, Tuesday morning we’ll be able to sit down and enter into a contract,” Hastings said.
After problems surfaced following the IFL’s declaration to expand to Wasilla, Hastings said city officials simply want to ensure that a partnership with the AIFA is the right move for Wasilla.
“There was a whole lot of internal turmoil (with the IFL). It seemed like a risky investment,” Hastings said. “We don’t want anything to explode or implode.”
After negotiations failed between the IFL and the city of Wasilla, Hastings said Deemer approached him about another league’s interest of expanding to Wasilla.
Hastings immediately contacted AIFA officials.
“I wanted to talk to the league commissioner to make sure these guys would be able to work together,” Hastings said. “I got assurance from the league commissioner and said, ‘give us your proposal.’”
Deemer said he had formed a relationship with the AIFA long before the IFL considered placing a third Alaska team in Wasilla. Deemer said the experience of working with the AIFA has been far different from his struggles with the IFL.
“It’s a whole different atmosphere,” Deemer said.
In mid-November 2009, the IFL staged a press conference to announce Wasilla’s Arctic Predators as its latest expansion franchise.
Wisconsin businessman Chris Kokalis and former Anchorage native Ken Moninski, owners of the IFL’s LaCrosse (Wisc.) Spartans, led the ownership group. Deemer was announced as the team’s first head coach.
Soon after the press conference, a number of problems surfaced. Disagreements between Deemer and the owners led to a stalemate among the parties, and the city of Wasilla declined to offer the IFL an extended lease.
The disputes, which include the ownership of the name “Arctic Predators,” between the league and Deemer are ongoing.
Regardless of his problems with the IFL, Deemer continued the drive to bring indoor football to the Valley.
“We want pro football in the Valley,” Deemer said.
Hastings said the city simply wants to give Valley residents another entertainment option.
“All we want to do is just have some more entertainment in the Valley,” Hastings said. “I love the state of Alaska, but I love my hometown more.”
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com .
WASILLA — The Indoor Football League may not be expanding to Wasilla, but the American Indoor Football Association is ready to.
More than a month after the IFL’s efforts to place a team in Wasilla failed, the AIFA announced earlier this week that the league intends to make the Wasilla-based Arctic Predators its 14th team.
“It’s awesome. I think we made the right decision,” said Hans Deemer, who has worked for more than a year to bring indoor football to the Mat-Su Valley. The AIFA plans to place the Predators in its West Division, where they would compete against teams from Washington, California, Utah and New Mexico.
The league features a 14-game regular-season schedule starting in March, and the Predators intend to play their seven regular-season home games and an exhibition contest at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla.
City of Wasilla Recreation and Cultural Services Manager James Hastings, who oversees the Menard sports complex, said that could be made official during the Wasilla City Council meeting on Monday.
Deemer has reserved the use of the facility, but Hastings said the city cannot begin any contract negotiations or enter any agreement for an extended lease without approval from the city council.
A majority vote on Monday would give city officials the opportunity to enter negotiations with Deemer, the Predators and the AIFA.
“If that’s the case, Tuesday morning we’ll be able to sit down and enter into a contract,” Hastings said.
After problems surfaced following the IFL’s declaration to expand to Wasilla, Hastings said city officials simply want to ensure that a partnership with the AIFA is the right move for Wasilla.
“There was a whole lot of internal turmoil (with the IFL). It seemed like a risky investment,” Hastings said. “We don’t want anything to explode or implode.”
After negotiations failed between the IFL and the city of Wasilla, Hastings said Deemer approached him about another league’s interest of expanding to Wasilla.
Hastings immediately contacted AIFA officials.
“I wanted to talk to the league commissioner to make sure these guys would be able to work together,” Hastings said. “I got assurance from the league commissioner and said, ‘give us your proposal.’”
Deemer said he had formed a relationship with the AIFA long before the IFL considered placing a third Alaska team in Wasilla. Deemer said the experience of working with the AIFA has been far different from his struggles with the IFL.
“It’s a whole different atmosphere,” Deemer said.
In mid-November 2009, the IFL staged a press conference to announce Wasilla’s Arctic Predators as its latest expansion franchise.
Wisconsin businessman Chris Kokalis and former Anchorage native Ken Moninski, owners of the IFL’s LaCrosse (Wisc.) Spartans, led the ownership group. Deemer was announced as the team’s first head coach.
Soon after the press conference, a number of problems surfaced. Disagreements between Deemer and the owners led to a stalemate among the parties, and the city of Wasilla declined to offer the IFL an extended lease.
The disputes, which include the ownership of the name “Arctic Predators,” between the league and Deemer are ongoing.
Regardless of his problems with the IFL, Deemer continued the drive to bring indoor football to the Valley.
“We want pro football in the Valley,” Deemer said.
Hastings said the city simply wants to give Valley residents another entertainment option.
“All we want to do is just have some more entertainment in the Valley,” Hastings said. “I love the state of Alaska, but I love my hometown more.”
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com .