Arena Football League 2?

[SackAttack]

What's this, like, the minor league affiliate for AFL?

Was looking to see what's going on in Green Bay the week I'm going to be out there, and apparently they have an AFL2 franchise, but I've never even HEARD of the AFL2.

[Young Drachma]

Yup, the minor league of the arena league. Player development and all that good stuff.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Yeah, AF2 has been around for quite some time, and it's a good way to spread the game to areas around the country. I'd rather see the AF2 over some of the other indoor football leagues that are out there. I've never been to an AF2 game, but I would imagine that it's the AFL atmosphere on a slightly smaller scale. That's good product right there.

[Ksyrup]

Looks like the Lexington team joined the AFL2 this season. Amazingly, they were in TWO DIFFERENT arena minor leagues, first the National Indoor Football League and then the last two years in the United Indoor Football. I didn't know there were that many indoor football leagues, either.

[Cringer]

We have an AFL2 team here, the Rio Grande Valley Dorados. I want to go, just haven't yet....

[wade moore]

I wish we had one local. There was one in Norfolk and the season i was going to start going to games they folded.

[Ksyrup]

The Lexington team story is kinda interesting. After last season in the UIF, they decided to fold the team, claiming they had no fans, were losing money, etc. And then like 2 months later, they decided not to fold, joined the AFL2, and I guess are banking on a higher-profile league and the ability to play a Louisville team as their big rival to spark interest. They're actually very good - they won one championship against Sioux Falls in the NIFL, then both teams joined the UIF and they lost 3 straight playoffs (2 championship games) to Sioux Falls.

[Pumpy Tudors]

There has been a metric buttload of indoor football leagues. Some have been around for a few years, many others have folded after a year a two. I actually watched an NIFL game on television (!) a few years ago, and it just wasn't the same as Arena Football. I don't know if it's because the players aren't as talented, or if it's just the lack of rebound nets in the end zones. I have no idea. This'll sound weird, but the AFL has simply done such a tremendous job of marketing its sport, it's hard for the competitors to match it. For such a fringe sport, AF2 is a very successful minor league. Hell, relatively speaking, I think it's more productive than basketball's NBDL.

If you like football and have an AFL or AF2 team in your area, I strongly suggest checking out a game. Recent rule changes have taken some of the weirdness factor out of the game, so it's a bit easier for new fans to just sit back and enjoy a different style of football. Tickets are cheap, the AFL puts on a great production, and you get to go onto the field after the game (at least in AFL, but probably AF2 also) and laugh at the players for playing such a strange game if you want to. You can't beat that unless you have a pogo stick, two packs of bubble gum, and a Grambling cheerleader.

[rkmsuf]

There's an AFL2 franchise in NH. Draws well. They play in the same arena as the AHL franchise, the Monarchs.

[Pumpy Tudors]

There's an AFL2 franchise in NH. Draws well. They play in the same arena as the AHL franchise, the Monarchs.
Former Ohio State QB Steve Bellisari quarterbacked the Manchester offense a couple of years ago. He played so well that the AFL's New Orleans VooDoo signed him after the season. Bellisari took over the VooDoo starting job halfway through last year, and fans were really excited about him running the team for 16 games this year. Unfortunately, he got hurt in training camp and has possibly lost the starting job to Danny Wimprine. Before opening this season as the VooDoo's starting QB, the last game he had played in New Orleans was the 2003 New Orleans Bowl as a member of the Memphis Tigers. I was at that game.

By extension, I'm a part of Manchester Wolves history. I'm also a part of your history, rkmsuf. Want some booty?

[rkmsuf]

Former Ohio State QB Steve Bellisari quarterbacked the Manchester offense a couple of years ago. He played so well that the AFL's New Orleans VooDoo signed him after the season. Bellisari took over the VooDoo starting job halfway through last year, and fans were really excited about him running the team for 16 games this year. Unfortunately, he got hurt in training camp and has possibly lost the starting job to Danny Wimprine. Before opening this season as the VooDoo's starting QB, the last game he had played in New Orleans was the 2003 New Orleans Bowl as a member of the Memphis Tigers. I was at that game.

By extension, I'm a part of Manchester Wolves history. I'm also a part of your history, rkmsuf. Want some booty?

take me now

[Ksyrup]

A QB with the word "wimp" as part of his name. I've seen everything now.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Dammit, I just re-read my post and noticed that it's a little unclear. Wimprine was the Memphis quarterback in the 2003 New Orleans Bowl, not Bellisari. Dammit shit.

[MJ4H]

Pick up your check and gtfo.

[RedKingGold]

I interned with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers.

Their office is everything you'd expect it to be: about one desk and two coffee cups.