New arena league targeting 4 large markets

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Arena Football League, reborn under new leadership after folding last year, is already looking to add teams in Philadelphia, Southern California, Denver and Pittsburgh.

Commissioner Jerry Kurz said on a conference call Wednesday that the league has had serious negotiations to place teams in those markets beginning with the 2011 season. The Philadelphia Soul won the last AFL title in 2008.

"We are so excited to be talking to the Philadelphia market and we would love nothing more than for Jon Bon Jovi, Craig Spencer and Ron Jaworski to join our league," Kurz said. "Our ownership has already extended an offer to them to join us.

"No one has done more for the brand of arena football than that collective group."

Kurz says a new group of owners spent $6.1 million for the assets of the defunct Arena Football League, including the name, history and records. It will relaunch in April with 15 teams — about half of them from the former AFL and the remainder from what used to be known as arenafootball2.

He set out no concrete plans for how many teams the AFL eventually hopes to include. There were 17 AFL teams when the league went bankrupt last year, and another 25 participated in af2.

"I think that horizon is open. Our ownership is dedicated to expansion and covering the country," Kurz said. "However, they're also dedicated to bringing in expansion markets and teams as it is appropriate — when we can make sure that there's great ownership in a city, great community support and it's appropriate — not just to have teams here and there."

Kurz said the new AFL will follow the model of Major League Soccer in having all players and coaches employed by the league instead of by individual teams in a bid to "correct an economic model that failed." That arrangement will allow the league to collectively seek out such needs as equipment deals and workers' compensation coverage.

"It's power buying, not unlike large chains that do that as well, to capitalize on size and quantity," Kurz said.

All players will be paid a uniform amount, Kurz said, although he kept that figure confidential.

"Control is not a bad word. Control is a very good word in these challenging economic times," Kurz said.