Deseret News | Football teams fight to survive: Economy, disinterest have hurt fledgling league

Reader comments
Football teams fight to survive: Economy, disinterest have hurt fledgling league

From Europe | 4:15 a.m. June 6, 2009

It's a little painful to see the images of all the sports promotion that goes on to keep a team or league afloat with little or nothing to show for it. Our local soccer team here in Norway is reduced to selling ballpoint pens at $1.50 a pop to stay in business. And this is a club that has been around for several decades. Imagine how it must be for a minor league start-up in a market that in my opinion is already over-saturated with sports at every level of competition.

If players want to "keep their dream alive", the NFL and Arena leagues should institute farm systems like baseball, and now basketball, have done. Give players a chance to compete and develop under the protection of a family of teams that parent clubs in the NFL could oversee. Smaller markets like Utah Valley might develop a new sense of pride by collectively latching on to a common NFL team, and support it by supporting their local farm team.

Easier said than done, I know. But it has to be better than what I've read from this article.

Let it go boys | 7:43 a.m. June 6, 2009

What a bunch of Uncle Ricos

sob | 9:44 a.m. June 6, 2009

let it go spoken by someone who has never played the game no doubt.

Comments continue below

glory days | 3:13 p.m. June 6, 2009

passing by!

Anonymous | 4:39 p.m. June 6, 2009

Fold already. Football is boring enough, run for 5 seconds rest for 30, repeat. Now they bring it indoors? For crying out loud, end the misery!

enjoys the game | 4:49 p.m. June 10, 2009

It is a high scoring game that is designed to put excitment in football. Everyone should attend a game and feel the excitment, passion, closeness, and hear the sounds of football.

AIFA = Family Fun for Utahns | 12:52 p.m. June 11, 2009

What the ignorant commenters above ("Let it go boys", "glory days", "Anonymous") don't get is that this is inexpensive, fun, family entertainment.

Of course it's not for everyone, when has football tried to be? It's for those who love the sport. Indoor Football is a new way to enjoy the sport and has an incredible appeal to it.

Jared's story gives no justice to what it really means to play, manage or be a fan of indoor football. In an economy such as this, there is a passion that runs much deeper than money--it's a love for the game that has brought joy to so many, it's the challenge of "doing it all" and improving yourself.

I am proud to say that I know MANY of the players on both Utah teams, as well as Wyoming & New Mexico, and these guys are incredible athletes, team mates, husbands, fathers, co-workers, and members of YOUR community! They don't go around trying to be prima-donnas or create havoc in the streets. They are gentlemen who I enjoy being around nearly every week.

I hope Utah supports the AIFA for a LONG TIME!

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25 photos

Barton Glasser, Deseret News

The Utah Valley Thunder take on the Ogden Knights during an American Indoor Football Association game at McKay Events Center in Orem May 30. Utah Valley won 70-69.

Gallery (25 photos)