by Stephen Ur, Chase Risman
Arena Football Talk’s Topher Kopchak was reportedly told at Columbus Destroyers tryouts last month that there would “100 percent” be four new teams in the Arena Football League in 2020. What could these four teams be?
Cleveland
The Quicken Loans Arena announced they would be doing renovations over the summers of 2018 and 2019, meaning the Gladiators wouldn’t be able to play there. Instead of looking for a new arena to play in over the next two seasons, they went on hiatus until 2020.
2020 is just nine months away, which means the Gladiators are more likely than not going to be one of the four teams coming into the AFL next season.
Detroit
A source with the Washington Post told Inside the Arena at ArenaBowl XXXI that someone within Ted Leonsis’ inner circle was looking to start a team in the motor city. It didn’t happen for 2019, but starting a team doesn’t happen overnight. Look for this to be a potential new team for the 2020 season.
Newark
Following the announcement of the Albany Empire in 2018, Newark, NJ had been the next market in line to bring in a new team. This had been in the works for many years with no success. Perhaps 2020 will finally be the year the league makes it happen.
San Antonio
The odds are definitely not in San Antonio’s favor when it comes to getting an arena football team. Although it’s clear the league wants to return, they have had two tries and both have failed, despite both teams being beloved by the city. The league is currently working with six teams, all on the east coast, with the possibility of expanding to Detroit and Newark, NJ.
Maybe it could work again once some west coast or central teams get back in the mix. The one group that has always been linked to this team and will for sure be dragged back into the conversation is the San Antonio Spurs. Sure, they have that soccer team that has been around for four years now, but remind me again what impact that has a team that plays in an arena 30 minutes away from SAFC? I should also mention that with the WNBA’s Stars now in Vegas, it is essentially easy for an AFL team to play at the AT&T Center.
Of course, we probably won’t hear about AFL expansion until once the season starts, and even if San Antonio is mentioned, we will inevitably hear the same things we’ve heard every time a football team comes to this city. But maybe, just maybe, there is hope again
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