Posted on: Wednesday, June 20, 2001

Isles may be considered for arena football franchise

Advertiser Staff

A spokesman for arenafootball2 said "chances are pretty good" there will be a Hawai'i franchise in place when the league opens its 2002 season.

Scott Rowan, media relations manager for af2, said a prospective operators group has applied for a franchise in the two-year-old league.

He declined to say who was behind the bid or whether it was Hawai'i-based. Rowan said a decision will be made by the end of the month.

The league, a minor league spinoff of the parent Arena Football League, which the NFL has an option to purchase 49.9 percent of, is operating as a 28-team circuit. Rowan said plans are to expand to approximately 40 teams for the 2002 season which begins in March.

Franchises have been awarded to Mobile, Ala., and Bakersfield, Calif. Rowan said each franchise costs $750,000-$1 million to operate. He declined to say what the new franchise fee was.

The developmental league pays each of its 19-active roster players a flat $200 per game regardless of position plus a $50 bonus for victories.

There is a three-man taxi squad.

Teams play a 16-game season over 17 weeks between March and August. The Quad Cities Steam-wheelers went 19-0 to win the inaugural championship.