Shock, af2 will carry on whatever road AFL takes

It’s business as usual for the Spokane Shock and arenafootball2, even if the same can’t be said about the Arena Football League, af2’s older and bigger brother.

There were reports Wednesday that the AFL was considering canceling its 2009 season for financial reasons. The 21-year-old league issued a statement that “the AFL continues to work on long-term structural improvement options. Some of the options may impact the 2009 season.”

The Associated Press reported later Wednesday night that the league had voted not to suspend play.

The 2009 schedule, however, has not been released.

Whether AFL plays in 2009 or not, af2 will proceed, according to Shock majority owner Brady Nelson and af2 president Jerry Kurz.

“We are getting a few calls (from concerned fans), but we’re telling them that whatever the AFL situation is, it doesn’t affect us directly,” Nelson said.

“Af2 was created nine years ago as a developmental league (for AFL), but there are no economic ties between the two leagues. It’s a separate league, separate owners.”

“If that (AFL cancels its 2009 season) happens, and it’s the worst-case scenario, it doesn’t affect us a lick,” Kurz said. “We purposely in the last number of years since I was asked to take over (as president) have done everything we can to be as independent as we can.”

AFL is a shareholder in af2, but Nelson said af2 teams pay annual rights fees to the AFL and the parent league doesn’t offer monetary assistance to af2.

Kurz said the leagues only share officials, but otherwise have separate offices, separate administrations and different business models. The latter, coupled with the nation’s economic downturn, has AFL facing a financial crisis.

“I’ve been asked so many times if we would consider joining the AFL and we’ve always said it doesn’t make financial sense,” Nelson said. “With the tightening of the economy, the AFL owners are considering how to fix things or if they want to wait (and resume in 2010). I hope they have a (2009) season.”

When the Shock played for the ArenaCup championship in August, Kurz said Spokane is perfectly suited for af2, noting that AFL teams have a salary cap of nearly $3 million while af2 players make $200 per game, plus $50 if they’re on the winning team.

AFL players belong to the NFL Players Association.

Spokane has already sold 7,000 season tickets, ahead of last year’s record pace, according to general manager Adam Nebeker.

The team has been successful with three division titles, one ArenaCup title and one runner-up finish in its three years of existence.

“We’re selling tickets, the lights are on and we’re busy signing players,” Nebeker said. “We’re 100 percent a go for next year.”

Kurz is on the AFL’s board of directors.

“We’re very supportive of our big brothers,” Kurz said. “We’re all facing challenges. I saw something yesterday that I never thought I’d see in my lifetime – the NFL reducing staff by 15 percent.

“AFL has talked for years about restructuring its financial model and they’re working with the union, but it’s the reason we set up our model the way we did.

“You have to set up a business and give it a blueprint for success. …We’re in the same family, it’s the same great game, but the economic models are different on purpose.”