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Team
and League History |
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November 2013 |
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 At
a press conference following the weekly Birmingham City Council meeting,
the X-League announces that Birmingham will be the sixth team in the
league's first season, set to start in March 2014.
X-League commissioner Michael Mink and local
franchise owner Larry Ellison are planning to
bring a new brand of indoor football to the area
and pledge that they would do so with no help
from the city. "The city is not going to
financially help us at all. I did not ask for
any money. I do not need any money from the
city. We're going to totally fund this off of my
current business that I've owned since I was 20
years old. We're also going to fund it off of
sponsorships and marketing packages that we
sell. We will not ask the city for a dime. All
we asked was for the venue and also the media
exposure that they can help us with," Ellison
said.
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team will be known as the Alabama Outlawz and
they will play their home games in Bill Harris
Arena, which began $3 million in improvements
about a month ago. The area is part of the
Birmingham CrossPlex facility located on the old
state fairgrounds.
"This is a great day for the city of
Birmingham. This is what we envisioned when we
made the improvements and it's also in line with
the mayor's vision as far as making Alabama a
sports destination," said Kevin Moore, director
of Birmingham CrossPlex and Bill Harris Arena.
Ellison, who will also be the team's head
coach, said he is establishing a three-year
contract with the city for the use of the arena,
with an option for two more three-year
contracts.
There will be 10 teams in the new league but
the Outlawz are the sixth that has a home
playing venue. The other four teams will only
play away games.
Tickets prices are planned to be $15 for
lower level seats and $10 for upper level seats.
Mink, the league's commissioner, has a
history with the city. He graduated from UAB in
1988 and is a former Blazer baseball player.
"I would like to welcome you to a new era of
indoor football. The league will feature a game
unlike any seen before in football. Regardless
of the playing surface, it is the perfect fusion
of an outdoor playing style (that) will allow
even out novice fans the ability to identify
with our game easier. However, our foremost
concern will be the consistent production of a
quality product for our fans to enjoy," Mink
said.
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January 2014 |
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The
Outlawz announce a change to their primary logo. |
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March 2014 |
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2014 X-League |
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Alabama Outlawz |
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Florida Marine Raiders |
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Georgia Rampage |
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Pennsylvania Steam |
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St. Louis Attack |
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April 2014 |
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The
X-League announes that the Pennsylvania Steam
has been sold to a group in Savannah, GA. The
new Savannah Steam will only play the remainder
of their away games and will be based in
Savannah next year.
“It’s great to be
able to add another team in the South for 2015
and it will help the X-League with its
geographic footprint. The Reading Market and
Ownership group couldn’t recover from the MISL
Pennsylvania Roar’s Season in order to continue
in 2014. It’s very unfortunate, but it is best
to make the responsible decision to understand
the problem and deal with it now,” said
Commissioner Mink. |
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May 2014 |
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The
Outlawz cancel their final home game of the
regular season.
Lee Ellison, the team's
owner and head coach, claims the reason is due
to a "scheduling conflict" with a local high
school's graduation that is to be held at the
arena.
The league announcement states
that the game has been considered a 7-7 draw.
The X-League's release reasons that with both
teams (Alabama and Georgia) eliminated from the
X-Bowl the league deemed it financially
responsible to consider the game a draw and use
the operation cost to build for the 2015 season.
“With both teams looking forward to a strong
2015 season this decision only made sense for
the Rampage, Outlawz, and X-League,” stated
X-League President Kacee Smith.
Rumors
are strong that the team, and league, could be
suffering financial hardships.
Ellison
claims all season ticket holders will receive a
refund for the final home game. |
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April 2015 |
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2015 X-League |
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Alabama Outlawz |
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Bloomington Edge |
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Cape Fear Heroes |
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Corpus Christi Fury |
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Florida Marine Raiders |
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Florida Tarpons |
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Georgia Rampage |
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Marion Blue Racers |
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Rio Grande Valley Sol |
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St. Louis Attack |
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June 2015 |
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Earlier this week the X-League clubs decide via
conference call to ask the Rio Grande Valley Sol
to play the Florida Tarpons in X-Bowl II.
However, days later the Sol ownership decide
they will not play due to "issues obtaining
transportation for the trip" to Estero, Florida.
Now the X-League has decided that the
Florida Marine Raiders will take their place in
X-Bowl II. |
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September 2015 |
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 The
X-League announces it is merging with the North
American Indoor Football League.
The
decision was made by Michael Mink, X-League
Commissioner, and Kacee Smith, X-League
President. "With so many leagues forming, it is
imperative that we join together to be
successful. You will never see success with
everyone going in separate directions, so it
makes sense to partner with the NAIF. This
merger will create regional play which will help
team owners save money in their budgets.
Football is also ready to expand abroad. I
believe with this joint venture, we will find
international success which isn't just important
to the teams playing but the fans that watch. We
want to imprint ourselves as successful beyond
the United States by thinking globally," Mink
said.
The NAIF is a proposed indoor
football league that has plans to begin play in
2016.
"The NAIF is pleased to partner
with Michael Mink, Kacee Smith, and the
X-League. This merger will no doubt make the
start of our season even more exciting and put a
deep footprint in indoor football," said NAIF
Co-Owner, Kory White.
Mink and Smith will
both take on roles with the NAIF. Smith will
become Co-President with Richard Beam and Mink
will join as Co-Chairman. "Working with Kacee
Smith has been nothing but a blessing. Now, we
both are excited to play a role in the NAIF. We
anticipate a remarkable season with the new
people we get to work with," Mink said. |
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The X-League announces it has decided not to
merge with the North American Indoor Football
League.
No reason is given, other than to
say both leagues mutually agreed to not move
forward with the merge. |
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October 2015 |
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 In
an extremely short press release, the X-League
announces it has ceased operations and released
its member teams to the American Indoor Football
League. |
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