MVP Arena general manager Bob Belber said he’s meeting in person today with two potential ownership groups interested in putting an arena football franchise in Albany next year.
Former Albany Empire owner Ron Tridico has expressed interest in putting another franchise in Albany after the Empire was kicked out of the National Arena League on June 15. Belber has not identified the other group.
Timeline: The rise and fall of Antonio Brown’s Empire
Efforts to reach Tridico were unsuccessful.
Possible options are the NAL, the Indoor Football League or a new Arena Football League that is supposed to begin play in 2024.
“All leagues are being considered,” Belber said in an email.
Belber said last week there will definitely be arena football at MVP Arena next year.
“I’m positive of that and I’m not even the least bit worried about (whether) there will be,” he said.
Belber said he expected to have a team in place by early August.
Related: Here are the nicknames you want for Albany’s next football team
The NAL is down to five teams after the expulsion of the Empire and Monday’s announcement that the Fayetteville Mustangs are being dropped from the remainder of this season’s schedule because of funding issues.
“We were informed by Fayetteville Mustangs owner Robb Twadell that he was unable to fulfill his financial obligations to his players, coaches and for team travel,” NAL Commissioner Chris Siegfried said in a news release.
The Empire’s final home game May 27 was against Fayetteville, a 49-27 Mustangs victory.
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