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  2. NEW ORLEANS VOODOO RETURNS

NEW ORLEANS VOODOO RETURNS

Sep 15th, 2010
Anonymous (not verified)
(New Orleans, Louisiana, September 14, 2010) A press conference was held today at the New Orleans Arena to announce the return of the New Orleans Voodoo to the Arena Football League (AFL) and to the Crescent City. Voodoo operations ceased at the end of the 2008 AFL season and the AFL did not play in 2009. The league filed Chapter 11 Fall 2009. A group of AFL owners joined together and purchased the assets of the league in December of 2009, re-formed and played a full 2010 schedule.

Formerly owner of the now-defunct Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings, Dan Newman will be the managing member of Voodoo ownership, Louisiana Arena Football, LLC, and is currently in New Orleans for the launch of Voodoo operations and team offices. “I’m a south Louisiana native and know the culture well. I also know the love of football in New Orleans and know Voodoo fans have missed their team and want it back, “said Newman. “The Voodoo was one of the strongest teams in the AFL, primarily because of its amazing local support. Our league saw first hand in 2007 and 2008 just how hospitable and supportive New Orleans is as The Voodoo hosted the league championship week both years. Our goal is for the Arena Bowl to come back to New Orleans and for The Voodoo to be playing in the game.”

The Voodoo most likely will enter the South Division of the AFL, joining Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Atlanta. 2011 scheduling will be completed in October. The 2011 season is set to begin the first week in March. Three former AFL teams who did not play this season are returning for 2011: San Jose, Kansas City, and Philadelphia. An expansion team from Pittsburgh also joins which includes in ownership NFL Hall of Fame member Lynn Swann.

AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz stated, “New Orleans hospitality is world renowned and a perfect fit for the AFL. We are thrilled to see the Voodoo back for 2011.” Kurz added, “we expect our 2010 television partner (the NFL Network) to be back for a 2011 nationally televised ‘Arena Football Game of the Week’ and know that the Crescent City will shine when The Voodoo are part of those games.”