Arena Football: Does Anyone Even Care?
April 21, 2009
Over the last few months have you heard anyone talking about how much they miss Arena Football? Probably not. As some of you may know, in December of 2008 the Arena Football League cancelled the 2009 season which would have started in March and run through early August. The reason given by league officials for the cancellation was
“league restructuring”. What this meant was that league officials and the players union were looking into new economic models to make the league viable. In the current economic climate it didn't make sense for arena team owners to move forward with the season.
A little over a month ago many news services carried headlines that Arena Football League owners and the Arena Football League union reached a new collective bargaining agreement. A close look, however, reveals that a new CBA has not been finalized, rather the progress made amounted to a mere term sheet outlining a possible CBA. The following is from the AFLPA website:
The AFL and the players union have signed a Term Sheet setting forth revisions to the CBA which will only become binding when both the AFL owners and players ratify the Term Sheet. If approved, the 4 year deal would be in effect from the 2010 season through the 2013 season.
Long time NFLPA lawyer Richard “Dick” Berthelsen now serving as AFLPA acting executive director added the following:
“AFL players have remained steadfast in their love for their sport and their appreciation of their fans. The players are doing everything reasonably possible to ensure that the AFL re-launches in 2010 and grows in the years to come. Players are making economic concessions now in return for a share of expected increases in the League’s value and revenue, because the players believe in the future of the AFL.”
As of today’s date we have heard little more about the CBA being finalized. This certainly has not been a hot topic for the national sports media, and never will be. What is interesting for the student of sports law is the process of negotiating the collective bargaining agreement. Folks like Berthelsen have been around for years. They've been through all the wars between the NFLPA and the NFL owners. Its reasonable to expect progress ending in a new deal. But after canceling the season, how many people will really care about the league in 2010?
Tomorrow: Contracts Between Schools In College Football
Categories: arena football league, collective bargaining agreement, Dick Berthelsen
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