Adam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com
Wednesday December 10, 2008

Contrary to reports on ESPN and several newspapers around the
country, sources tell ArenaFan that there will, in fact be a 2009
season for the Arena Football League.

The Tampa Tribune blog, Storm Report published a report in the 7:00
EST hour that confirmed this story. Tampa Bay Storm head coach Tim
Marcum told the blog, "One thing I'm very disappointed in is this
predetermination, the false information that was out there, that said
the Arena Football League was doomed. I don't know why people
[media] are doing this. Nothing can happen without a vote of the
board of directors, and they voted tonight [on] going forward."

Sources have told ArenaFan that Brett Bouchy, who bought the Orlando
Predators from Ron Howse earlier this week, was instrumental in the
vote.

Question still remains how many teams will be playing in 2009.
Marcum told the Storm Report that the owners are scheduled to meet on
December 19th to work on a schedule for the 2009 season.

Cleveland Gladiators Director of Communications, Phil Tesar
said, "It's business as usual for Cleveland. We've been planning to
play since Day 1 from the end of the season." He continued, "Jim
Ferraro and Bernie Kosar have done everything they can to make sure
the Gladiators are playing in '09."

Orlando Predators Director of Media Relations, Jason Lucas told
ArenaFan, "The mood in our office has been fantastic since Brett came
back. This news comes as no surprise to us because we expected to
play in 2009 all along."

Former AFL executive John "Hondo" Hahn added his approval. "I'm glad
for everyone involved in the Arena Football League… if they (the AFL)
would have decided not to play, it could have meant the end of top
echelon of indoor football as we know it."

The Arena Football League made a release on the night's developments,
in which it described that the Board of Directors was not suspending
the 2009 season.

Despite continuing reports that the Colorado Crush are amongst a
number of teams that could be folding before the season starts, in a
report by ESPN.com on Wednesday evening, Crush vice president of
operations, Luke Stahmer said, "We're readying contracts right now
for when we're ready to move forward with free agency.".

ArenaFan will continue to update this story as it develops.