Talons' future hinges on finding owner

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SAN ANTONIO — The Arena Football League has given the Talons until Aug. 23, the date of the ArenaBowl, to “receive an answer” on their ownership situation.

“The city is a great market, and we would really love for (the team) to stay in San Antonio,” AFL commissioner Jerry Kurz said. “However, it's going through a sunset time and is in need of ownership. We love those fans there, and I hope we can keep it.”

Keith Recine, the Talons' executive vice president and chief operating officer, said he was informed of the deadline last weekend during a conversation with Kurz. During ArenaBowl weekend, Kurz, AFL board members and team owners will conduct meetings and discuss next season's schedule.

“Part of the deal is that, if there isn't any (ownership) deal in place here, (the AFL) really doesn't have a choice but to fold the franchise,” Recine said.

Quarterback Matt Bassuener and the Talons have struggled to a 2-15 record in what might be their last season in the city. Quarterback Matt Bassuener and the Talons have struggled to a 2-15 record in what might be their last season in the city. Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Talons' future hinges on finding owner 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The league-operated Talons have endured a demoralizing 2-15 record and will finish the regular season Saturday at the New Orleans VooDoo.

Unless someone willing to be a principal owner steps forward soon, it could be the last time the team takes the field representing San Antonio.

Former Talons owner David Lynd's unpaid debts to vendors and creditors forced the league to seize ownership last December. Some players received eviction notices from their apartments managed by Lynd's company, and Lynd was eventually sued.

“All of the owners decided that any team that isn't in good standing and hasn't been up to date, and that includes us, the other teams are going to leave them behind and move forward with the schedule for next year,” Recine said. “Mentally, it has worn on all of us. It's one of those things that have crept into everybody's psyche as the year has gone on, and that includes the fans.”

The Talons are the only league-owned team, and the AFL will unlikely continue cutting checks for team employees. The Orlando Predators were league-owned until billionaire David Siegal bought them July 16. Vince Neil — lead singer of the heavy metal band Motley Crue — received approval last month to own an expansion team in Las Vegas.

When the Talons franchise moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2012, things couldn't have started better.

The Talons posted a 14-4 record and won the AFL Central Division title. A year later, they just missed the playoffs after finishing 10-8, losing a division tiebreaker with Chicago.

Since then, the Talons' attendance has gradually decreased. The average home crowd this year sits near the bottom of the league at about 6,300, and the organization has spent about 10 percent of its revenue on marketing and advertising.

Recine and Talons fan club president Steve Canto helped start an online petition on the team's website to show support for arena football in San Antonio. Since it was launched two weeks ago, it has gotten more than 1,500 signatures.

“We need the support so that our team can have ownership,” said Canto, whose group is called the Black N Blue Crew. “As a true fan, it's important for us to stick up for our team through thick and thin and show that this is a football city.”

Recine said San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce chairman Patricia Pliego Stout was “enthusiastic” about the petition idea and that two other local chambers posted the link on their Facebook pages.

“It's starting to get some notice,” Recine said. “It's those kinds of people who can influence whether or not this will be here. I really feel like this is San Antonio's opportunity to keep football and its dream alive.”

It was uncertain that the Talons were even going to play this season.

It wasn't until January — about a week and half until training camp and only two months before the season opener — that the Talons were released from “transaction hold,” which prohibited coach Lee Johnson from assembling a coaching staff and recruiting and signing players.

The delay contributed to the team's struggles, as most premier AFL players were already signed.

Recine said the Talons have had to start reducing positions and cutting hours for the sales staff.

“Everybody else, including myself, may be in that same position if something doesn't materialize,” Recine said. “There's nothing for us to do. There's nothing for us to sell.”

Recine said the team is in the process of entertaining ownership offers.

“We didn't want this situation to serve as a death watch,” he said. “We're just trying to get the word (out) to attract a local ownership to step forward and say, 'Hey, we want to keep this franchise here in San Antonio.'”

avalderas@express-news.net