Arena Football League files for bankruptcy, ceases all operations

Scott Gleeson | USA TODAY

A month after shutting down operations for all six of its teams, the Arena Football League filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Wednesday — officially ceasing all operations after more than three decades in existence.

"We simply weren't able to raise the capital necessary to grow the League, resolve the substantial legacy liabilities and make it financially viable," league commissioner Randall Boe said in a statement. "We're all disappointed that we couldn't find a way to move forward, and we wanted to thank our fans, our players, coaches, everyone who loved Arena League Football."

The Arena Football League was one of the longest-running indoor football leagues in the country, beginning in 1987. The six remaining teams were Albany, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Columbus, Philadelphia and Washington. The league was well known for launching the career of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, among other figures.

The league suspended local business operations in October and had been evaluating potential strategic operations before Wednesday's decision. The league was mostly hurt by a lawsuit filed by one of its insurance carriers.

The league, re-branded as Arena Football One in 2009, was the second well-known league to close down this year after the Alliance of American Football, which began its first season in February, ended midway through the season in April as a result of financial concerns. The XFL, another league, begins its season in February 2020.

The Arena Football League has issued the following statement. pic.twitter.com/sFTtdAWRQV — Arena Football League (@OfficialAFL) November 27, 2019

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