Editing Arena Football League (section)

===Contraction (2015–2017)===
Jerry Kurz also stepped down as commissioner of the AFL as he was promoted to be the AFL's first president. Former [[Foxwoods]] CEO [[Scott Butera]] was hired as his successor as commissioner.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140926110823/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/092214aaa.html Arena Football League Names Scott Butera Commissioner]}}, ArenaFootball.com, September 22, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=12093 Arena Football League Names Scott Butera Commissioner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122040/http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=12093 |date=October 6, 2014 }}, ArenaFan.com, September 22, 2014</ref>

On August 9, 2015, ESPN reported that the [[New Orleans VooDoo]] and [[Las Vegas Outlaws (arena football)|Las Vegas Outlaws]] had ceased operations.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/080915aad.html | title = VooDoo, Outlaws Cease Operations | publisher = Arena Football League | work = www.arenafootballleague.com | date = August 9, 2015 | access-date = August 9, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150811220131/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/080915aad.html | archive-date = August 11, 2015 | url-status = usurped }}</ref> On September 1, 2015, the [[Spokane Shock]] officially left the AFL and joined the [[Indoor Football League|IFL]] under the new name [[Spokane Empire]], becoming the fifth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since the 2009 AFL bankruptcy ([[Iowa Barnstormers]], [[Tri-Cities Fever]], [[Green Bay Blizzard]], and [[Arkansas Twisters]] left previously).<ref>[http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20150901oku66u IFL Announces Addition of Spokane Shock] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904011604/http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20150901oku66u |date=September 4, 2015 }}, IFL website, September 1, 2015</ref>

On November 12, the league announced the defending champion [[San Jose SaberCats]] would be ceasing operations due to "reasons unrelated to league operations". A statement from the league indicated that the AFL was working to secure new, long-term owners for the franchise. This left the AFL with eight teams for [[2016 Arena Football League season|2016]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20151217155314/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/111215aae.html AFL Issues Statement on San Jose SaberCats]}}, ArenaFootball.com, November 12, 2015</ref>

On January 6, 2016, the league took over "ownership and operational control" of the [[Portland Thunder]] from its previous owners.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160109043245/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/010616aab.html League Takes Over Operations of Portland Thunder]}}, ArenaFootball.com, January 6, 2016</ref> The AFL stated this move was made after months of trying to work out an arrangement "to provide financial and operational support."  On February 3, 2016, it was announced that the franchise would start from scratch and no longer be called the "Thunder" as the name and trademarks belong to former franchise owner [[Terry Emmert]] (similar to the [[Jerry Jones]] move with the Desperados). AFL commissioner Scott Butera announced that a new identity would be announced at a later date.<ref>[http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/291814-169191-afl-commissioner-butera-promises-outstanding-team-for-portland-in-2016 AFL Commissioner Butera promises 'outstanding team' for Portland in 2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205092645/http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/291814-169191-afl-commissioner-butera-promises-outstanding-team-for-portland-in-2016 |date=February 5, 2016 }}, Steve Brandon, ''Portland Tribune'', February 3, 2016</ref>  On February 24, 2016, the Thunder were rebranded as the [[Portland Steel]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080229/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/022416aae.html Portland AFL Organization Rebrands to Steel]}}, ArenaFootball.com, February 24, 2016</ref>

The league's [[2016 Arena Football League season|2016 schedule]], announced on the league's website on December 10, 2015, showed an eight-team league playing a 16-game regular season over 18 weeks, with two bye weeks for each team, one on a rotational basis and the other a "universal bye" for all teams during the [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] weekend, the first weekend in July.  All teams qualified for the postseason, meaning that the regular season served only to establish [[seed (sports)|seeding]].{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

On February 10, 2016, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' and radio station [[WTOP-FM]] first broke the story that Monumental Sports & Entertainment ([[Ted Leonsis]], chairman), which also owns the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]'s [[Washington Capitals]], [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[Washington Wizards]], and [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]]'s [[Washington Mystics]], were "close to a deal" to bring a new expansion franchise to the [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]].<ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/02/10/ted-leonsis-close-to-securing-arena-football-league-team-to-play-at-verizon-center/ Ted Leonsis close to securing Arena Football League team to play at Verizon Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211030826/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp/2016/02/10/ted-leonsis-close-to-securing-arena-football-league-team-to-play-at-verizon-center/ |date=February 11, 2016 }}, Jonathan O'Connell and Dan Steinberg, ''Washington Post'', February 10, 2016</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/03/10/ted-leonsis-to-announce-d-c-is-getting-an-arena-football-league-team/?platform=hootsuite Ted Leonsis to announce D.C. is getting an Arena Football League team] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311082634/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/03/10/ted-leonsis-to-announce-d-c-is-getting-an-arena-football-league-team/?platform=hootsuite |date=March 11, 2016 }}, Scott Allen, ''The Washington Post'', March 10, 2016</ref>  On March 10, 2016, AFL commissioner Scott Butera announced that the deal was finalized and that the new Washington, D.C., team would begin play in 2017.<ref name="arenafootball.com">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160313165854/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/031016aaa.html AFL Lands New Team in Nation's Capital]}}, ArenaFootball.com, March 10, 2016</ref> On July 14, 2016, the team name was revealed as the [[Washington Valor]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/071416aab.html | title = Washington Valor Announced As Team Name | publisher = arenafootball.com | date = July 14, 2016 | access-date = July 14, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160718122617/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/071416aab.html | archive-date = July 18, 2016 | url-status = usurped | df = mdy-all }}</ref> There was also talk for franchises to return to San Antonio and St. Louis as well as a potential new team for  Sacramento.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20160204/SPORTS/160209865 | title = ESPN analyst, Philadelphia Soul owner Ron Jaworski talks arena football, makes Super Bowl 50 prediction | date = March 28, 2014 | access-date = September 25, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161011150357/http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20160204/SPORTS/160209865 | archive-date = October 11, 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref>  However, when the 2017 schedule was announced, there was no mention of any San Antonio, St. Louis, or Sacramento teams.

On October 12, 2016, both the [[Orlando Predators]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.orlandopredators.com/news/2016/10/12/the-orlando-predators-have-chosen-to-suspend-team-operations | title = The Orlando Predators have chosen to suspend team operations | publisher = Orlando Predators | date = October 12, 2016 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161013075444/http://www.orlandopredators.com/news/2016/10/12/the-orlando-predators-have-chosen-to-suspend-team-operations | archive-date = October 13, 2016 | df = mdy-all}}</ref> and [[Jacksonville Sharks]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.jaxsharks.com/news/?article_id=1142 | title = SHARKS MOVING TO RIVAL LEAGUE | publisher = Jacksonville Sharks | date = October 12, 2016 | access-date = October 12, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040238/http://www.jaxsharks.com/news/?article_id=1142 | archive-date = December 1, 2017 | url-status = live }}</ref> announced their departure from the league, with Jacksonville establishing the [[National Arena League]] and the [[Orlando Predators (NAL)|Predators]], after a period of dormancy, being reclaimed by some of its former players and also joining the NAL in 2019. The next day, it was reported that the [[Arizona Rattlers]] were in the planning stages to also leave the AFL for the Indoor Football League for 2017. In the same report, it was stated the [[Los Angeles Kiss]] and [[Portland Steel]] had apparently folded after both teams failed to return calls or respond to inquiries into 2017 season ticket purchases.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.khq.com/story/33384215/rattlers-leaving-afl-to-join-spokane-in-ifl | title = Source: Rattlers Leaving AFL to Join Spokane in IFL | publisher = [[KHQ-TV]] | date = October 13, 2016 | access-date = October 13, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161014061054/http://www.khq.com/story/33384215/rattlers-leaving-afl-to-join-spokane-in-ifl | archive-date = October 14, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Later on October 13, the league held a teleconference with the remaining team owners and issued a statement the next morning declaring that the league would continue in the long-term, although the league did not expressly commit to playing in 2017 at that time.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/as-washington-franchise-prepares-to-join-arena-leagues-future-uncertain/2016/10/14/26647b50-9220-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_story.html | title = As Washington franchise prepares to join, Arena League's future uncertain | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = October 14, 2016 | access-date = October 14, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161015164029/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/as-washington-franchise-prepares-to-join-arena-leagues-future-uncertain/2016/10/14/26647b50-9220-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_story.html | archive-date = October 15, 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref> On October 14, the AFL held a dispersal draft with the five teams selecting players from the Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Orlando, and Portland rosters.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/101416aab.html | title = AFL Holds Dispersal Draft | publisher = AFL | date = October 14, 2016 | access-date = October 14, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161015213835/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/101416aab.html | archive-date = October 15, 2016 | url-status = usurped }}</ref> The Rattlers then officially left the AFL for the IFL on October 17, leaving the AFL with four teams. They were the sixth AFL team to leave for the IFL since the 2010 relaunch.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20161017jic3d9 | title = IFL Announces Addition of Arizona Rattlers | publisher = IFL | date = October 17, 2016 | access-date = October 17, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161018203934/http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20161017jic3d9 | archive-date = October 18, 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref> On November 14, the AFL announced that it had granted [[Baltimore Brigade|a second franchise]] to Washington Valor owner Ted Leonsis to be based out of [[Baltimore]] for the 2017 season,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.monumentalsports.com/newsroom/2016/11/monumental-sports-entertainment-acquires-afl-team-to-play-in-baltimore/ | title = Monumental Sports & Entertainment Acquires AFL Team to Play in Baltimore | publisher = [[Monumental Sports & Entertainment]] | date = November 14, 2016 | access-date = November 14, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180723003528/http://www.monumentalsports.com/newsroom/2016/11/monumental-sports-entertainment-acquires-afl-team-to-play-in-baltimore/ | archive-date = July 23, 2018 | url-status = dead }}</ref> the [[Baltimore Brigade]], bringing the league up to five teams.

On August 23, 2017, the week of [[ArenaBowl XXX]], multiple sources revealed that the AFL planned to expand to [[Albany, New York]], and [[Newark, New Jersey]], for 2018.<ref>[https://southphillyreview.com/soul-hosting-arenabowl-xxx-on-saturday-d91b89601ebe Soul hosting ArenaBowl XXX on Saturday]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Bill Gelman, ''[[South Philly Review]]'', August 23, 2017</ref> The [[Albany Empire (AFL)|Albany Empire]] was confirmed October 24, with the team owned by [[Hearst Communications]] executive [[George Randolph Hearst III]] and sharing non-football management with the Philadelphia Soul.<ref name="albanyaflannounced">{{Cite news | url = http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/It-s-Official-Arena-Football-League-returning-to-12301704.php | title = It's Official: Arena Football League returning to Times Union Center | last = Skodnick | first = Leif | date = October 24, 2017 | work = [[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]] | access-date = October 24, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022011/http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/It-s-Official-Arena-Football-League-returning-to-12301704.php | archive-date = October 25, 2017 | url-status = live }}</ref> There was never another mention of a Newark team in the offseason. On November 28, the Cleveland Gladiators announced that they would have to take a two-year leave of absence while their arena, shared with its primary tenant the NBA's [[Cleveland Cavaliers]], was undergoing construction during the basketball offseason.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/cleveland/cleveland-gladiators-to-take-2-year-hiatus-during-q-renovations/495249675 | title = Cleveland Gladiators to take 2-year hiatus during Q renovations | publisher = [[WKYC]] | date = November 28, 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The next month, the longest-tenured AFL team, with franchise roots to the inaugural AFL season, the [[Tampa Bay Storm]], also suspended operations citing financial problems.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/2017/12/21/tampa-bay-storm-suspending-operations/ |title=Tampa Bay Storm suspending operations |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=December 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222014736/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/2017/12/21/tampa-bay-storm-suspending-operations/ |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>