Editing Arena Football League (section)

==League finances==
For its second iteration from 2010 to 2019, the AFL ran under a single-entity model, with the league owning the rights to the teams, players, and coaches.<ref name=structure>{{cite web | url = http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=407&articleid=20090927_223_B1_Howcan164403 | title = Caution is new league's strength | last = Brown | first = Mike | work = Tulsa World | date = September 27, 2009 | access-date = September 29, 2009 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20091002093753/http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=407&articleid=20090927_223_B1_Howcan164403 | archive-date = October 2, 2009 | url-status = dead | df = mdy}}</ref> The single-entity model was adopted in 2010 when the league emerged from bankruptcy. Prior to that, the league followed the [[North American professional sports league organization|franchise]] model more common in North American professional sports leagues; each team essentially operated as its own business with different owners and the league itself was a separate entity which in exchange for franchise fees paid by the team owners provided rules, officials, scheduling and the other elements of organizational structure,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=407&articleid=20110330_223_B2_TulsaT505747 | title=Co-owner: Talons couldn't keep vets | first=Mike | last=Brown | newspaper=Tulsa World | date=March 30, 2011 | access-date=August 4, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014092933/http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=407&articleid=20110330_223_B2_TulsaT505747 | archive-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref> while a pool of money was allotted to teams to aid in travel costs.<ref name=travel>{{cite web | url=http://www.themonitor.com/sports/new-31038-costs-rgv.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308100454/http://www.themonitor.com/sports/new-31038-costs-rgv.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2012 | title=Travel costs, geography keeps RGV from new league | last=Sandalow | first=Brian | work=[[The Monitor (Texas)|The Monitor]] | location=[[McAllen, Texas]] | date=September 27, 2009 | access-date=September 29, 2009}}</ref> Expansion fees increased from $250,000 in 1993 to $16.2 million by 2003. In 2005 the [[Kansas City Brigade]] owners paid an $18 million franchise fee, a league record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://funwhileitlasted.net/valuations/franchise-sale-prices-football/|title=Franchise Sale Prices: Football|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref>

In 2019, at the time the AFL filed for bankruptcy, it was operated on a $20 million budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/esg/ex-aol-lawyer-tried-in-vain-to-save-arena-football-league|title=Ex-AOL Lawyer Tried in Vain to Save Arena Football League|website=news.bloomberglaw.com|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref>

===Players compensation===
For most of the 1990s, the average annual salary for an arena football player was around $22,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/1999/08/02/focus3.html|title=Mustang players trade in football uniforms for business suits in off season|author=Hopp, Jessica|date=August 11, 1999|work=Milwaukee Business Journal}}</ref> plus additional bonuses for victories and postseason awards,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ipmall.law.unh.edu/sites/default/files/hosted_resources/SportsEntLaw_Institute/Employment%20Contracts%20Between%20Players%20&%20Their%20Teams/Arena%20Football%20League%20Standard%20Player%20Contract.pdf |title=Arena Football League Standard Player Contract, 1995 season |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207065422/https://ipmall.law.unh.edu/sites/default/files/hosted_resources/SportsEntLaw_Institute/Employment%20Contracts%20Between%20Players%20&%20Their%20Teams/Arena%20Football%20League%20Standard%20Player%20Contract.pdf |archive-date=December 7, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> without injury benefits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/pa-commonwealth-court/1332253.html|title=FindLaw's Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania case and opinions.|website=Findlaw|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref> In 2000, a group of players filed a class-action antitrust suit against the AFL claiming "price-fixed salaries" by league teams and requesting injury compensation,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-feb-05-sp-61270-story.html|title=Arena League Players File Suit|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 5, 2000}}</ref> which led to the league owners threatening to cancel the upcoming season, and requested to negotiate a [[Collective agreement|collective bargaining agreement]] (CBA) in order to elude [[United States antitrust laws]]. To avoid season cancellation, a new group called the "Arena Football League Players' Organizing Committee" (which later became the "Arena Football League Players Association"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nlrb.gov/case/12-CB-004875|title=Arena Football League Players Association, (Arena Football League, and its Member Clubs) &#124; National Labor Relations Board|website=www.nlrb.gov|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref>) was formed, which represented the majority of AFL players, and negotiated the AFL's first CBA with league owners as the acting [[Labor unions in the United States|labor union]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2000-03-02-0003020211-story.html|title=Entering a new arena|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=March 2, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/arena-football-league-reverses-its-field-saves-2000-season/article_5c604ead-46b1-5a47-8155-76559c8e5dc1.html|title=Arena Football League reverses its field, saves 2000 season|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|date=March 2, 2000}}</ref> The union negotiated reduced free agent eligibility (from eight years to four), year-round health care for players and their immediate families, improved safety measures (including replacement of playing fields), raising the average player's salary to $35,000 (and average team payroll to $700,000 from $540,000 in 1999 season) and a [[401(k)]] retirement plan, in exchange for a "hard" [[salary cap]] of $1,375,000 per team for the 2001 season (but with a salary cap exception for "[[Franchise player|Franchise Players]]"), which included player salaries, win bonuses, player health and insurance coverage and a player housing allowance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.prosportsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/afl_settlement_agreement.pdf|title=AFL Settlement Agreement|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903234901/https://www.prosportsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/afl_settlement_agreement.pdf|archive-date=September 3, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-15-sp-53389-story.html|title=Arena League Owners, Union Come to Terms|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 15, 2000}}</ref>

In 2003, the league agreed to "freeze" the salary cap in a new CBA at $1,643,000 for 2003 season, with increases for the following years: $1,684,075 (2004), $1,743,018 (2005), $1,821,453 (2006), $1,921,633 (2007), $2,036,931 (2008), $2,179,517 (2009) and $2,332,083 (2010).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.prosportsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/afl_cba.pdf |title=AFL/AFLPA CBA Term Sheet |date=October 14, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717161832/https://www.prosportsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/afl_cba.pdf |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> The CBA also stated that the owners would not be able to lower the cap until the agreement expires. Players were also eligible for housing stipend if they resided year-round within 75 miles of the team's home arena.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.prosportsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/aflindex.pdf |title=Arena Football League Standard Player Contract |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422143610/https://www.prosportsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/aflindex.pdf |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2009, the league minimum salary was $31,000 and $80,000 on average ($125,000 for quarterbacks),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/arena-football-league-players-cry-foul-owners-survive-shutdown-article-1.423904 |title=Arena Football League players cry foul at owners, try to survive shutdown|website=[[New York Daily News]]|date=January 21, 2009 }}</ref> while the highest-paid player was [[Tony Graziani]], with a salary of over $200,000, including bonuses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=2779526|title=Plenty to learn and like about AFL|date=February 25, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A team Bednarik could love|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/050203|website=ESPN Page2}}</ref>

The increased salaries were a major factor in the decision to go dormant for the 2009 season, after failed attempts by the owners to cancel the CBA, as several teams reported losing $2 million a year. It was believed that they were hoping for a plan similar to one used by the [[af2]], which operated as a single-tax entity,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-04-06 |title=McCarthy: AFL's future still in doubt |url=https://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=4046521  |website=ESPN |first1= Jack |last1=McCarthy |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718133636/https://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=4046521 |archive-date= Jul 18, 2021 }}</ref> or launching a new 11-man outdoor development league called the '''United National Gridiron League''' to replace the recently defunct [[NFL Europe]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/2008/12/16/darrell-k-bedford/63042591007/|title=Darrell K. Bedford|date=Dec 15, 2008 |website=Peoria Journal Star|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref> When the af2 took over as the new AFL and relaunched in 2010, players were paid $400 per game,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20150829/SPORTS/801252189 |title=Winning the only payoff for Arena Football League players |date=Aug 29, 2015  |website=The Florida Times-Union |first1= Gene |last1=Frenette |access-date=July 17, 2021 |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717163333/https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20150829/SPORTS/801252189 |url-status=dead }}</ref> similar to the af2.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/aug/22/arena-football-attracts-lovers-and-dreamers/ |title=They play arena football for love, not money|date=August 22, 2009 |first1=Steve |last1=Silver |website=Las Vegas Sun |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212173736/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/aug/22/arena-football-attracts-lovers-and-dreamers/ |archive-date= Feb 12, 2024 }}</ref> Three players on each team were eligible for designation as a "franchise" player, and received a salary of $1,000 per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-xpm-2011-05-25-os-orlando-predators-nfl-lockout-20110525-story.html|title=No sympathy for NFL: Arena Football players live in world of $400 paychecks|website=Orlando Sentinel|date=May 25, 2011 |first1=Austin |last1=Lyon |accessdate=March 11, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326194542/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-xpm-2011-05-25-os-orlando-predators-nfl-lockout-20110525-story.html |archive-date= Mar 26, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sportsagentblog.com/2011/05/19/united-football-league-canadian-football-league-or-arena-football-league/|title=United Football League, Canadian Football League, or Arena Football League|date=May 26, 2011 |accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref> The league also offered financial aid for housing and meal expenses.

In 2012, the players formed a new union called the "Arena Football League Players Union" (AFLPU),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nlrb.gov/case/17-CB-074958|title=Arena Football League Players Union (Arena Football One, LLC) &#124; National Labor Relations Board|website=www.nlrb.gov|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aflpu.org/about/|title=About|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=AFL players score hefty raise in new CBA|url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/afl-players-score-hefty-raise-in-new-cba/#axzz3DKLd93NU|website=TribLive.com}}</ref> and signed a new CBA that stated that all players would be paid equally: $830 per game for a "veteran" player and $775 for "rookies" plus a housing plan and three meals a day, with quarterbacks earning an extra $250 per start.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/22/arena-football-league-dreams-following-jay-grudens/ |title=In Arena Football League, dreams of following Jay Gruden's path|website=[[The Washington Times]]|author=Boyer, Zac|date=July 22, 2014}}</ref> The salary would increase gradually to $925 and $870 (respectively) until 2017, the last year of the CBA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sportsagentblog.com/2012/10/11/a-look-at-the-arena-football-leagues-new-collective-bargaining-agreement/|title=A Look At The Arena Football League's New Collective Bargaining Agreement|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref> In the last CBA, a new salary cap was put in place ($438,480) with a salary "floor" of $340,000 for a 14-game season, and a $501,120 cap with a $388,576 floor for a 16-game season. Players signed one-year contracts,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportstalkphilly.com/2019/03/arena-football-league-announces-2019-free-agency-training-camp-schedules.html |title=Arena Football League Announces 2019 Free Agency, Training Camp Schedules|date=March 2, 2019 }}</ref> as veteran "compensation range" was $1,100–1,455 per game, while rookies earned between $650 and $1,000 a game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aflpu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/AFL_CBA_2018-2021.pdf |title= AFL/AFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, September 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717161833/https://www.aflpu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/AFL_CBA_2018-2021.pdf |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, player could earn up to $1,000 every year for local business appearances, while per-diem allowance were $41-a-day. In case of a mid-season trade players would have got $500 for moving costs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Average Salary of Philadelphia Soul Coach and Team Players|url=https://philly-injury-law.com/philadelphia-souls-coach-and-team-players-average-salary/|website=Philadelphia Injury Lawyers P.C.|date=April 27, 2018|access-date=April 12, 2024|archive-date=November 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130002903/https://philly-injury-law.com/philadelphia-souls-coach-and-team-players-average-salary/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Accusation of mismanagement and unpaid bills===
In the late 2010s the AFL's entity ownership, Arena Football One, LLC, had been at the center of much controversy over mismanagement of franchises, unpaid bills and several lawsuits against them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/arena-football-league-leaves-trail-of-unpaid-bills-in-portland/471663360 |title=Arena Football League leaves trail of unpaid bills in Portland |author=Kyle Iboshi |website=KGW.com |date=September 7, 2017 |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030809/http://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/arena-football-league-leaves-trail-of-unpaid-bills-in-portland/471663360 |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Jerry Kurz lawsuit====
On July 21, 2016, league co-founder, former commissioner and president Jerry Kurz filed a class action lawsuit against Arena Football One, LLC, and his successor as commissioner, Scott Butera, for what was deemed "breach of contract" after his effective demotion and subsequent firing following the 2015 season.  In August 2018, that lawsuit was dismissed, a new action was filed and ultimately settled. Kurz left for the [[Indoor Football League|IFL]] as Director of Business Development.<ref>[https://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1:2016cv07432/329382 Kurz v. Arena One Football, LLC et al] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729081356/https://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1:2016cv07432/329382 |date=July 29, 2018 }}, Justia Docking & Filings, July 21, 2016</ref>  Kurz now serves as general counsel for the new [[Arena Football One (2025)|Arena Football One]] in 2025.

=== Partnerships ===