Editing Arena Football League (section)

===Relaunch and rock star owners (2010–2014)===
Following the suspension of the AFL's 2009 season, league officials and owners of af2 (which had played its season as scheduled) began discussing the future of arena football and the two leagues. With its 50.1 percent ownership of af2, the AFL's bankruptcy and dissolution prompted the dissolution of af2 as well.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} That league was formally considered disbanded on September 8, 2009, when no owner committed his or her team to the league's eleventh season by that deadline.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}  For legal reasons, af2 league officials and owners agreed to form a new legal entity, Arena Football 1 (AF1), with former AFL teams the [[Arizona Rattlers]] and [[Orlando Predators]] joining the former af2.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=407&articleid=20090930_223_B8_Cmltnh762219 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121008060423/http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=407&articleid=20090930_223_B8_Cmltnh762219 | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 8, 2012 | title = League targets 24 teams | newspaper = Tulsa World | date = September 30, 2009 | access-date = August 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=4512394&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines | title = New arena football league launching, will include 16 teams – ESPN | publisher = [[ESPN]] | date = December 10, 2009 | access-date = August 4, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103071747/http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=4512394&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines | archive-date = November 3, 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref>

All assets of the Arena Football League were put up for auction.<ref name=USATodayAuction/> On November 11, 2009, the new league announced its intention to purchase the entire assets of the former AFL; the assets included the team names and logos of all but one of the former AFL and af2 teams.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3927683 | title = Arena Football One Announces AFL Asset Bid | date = November 11, 2009 | access-date = September 1, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604150645/http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3927683 | archive-date = June 4, 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref> The lone exception was that of the [[Dallas Desperados]]; Desperados owner [[Jerry Jones]] had purposely designed the Desperados' properties around those of the [[Dallas Cowboys]], making the two inseparable. The auction occurred on November 25, 2009.<ref name=USATodayAuction>{{cite news | url = http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2009/11/arena-football-league-assets-even-trophy-set-to-hit-the-auction-block/1 | work = USA Today | title = Arena Football League assets (even trophy) set to hit the auction block | date = November 3, 2009 | access-date = November 17, 2009 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130209043206/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2009/11/arena-football-league-assets-even-trophy-set-to-hit-the-auction-block/1 | archive-date = February 9, 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref> The assets were awarded to Arena Football 1 on December 7, 2009, with a winning bid of $6.1 million.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=9540 | title = Court approves sale of AFL assets to AF1 | work = ArenaFan.com | date = December 8, 2009 | access-date = December 8, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110606124511/http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=9540 | archive-date = June 6, 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref>

On February 17, 2010, AF1 announced it would use the "Arena Football League" name. The league announced plans for the upcoming season and details of its contract with [[NFL Network]] to broadcast AFL games in 2010.<ref>{{cite news | title = Arena Football League Relaunches | publisher = Arena Football League | date = February 17, 2010 | url = http://www.arenafootballmedia.com/omk.php?pid=1614&sid=S201002171952389HSP3D&pr=1769 | access-date = February 17, 2010 | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707182801/http://www.arenafootballmedia.com/omk.php?pid=1614&sid=S201002171952389HSP3D&pr=1769 | archive-date = July 7, 2011}}</ref> AF1 teams were given the option of restoring historical names to their teams. In addition to the historical teams, the league added two new expansion franchises, the [[Dallas Vigilantes]] and the [[Jacksonville Sharks]].

For the 2011 season, the [[Philadelphia Soul]], [[Kansas City Brigade]], San Jose SaberCats, New Orleans VooDoo, and the [[Georgia Force]] returned to the AFL after having last played in 2008.  However, the Grand Rapids Rampage, Colorado Crush, Columbus Destroyers, Los Angeles Avengers, and the New York Dragons did not return. The league added one expansion team, the [[Pittsburgh Power]]. Former [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] wide receiver [[Lynn Swann]] was one of the team's owners. It was the first time the AFL returned to Pittsburgh since the Pittsburgh Gladiators were an original franchise in 1987 before becoming the [[Tampa Bay Storm]]. The Brigade changed its name to the Command, becoming the Kansas City Command.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jqNLvPZko4I2-40y-GAj4yg0TJPAD9GBR5AG0 | title = Philadelphia Soul return to AFL | date = June 15, 2010 | access-date = June 15, 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/06/ex-champion-philadelphia-soul-returning-to-arena-football-league/1 | title = Ex-champion Philadelphia Soul returning to Arena Football League | date = June 15, 2010 | access-date = June 15, 2010 | work = USA Today | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100620000954/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/06/ex-champion-philadelphia-soul-returning-to-arena-football-league/1 | archive-date = June 20, 2010 | url-status = live }}</ref> Even though they were returning teams, the former af2 [[Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings]] moved to New Orleans as the Voodoo, the identity formerly owned by New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson. The former af2 [[Alabama Vipers]] moved to [[Duluth, Georgia]], to become the new [[Georgia Force]] (the earlier franchise of that name having been a continuation of the first [[Nashville Kats]] franchise).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://arenafootball.com/news/index.html?article_id=369 | title = News | publisher = www.arenafootball.com | date = July 17, 2012 | access-date = August 4, 2012 | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120305113633/http://arenafootball.com/news/index.html?article_id=369 | archive-date = March 5, 2012 | df = mdy}}</ref> On October 25, 2010, lt was announced that the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz would not return.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} The [[Milwaukee Mustangs (2009–12)|Milwaukee Iron]] also changed names to the [[Milwaukee Mustangs (1994–2001)|Milwaukee Mustangs]], the name of Milwaukee's original AFL team that had existed from 1994 to 2001.
 
In 2012, the AFL celebrated its silver anniversary for its 25th season of operations. The season kicked off on March 9, 2012. The [[Tulsa Talons]] moved to [[San Antonio, Texas]], and [[Jeffrey Vinik]] became owner of the Tampa Bay Storm.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tampabaystorm.com/team/front-office | title = Tampa Bay Storm – The Official Web Site :: Front Office | author = Tampa Bay Storm – The Official Web Site | work = tampabaystorm.com | access-date = August 24, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180128203047/http://www.tampabaystorm.com/team/front-office | archive-date = January 28, 2018 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The [[Dallas Vigilantes]] were left off the schedule for the 2012 season with no announcement from the management, and the team was subsequently quietly folded with no formal announcement ever being released. The AFL postponed the free agency period to October 31 due to [[Hurricane Sandy]], noting that the National Football League was simultaneously doing the same thing with regard to its trade deadline.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.arenafootball.com/news/free-agency-period-delayed-due-severe-weather |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130117091532/http://www.arenafootball.com/news/free-agency-period-delayed-due-severe-weather |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 17, 2013 | title = Free Agency Period Delayed Due To Severe Weather | work = Arena Football League | date = October 29, 2012 | access-date = October 29, 2012}}</ref>

It was announced on December 12, 2012, that the AFL had reached a partnership agreement with [[NET10 Wireless]] to be the first non-motorsports-related professional sports league in the United States to have a title sponsor, renaming it the NET10 Wireless Arena Football League.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/12/arena-football-league-to-incorporate.html Arena Football League to incorporate NET10 in its name] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219112143/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/12/arena-football-league-to-incorporate.html |date=December 19, 2012 }}, W. Scott Bailey, ''San Antonio Business Journal'', December 12, 2012</ref>  The redesigned website showed the new logo which incorporated the current AFL logo with the one from NET10 Wireless. The title sponsorship agreement ended in 2014 after a two-year partnership.

In 2013, the league expanded with the addition of two new franchises to play in 2014, the [[Los Angeles Kiss]], owned by [[Gene Simmons]] and [[Paul Stanley]] of the rock band [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], and the [[Portland Thunder]].

In 2014, the league announced the granting of a new franchise to [[Mötley Crüe]] frontman [[Vince Neil]], previously part-owner of the Jacksonville Sharks. That franchise, the [[Las Vegas Outlaws (arena football)|Las Vegas Outlaws]], played their home games at the [[Thomas & Mack Center]], previously home to the [[Las Vegas Sting]] and [[Las Vegas Gladiators]]. After 20 years as a familiar name to the league, an AFL mainstay, the Iowa Barnstormers, departed the league to join the [[Indoor Football League]]. The [[San Antonio Talons]] folded on October 13, 2014, after the league (which owned the team) failed to find a new owner.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2014/10/13/afl-talons-won-t-play-in-san-antonio-next-season.html AFL Talons won't play in San Antonio next season, former team executive says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016063903/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2014/10/13/afl-talons-won-t-play-in-san-antonio-next-season.html |date=October 16, 2014 }}, W. Scott Bailey, ''San Antonio Business Journal'', October 13, 2014</ref>  On November 16, 2014, despite a successful season record-wise, the [[Pittsburgh Power]] became the second team to cease operations after the 2014 season. This resulted from poor attendance.<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other-sports/2014/11/17/Power-out-Arena-football-franchise-folds/stories/201411170178 Power out: Pittsburgh's Arena Football League team folds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119172239/http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other-sports/2014/11/17/Power-out-Arena-football-franchise-folds/stories/201411170178 |date=November 19, 2014 }}, Craig Meyer, ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', November 17, 2014</ref>  It was later announced by the league that the Power would go dormant for 2015 and were looking for new ownership.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160402055956/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/121514aaa.html Pittsburgh Franchise to Go Dormant for 2015]}}, AFL website, December 15, 2014</ref>  No new ownership group ever materialized, however.