Boise, ID – The arenafootball2 League Office announced that an expansion franchise has been awarded to Boise, ID and will play at Qwest Arena. The yet-to-be-named Boise team is scheduled to begin play in March/April of the 2007 season.
The Boise franchise will be owned by a multiple member limited liability corporation of Idaho Sports Properties/Block22 – owners of the Qwest Arena, Grove Hotel, and Idaho Steelheads (ECHL), Level 7 LLC, and AW Football Partners. Each ownership group will have one-third interest in the AF2 team.
“As an ownership group, we are ecstatic to bring the heart-pounding action of Arena Football to the great city of Boise,” said MARC RASICH, Level 7 Managing Member. “Boise is a strong sports market with a solid foundation of loyal football fans. We are excited to introduce the most fan-friendly, full-throttle and affordable experience in professional sports to this market.”
“Adding an af2 team to our mix of hockey and basketball fits with our mission and philosophy to make the Qwest Arena the premiere sports venue in Idaho,” said GLENN STANFORD, president of Block22. “In addition, it provides us an opportunity to showcase more events for our corporate partners, fans and community as a whole.”
Boise, ID will join Mahoning Valley, OH (Youngstown) for af2’s eighth season in 2007, after welcoming Everett, WA, Spokane, WA and Stockton, CA this year as new franchises.
“The af2 Board of Directors has unanimously approved the addition of the Boise group for the 2007 season,” said JERRY KURZ, af2 President. “We have great confidence that the collective operating group in Idaho will run a top-notch organization both on and off the field.”
For more information about the Boise-based af2 team, please call or e-mail Glenn Stanford, president, Idaho Sports Properties/Block 22. Phone 208.383.0080 E-mail gstanford@blk22llc.com.
ABOUT IDAHO SPORTS PROPERTIES/BLOCK22
Idaho Sports Properties is owned by Block22 a Boise-based limited liability company who own and operate the Grove Hotel, Qwest Arena and Idaho Steelheads Professional Hockey Team (ECHL).
ABOUT LEVEL 7
Level 7 is a Salt Lake City-based limited liability corporation in the business of investing, along with its partners, in sports and sports-related entities in the United States and internationally.
ABOUT AW FOOTBALL PARTNERS
AW Football Partners is an Austin-based limited partnership comprised of DOUG MACGREGOR and former NFL player GLYN MILBURN of the Austin Wranglers.
ABOUT ARENAFOOTBALL2
The af2, in the midst of its seventh season of play, is currently comprised of 23 teams that stretch across the country, from New Hampshire to California. af2 serves as a vehicle to bring Arena Football to second-tier cities and as a developmental league with an unmatched history of sending players, coaches and officials to major professional football leagues each year. The league operates under the same Mission Statement and Fans’ Bill of Rights as the Arena Football League, which is currently in its 20th season. Log on to www.af2.com for more information.
ABOUT QWEST ARENA
Qwest Arena is the most original indoor sports and events arena in the Northwest. Located in the heart of downtown Boise, Qwest Arena is just steps away from shopping, restaurants and local businesses. The Arena has bowl seating for 5,000 people, 39 entertainment suites and additional seating on the arena floor dependant upon event staging. Home of the 2004 ECHL National Champion Idaho Steelheads and the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Developmental League, Qwest Arena hosts a variety of special events including concerts, trade shows, conventions, ice shows, boxing and other sporting events.