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Marcum: AFL Season Is On

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: December 11, 2008

TAMPA - It was the best news Tim Marcum heard all week, and it brought with it a sense of relief.

After reading numerous reports the past few days from around the country that speculated on the demise of the Arena Football League and the probable cancellation of the 2009 season, the Tampa Bay Storm coach and general manager said he received word Wednesday evening that the AFL's board of directors had voted to continue operations.

"Heck, I put 20 years of my life into this," Marcum said. "Relieved? Absolutely."

How long that sense of relief lasts remains to be seen.

The AFL office confirmed the league's board of directors met via conference call Wednesday, but the statement the league produced regarding the circumstances of that meeting was that the board "has not suspended the 2009 season at this time" and that "the board will continue to meet regularly to examine any and all long-term structural improvement options for the AFL."

An AFL media relations spokesperson would not say the 2009 season would definitely be played and declined further comment.

Reports from numerous media outlets have swirled during the past few days regarding the AFL's future, many citing the league's current financial troubles leading to the probable cancellation of the upcoming season. Marcum said the league's current economic model is broken and is causing league owners to lose millions each season, and that the model is in dire need of change for the league to survive.

"There's no doubt changes have got to be made," Marcum said. "There is no way we can continue under the league's current economic model."

Marcum said while he was told the league would play in 2009, he said he wasn't sure if all 16 teams would be involved. He said the owners were scheduled to meet later this month to hammer out the final details for the 2009 season.

There is one thing he was certain about, though.

"We the Tampa Bay Storm will play football."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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