Renegades Announce New Head Coach - Beat Bloomington

With a record of 4-4, and having lost their last two games (at home), the Renegade announced that Tom DeVoe was now the Head Coach for the team.  It will be interesting to see how this actually effects the team's play, but its going to be the final game of the season before the team faces a real challenge.  I gave KC the flip of the coin and picked them over Bloomington this week, they teams were pretty much evenly matched, but I just felt that the Renegades had a better chance of winning than Bloomington, even being on the road.

Next week, the Renegades will be on the road again, this time against the 3-6 Oklahoma City Defenders.  I really don't see Kansas City losing this game, but anything is possible.  In fact, I don't see KC losing either of the next two games, and the only reason to come back and talk about the team before they take on the Omaha Beef would be if the team actually does something incredible, or they completely fall apart.  I am going to stick with my season final of 7-5, their only remaining loss to be against the Omaha Beef.

The Renegade drop their second game in a row, losing 51 to 42 against the Sioux City Bandits.  This really didn't come as a surprise to me, there are a handful of teams that seem to be dominating the league, and Sioux City is one of them.  In fact, this is one of the two teams that I stated it as doubtful the Renegades would beat.  Next week is the game that I wasn't really certain about last week, and looking at this week's results, with both teams at 4-4 but when you look at the Blooming stats I would find myself inclined to give the advantage to Bloomington.  Bringing home field advantage into the mix, while Bloomington is showing a drop in fan support, they are 2-2 at home, while Kansas City is 2-1 on the road.  Flip a coin, but I'm going to go with my gut and say that Kansas City could squeak next week out.  If that is the case, I'm only predicting one more loss this season, and that would leave them at a 7-5 record.  Do I see them winning a championship?  No.  I don't see them making it out of any playoffs that they may luck into.

used without permission

Now, let's get back on the issue of attendance.  Watching the playback of Saturday's game, its clear that the attendance at these games is dismal at best.  You see more pictures of empty seats than you do what anyone could call a crowd.  I am finding it hard to believe that the owners can see a 2014 season here in Kansas City, and looking at the overall numbers across the league, the CPIFL may be a flash in the pan, unless someone can manage to come up with a successful marketing ploy.  Nice experiment gentlemen, but its an failure here in KC.

Now, I have seen some talk about the cheerleaders.  Let's first take into account that they do not pay these ladies to perform, at least not from what I've ever heard.  Working for the KC Renegades is not going to be a major point in any resume they may have.  So, when you get a cheerleader that is plump, as I have heard stated, then either cough some money so that you can hire pole dancers like we've seen in the past, or sit back and enjoy the fact that not all the girls look like they need to eat or they are going to pass out.  I personally like my ladies healthy looking.

KC Renegades End Winning Streak

The Kansas City Renegades lost their bid for five straight wins.  In the face of another dismal attendance, despite the "Kids Day" promotion, the Renegades bombed, losing to the Salina Bombers 47-31.  The Renegade managed to lead the game up until the final few minutes of the first half when the Bombers scored three times before the break, and never looked back.

Again, I didn't waste my time or money making the run down to Kemper Arena to watch the event.  I relaxed at home and pulled the game up on 810TV and watched their live stream.  What I found was a team that couldn't get their game together, and couldn't stop the Bomber's air attack.  In fact, the Bombers didn't have a single running play in the first half.  They did come out in the second half and introduce a running game after half time, and while KC managed to put another 14 points on the board in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome the lead that Salina took into the half and held the rest of the game.  The closest KC came to taking the lead was coming within 3 points with 10:52 left in the game.

Once again, attendance was dismal.  Looking at the video, I find it hard to believe that the team is bringing in enough money to pay the bills.  Yes, there is advertising around the field, but how long are companies going to pay with attendance as low as it is.  Then there was the promo that they ran for this game.  Each paid adult could bring one child to the game for free.  I don't know where they advertised this promo other than on their web site, but it clearly had little affect on the attendance.

So, what's next?  The Renegades take on the Sioux City Bandits (4-2) at Kemper Arena.  The Bandits come into Kansas City after a loss to the Omaha Beef.  Considering the level of play that was observed against Salina, I find it hard to perceive that the Renegades will win next week.  In fact, I am only willing to ponder the idea of the Renegades winning two, maybe three more games.  I will go out on a limb and give the Renegades wins against Oklahoma and Kansas.  Bloomington on the other hand could go either way, but I find it difficult to give the Renegades the upper hand against Sioux City or Omaha.  So, with the Renegades currently at 4-3, they could conceivably end the season at a ... well ... I guess respectable 7-5.  And at that end result, there is a chance that the Renegades could conceivably finish in the top four of the league.

But I am not about to use that possible end result as a statement of how good the team is, but as a reference to how bad the league is.

This Week in the CPIFL (America's Hobbyist Football League)

First and foremost, the idea of calling the players in this league Professionals is an insult to the people playing in the league.  Every indication is that the players in the CPIFL are paid so little that they can't even afford to take time off from their jobs during the season to train or compete.  A ball park figure for the player salaries, which is under a League set Salary Cap, is around $250 per game.  Which means, if they are putting in anything more than 32 hours a week into this hobby, they are making less than minimum wage.  So, let's call it what it is, a hobby league, and let's stop lying to the fans that they are paying to attend a serious professional football event.  To be frank, this is probably only going to be a one year wonder for many of the teams that are in the league.  Looking at Wichita's stats, they are only bringing in less than three thousand fans per game, and no telling how many of those tickets are being comp'd.  And Kansas City has never reported the attendance for their games at Kemper Arena, but a guess by looking at the live streams of the game, they are barely breaking two thousand fans, if they are doing that.

Update:  I have recently heard a news report that the Renegades made an offer to a former NFL Football Player (do I really need to say the name?).  What amazed me was that the reporter commented that they offered him the same deal as the other teams in the league ... $75.00 per game.  That low?  Could that information be correct?  If that is the came, then the league is even more "hobbyist" than I originally suspected and it answers a lot of questions about the quality of play on the field.

Wichita is on top of the standings again this week, carrying an overall record of 6-1.  Interesting is the fact that the team that beat them was Kansas City, who started off 0-2 and has now won their last four games in a row.  If this was the "old" AFL, I would be excited, but this is the CPIFL, and the last game I watched reminded me more of a High School football game than a Professional or even Semi-Pro game.

Anyway, Kansas City did win it's fourth game in a row, beating 0-5 Mid-Mo in Sedalia Missouri.  That's right, little Sedalia has a professional football team.  The week before, they beat another powerhouse in the league, the Kansas Koyotes (based out of Topeka Kansas), who's only win was against ... Mid-Mo.  This coming weekend, the Renegades will take on the Salina Bombers (3-2).  After that, they take on their first real challenge in several weeks, the Sioux City Bandits (4-1), who's only loss is against the Omaha Beef (4-1).  The only two teams that seem to have a chance handing KC another loss are Sioux City and Omaha, who have both already beaten KC in their first two games.  So it comes down to whether or not KC actually resolved its problems on the field, or if the competition is just that pitiful.

The Kansas City Renegades win their third straight game against the 1-3 Kansas Koyotes (Topeka), and they do it with a significant spread in points.  But before we get excited, how is attendance coming along?  And what about the fact that the only significant team they have managed to beat was the Wichita Wild, who currently sit 5-1 with their only loss against KC.  Everyone else that they have beaten are pushing records of only one win, so let's not get excited about the Renegades until they start beating someone with a record.  Looking ahead to next week, it should be another win for the Renegades, giving them a confidence building 4 straight wins. However, should KC get cocky, they could find themselves recording a loss against what looks to be the worst team in the league.  And the scenery is going to change as the Renegades will start playing most of their games on the road, and especially against teams that are showing better records.  But I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt ... there is a change that the Renegade has turned it around and could end this season with a respectable standing.  The problem is ... what's in line for a 2014 venue, will Kemper still be there considering the rumors of change in the bottoms ... and the incredibly low attendance, can they make it worth their time to keep the team going?

The Iowa Barnstormers fall below .500 with a loss to the Philadelphia Soul this week.  Iowa seemed to be off to an incredible start, but they are quickly putting themselves in the basement as they have falled into a losing streak  Chicago, on the other hand, picks up their second win this week, embarrassing the Pittsburgh Power.  Unfortunately, the two teams that I watched last year, one of which has been one of my favorite AFL teams since I discovered arena football, are not doing well at all in 2014..

It's Got To Get Better... KC Renegades

As I stated in my first review of the KC Renegades, the team needs to have a winning season to attract back the fans that they've lost over the past several years with the loss of the Brigade, then the fiasco called the Command.  But as we come out of week three, the Renegades finally pull in their first win against Oklahoma, who came into the match sporting a standing of 1-1.  Now the Renegades are 1-2, and while things seem to be looking up, the team is getting ready to face off the top team in the league, the Wichita Wild, who are currently 4-0.

I decided to take a look at the stats for the past two games, one point of interest was how many people are attending the game.  I find this a point of curiosity since the stands look pitifully empty, and I couldn't help but shake my heads as I noticed that the team is not reporting their attendance to the league, or at least, the attendance is not being reported publicly.  That's scary since the week two game, away, attendance was reported by Sioux City Bandits (which was under 5,000 fans).  

Interesting tidbit to think about as we look forward to the weeks ahead.  The owner of the KC Renegades was also involved in the ownership of the KC Command, according to an article I found in a Philadelphia article about the AFL.  Reflecting back on the pitiful talent that the Command worked with, there is little to bring hope that this team will be handled any better than the previous endeavors.  With that said, I'm going to sit back and wait to see how the season shakes out.  But let us consider the talk on the street about the future of Kemper Arena, and the fact that no team is going to survive in KC without more than a couple of thousand fans supporting it.

KC Renegade - Game One

I find it hard to believe that this new indoor league will survive in Kansas City.  Like around fifty other people, I elected to for-go the $12 cheap seats to attend the game at Kemper Arena, and pulled the game up on Livestream.  What did I find?  A lot of empty seats.  A lot of empty seats along the wall, in the end zones, and up in the cheaper seats of the lower level.  If I was going to rate the team's future based on what I could see in fan support ... its not looking good at all.

Kansas City has taken another step backward when it comes to football in Kansas City.  Watching the game, it came off amateurish.  The KC Renegades quarterback tossed several interceptions, player mistakes cancelling touch downs, and simply falling apart in the second half of the game.  The Renegades were leading the game by four points (21-17) at half-time, but by the end of the third quarter the Omaha Beef had a ten point lead (31-21).  By the midpoint of the fourth quarter, I had seen enough, and I now find myself thinking about next weekend when the Arena Football League kicks off its season and my favorite team, the Chicago Rush, will take on the Iowa Barnstormers.  Hopefully I will be able to find that game on a live stream.

Predictions?  If this first game is any example of team talent and fan support, the Kansas City Renegades will find it very hard to have a second season in Kansas City.  Even with the tickets ranging from $12 to $37 dollars, and Season Tickets around $72 a season, people are not going to put aside their past experience with indoor football in Kansas City and the team will struggle to get any fan support.

The Renegades and The Posse

Kemper Arena will once again be the home of an indoor football team for Kansas City.  In reading over the team's web site, they are agreeing with many of the fans who did not like the Sprint Center as an Arena Football venue, that Kemper makes a much better arena for indoor football.  So, in March of 2013, the Kansas City Renegades will take the field at Kemper Arena and hopefully present Kansas City Football fans with what was lost with the changing of ownership of the AFL and the breaking of the player's union.

Now, for the meat of the article.

With the announcement of the Kansas City Renegades, the now former KC Flightcrew super (annoying) fans through together a new fan club ... The Posse.  They had their facebook page up and running within hours of the annoucement of the new team name, and as usual, they are conducting themselves as if they were a part of the team's PR program.  Maybe they are, but I would have hoped that the owners of the Renegades would have taken the time to look at the conduct of key persona of the now former FlightCrew.

Don't get me wrong.  I would love to think that The Posse will be like the early FlightCrew.  There were a lot of good people involved, and the wingnuts that prompted themselves up as someone special were the vast majority.  I would hope that the people who are involved in The Posse will be more focused on setting up the  group in the image of the FlightCrew of Kemper Arena and not the FlightCrew of the Sprint Center End Zone.

What am I saying?  The FlightCrew of Kemper Arena were fans from all over the stadium who enjoyed Arena Football and loved tailgating ahead of a game.  The FlightCrew that stood in the end zone of the Sprint Center were more egomaniacs than super fans.  During the seasons of the Brigade and the Command at Sprint Center, the FlightCrew became known as the FightCrew.  They drew complaint after complaint from the fans behind them.  They drew criticism from fans at the games for reaching into the field of play to grab a souvineer football.  They made gestures at visiting players that were simply inappropriate for a 'family friendly' environment, and they became more and more convinced that they were an important part of the team, and conducting themselves not as super fans, but super assholes.

I am excited about the return of indoor football to Kemper Arena.  My fear is that these so-called Super Fans are going to resume their antics, that they are going to become a distraction from the game, that they are going to become an embarrassment to the other fans here in Kansas City.  And with the cost of front row tickets being as reasonable as they are, there will be more of these super egomaniacs down on the front row, making life miserable for those who have the seats behind them and/or who are wanting to enjoy the game.

Kansas City Command - Game Over

The Kansas City Brigade captured the attention of Kansas City football fans in the first three years of being a part of the Kansas City Sports Scene.  Their first season was not great, but they came back and made a couple of strong bids during the next two years.  Arena Football in Kansas City was a great experience for those who could not afford the outrageous prices demanded by the Kansas City Chiefs.  It was Blue Collar football.  It was Kid-Friendly football.  It was fan-friendly football.  Then the team moved to the Sprint Center and it all came apart.

The move to the Sprint Center brought a lot of complaints.  Many of the season ticket holders did not like the new venue and many were talking about not renewing their Season Tickets.  Those who did decide to renew their Season Tickets were met with the collapse of the League and instead of being notified about the situation and how to get their refund, left a lot of season ticket holders to find the information for themselves.

With the creation of the new Arena Football League, things changed.  Kansas City wasn't a part of the first season under the new owners, who managed to set Arena Football back about twenty years when they broke the Player's Union before Season two.  The Kansas City Brigade came back with the same ownership, and the same losing head coach, but they didn't come back as the Brigade, they basically gave all the old Brigade fans the finger by renaming the team the Command ... but keeping all the team logos.

It was the same Sprint Center experience.  Over Priced Parking, discouraging tailgating, and with the significantly lower player wages, they failed to field a team that could play football well enough to even give the fans something to hope for.  It was NOT the Arena Football Experience that captured the attention of Kansas City Football fans as the Brigade, and the attendance over the past two years was solid proof that the Team, and the League, was failing to provide what the fans were wanting.

The Kansas City Command were dead when their feet hit the floor.  They kissed the wrong asses.  They held up the wrong people to promote Arena Football in Kansas City.  They made it clear to far too many people that the days of Fan-Friendly Arena Football were long gone and it was now all about raking in the money.  I wish I knew how many people told the owners of the Command that what they needed to do was take the team back to Kemper Arena.  That they needed to get back to the basics of providing a good product at a reasonable price.  They didn't listen to any of us, and now we get to say goodbye to the Arena Football League (AFL) in Kansas City.

The question that remains ... however .... is ...

Has the Kansas City Command tainted the sport for others to try?  Will the football fans of Kansas City give the newly formed Kansas City Renegades a chance to pick up the gauntlet and run?  Different owners, different league, and the return to a popular venue.  We will have to see.

New Team in Town!

The word is getting out and it’s getting out fast.  Kansas City is about to be the home of a new Indoor Football Team.  It is going to be one of the founding cities of the newly formed Champions Professional Indoor Football League, and they are making promises that you will enjoy the game or they will give you your money back.  Sound intriguing?

But can Kansas City support a second Indoor Football Team?  Look at the facts … the Kansas City Command did not draw the crowds that many were hoping for in 2010 or 2011.  But what was everyone expecting?  When they were the Kansas City Brigade, before the original AFL collapsed, people were complaining about how they HATED being at the Sprint Center … and were citing a number of reasons.  Then there was the players strike, which ended up being a player lockout and the owners of the AFL teams broke the player’s union, and the result?  The money for a player in the AFL went from an averaged five thousand plus dollars a game to around 6,800 dollars a year.  Needless to say, the quality of players in the league went to hell and it went to hell in a hurry.  People everywhere were complaining about the level of talent in the league, and they were showing their disgust by not attending games.

The “to be named” team for Kansas City will be doing something that many arena fans have been asking for.  It is taking the games back to Kemper Arena.  No, Kemper doesn’t have the sound system or video systems that Sprint Center has, but I don’t go to a football game to listen to music and watch the screen.  I want to get close to the game without taking out a second or third mortgage on the house.  I also want to be able to tailgate before the game, and that was basically impossible at Sprint Center to have a good tailgate without spending a lot, A LOT of money.  We are going back home to where Arena Football started in Kansas City, to the house where Arena Football was successful in Kansas City.  All we can hope for is that this new league is attractive to the better players available out there.

So, up on all the hype?  Like the sideline seats in the first three rows are only going to be $35 per game?  The promise by the team owner that if you don’t enjoy the game they will give you your money back.  There will be the chance to meet the players after the game, and let’s face it football fans, there really is no bad seat in the house.  Even in the upper deck you’re closer to the field than the upper deck at Sprint.

So, the watch is on around here.  My wife and I are already talking about checking the new team out.  All we’re waiting on is the league schedule for 2013, and the word is the teams will play from March to June, six home games and six away games.