AFL's cancellation won't affect Thunder

By JOE SCALZO

Vindicator sports staff

YOUNGSTOWN — The Arena Football League voted to cancel its 2009 season, but for the Mahoning Valley Thunder and the rest of the teams in the af2, it’s pretty much business as usual.

“It doesn’t really affect us too much,” said Dr. Michael Slyk, one of the Thunder’s three owners. “We’re moving forward with the af2 season.”

Although the AFL holds majority ownership in af2, the leagues are run separately, with very different economic models.

The average salary for AFL players is around $85,000, with a $30,000 minimum. Af2 players, meanwhile, make $200 per game, plus $50 per victory. AFL teams also play in larger markets and require much larger travel budgets. An AFL team can have an annual budget as high as $10-15 million, while some af2 teams operate for as low as $500,000.

The recent financial downturn prompted New Orleans to shut down its AFL operations and several other teams were threatening to follow suit before Sunday’s cancellation vote. The AFL has said it will resume operations in 2010, although under a different economic model. Teams will most likely cut salaries — the AFL’s players union had already agreed to reduce its salary cap to $1.4 million, from $2 million — and will try to reduce travel, if possible.

“It’s a completely different model than ours,” said Slyk, who had been in contact with the AFL over the past few weeks and wasn’t surprised by the decision. “We’re able to absorb a little more [of an economic downturn] and we have a more reasonable market for expansion.

“For us, 2009 is no different than 2005 and it’s probably no different than 2011 is going to be.”

For more details, read Tuesday's Vindicator or visit Vindy.com.