Antonio Brown, the owner of the Albany Empire arena football franchise, faced a surprising turn of events when the team was expelled from the National Arena League (NAL). The NAL terminated the Empire’s membership agreement due to their failure to pay overdue assessments. Each team in the league is responsible for one-seventh of the operating budget, and Brown, the majority owner, was also fined $1,000 for conduct detrimental to the league. However, he refused to pay the fine. As a result, not only is the game scheduled against the Jacksonville Sharks canceled, but all remaining games, including the home games against the Fayetteville Mustangs and the Carolina Cobras, are also canceled.
NAL commissioner Chris Siegfried stated that Brown missed the deadline to pay a $21,000 assessment owed to the league. The owners of the league decided that enough is enough and Brown needs to be a good partner or face the consequences. MVP Arena, the venue for the Empire’s home games, will be refunding season and individual ticket holders for the canceled games. The NAL will adjust the rest of the regular-season schedule and announce it in the near future.
Despite winning the past two NAL titles, the Empire had a disappointing season, finishing with a record of 1-6 and a six-game losing streak. Brown took to Twitter to express his discontent, stating, “Major league not minors.” However, he did not respond immediately to a request for further comment.
It is worth noting that this controversy is not the first involving Brown. He has been involved in various incidents throughout the season, both on and off the field. The Empire experienced multiple coaching changes and player turnover. Brown’s behavior and controversial comments have also drawn negative attention. This latest development adds to the turbulent ownership of the team.
The NAL’s decision to expel the Empire is similar to a previous incident involving the Columbus Lions franchise, which was also removed from the league last year. The future of the Empire remains uncertain, as they are in the final year of their contract with MVP Arena. The arena’s general manager expressed the intention to explore other options at the end of the season.
In conclusion, the Empire’s expulsion from the NAL is a significant blow to Antonio Brown’s ownership. The team’s failure to pay league assessments and Brown’s conduct detrimental to the league led to this outcome. The Empire’s remaining games are canceled, and refunds will be issued to ticket holders. The NAL will adjust the schedule, and the Empire’s future remains uncertain.
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