Tri-City Fever Won’t Play 2017 Season, Team Could Be Sold or Relocated

The Tri-City Fever are going 'dormant' for the 2017 Indoor Football League season, but some insiders say it's merely the precursor for the team to be sold, relocated, or folded entirely.

Thursday, Fever owner  Teri Carr announced the team will go dormant for the upcoming season, and according to a statement released by the Indoor Football League franchise, this is what it means:

“Dormant means that the business will continue to own the franchise and be a member in good standing with the Indoor Football League, however the team will not play during that season.Being dormant allows the franchise and all of its assets to be sold and play either locally or in another location (with league approval) or for the Carr’s to move and operate the franchise in another location. This decision was based on increasing expenses without recognizing an increase in revenue.”

Carr cited financial issues as a big reason for the move, including releasing some financial information. She and team officials said they've tried to operate on as bare bones budget as possible, and despite some growth and successes, they just haven't seen the fan support needed to make the team a financial success.

In it's inaugural season in 2005, the Fever won the Indoor Football League title, and drew some decent crowds. But despite some great on and off the field successes, the support just didn't materialize. Even recent excellent marketing efforts didn't result in the growth needed to keep the team running.

In fairness, the Fever have suffered because of an overall instability of the sport nationwide. For 22 years, the Arena Football League played a steady number of games, and even had a national television contract with NBC. But after suspending operations in 2009 for a year due to financial issues, the league was never the same. It lost most of it's momentum.  It's still around, with ten teams, but has faded from the national attention it once had.

Last year, the AFL had expected to begin with 12 teams, however, two of them ceased operations, and then another team, the Spokane Shock, left the AFL to join the rival IFL.  This league instability has resulted in not being able to establish an 'identity' that fans can count on year after year, like they can with the Western Hockey League, or the Northwest 'A' league in baseball (Dust Devils, Spokane Indians etc).

This season the team finished 3-13 and missed the playoffs, but team officials say even in years following their championships, or making it to the title game, attendance was not where it needed to be.

Although the team statement indicated the Fever will remain a member in good standing with the IFL, many believe unless a sizeable financial investor comes aboard, the team will either be sold, relocated or disbanded.