The Empire was Albany's third arena football team and second AFL team; it succeeded the original Albany Firebirds who began AFL play in 1990 and enjoyed great success, most notably winning ArenaBowl XIII, before moving to Indianapolis following the 2000 season, and later the Albany Conquest who played in the af2 developmental league from 2002 until that league folded after the 2009 season (and was known as the Firebirds for that last season).
After the American Hockey League's Albany Devilsrelocated to Binghamton, NY, the Times Union Center was left without a full-time professional tenant. (It remained home to the Siena College men's basketball team of the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.) On March 14, 2017, Center general manager Bob Belber confirmed that it was in early discussions to bring an AFL team back to Albany.[2]
On October 24, the new Albany team was officially announced as a member of the AFL for the 2018 season. The local ownership group (led by George Randolph Hearst III) has partnered with that of their AFL leaguemates the Philadelphia Soul (which includes Ron Jaworski, Dick Vermeil, Marques Colston and Jahri Evans among others) to run both teams' business operations while keeping their football operations separate.[3] (This marks the second time that the AFL has announced two teams with common ownership and management but separate football operations, as the Washington Valor and Baltimore Brigade are both owned and operated by D.C.-area businessman Ted Leonsis but are competitors on the field and separately coached.) On November 7, Rob Keefe was named the Albany team's head coach.[4] On November 9, the Albany team announced that the four team name finalists were the Empire, Fire, Machine and Phoenix.[5] Voting ended on November 15 and the winning name was announced on January 23, 2018, as the Albany Empire.[6]
The team played its first game on April 14, 2018, losing at home to the Philadelphia Soul 56–35 before a sellout crowd of 13,648.[7] On August 11, 2019, the Empire won their first ArenaBowl, defeating the Philadelphia Soul 45–27.[8]
After the 2019 season, the AFL announced it was ceasing operating teams in local markets and looking into becoming a traveling league.[9] However, the entire league filed for bankruptcy in November 2019 and ceased operations.[10]
Director of player personnel/line coach – Dave Ewart
Director of player operations – Brandon Goldstein
Head athletic trainer – Brett Allen
As of 2019 season
References
^"THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE EXPANDS TO ATLANTIC CITY, N.J." Arena Football League. January 22, 2019.
^Dougherty, Pete (March 14, 2017). "Times Union Center eyeing return of Arena Football, indoor lacrosse". Times Union. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
^Skodnick, Leif; Hughes, Steve (October 24, 2017). "It's Official: Arena Football League returning to Times Union Center". Times Union. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
^"Albany AFL Names Rob Keefe as Head Coach". ArenaFan.com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
^Skodnick, Leif (November 9, 2017). . Times Union. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
^"Albany AFL owners look to build 'Empire'". Spectrum News. January 23, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^Singelais, Mark (April 15, 2018). "Empire open with defeat". Times Union. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
^Weiner, Bob (August 12, 2019). "Empire wins ArenaBowl 32 | The Daily Gazette". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
^Dougherty, Pete (October 28, 2019). "Albany Empire, other Arena Football League teams close operations". Times Union. from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
^Gleeson, Scott (November 27, 2019). "Arena Football League files for bankruptcy, ceases all operations". USA Today. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
^"Albany Empire Ownership". Albany Empire. from the original on February 8, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
^"Albany Empire Front Office". Albany Empire. from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
^"Albany Empire Coaching Staff". Albany Empire. from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
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This article is about the defunct Arena Football League team that operated in 2018 and 2019 For the National Arena League team of the same name see Albany Empire NAL The Albany Empire was a professional arena football team based in Albany New York that began play in the Arena Football League AFL in 2018 Home games were played at Times Union Center located in downtown Albany Albany EmpireEstablished 2018Folded 2019Played in Times Union Centerin Albany New YorkTheAlbanyEmpire comLeague conference affiliationsArena Football League 2018 2019 Current uniformTeam colorsFiery reddish orange dark navy blue grey PersonnelOwner s Trifecta Sports and Entertainment 1 Main owners George Randolph Hearst IIIDan NolanEd SwyerPartner owners with Philadelphia Soul Ron JaworskiCraig SpencerPete CiarrocchiCosmo DeNicolaMartin E JudgeDick VermeilMarques ColstonJahri EvansNicholas GiuffrePhilip JaurigueStewart AnmuthGil PeterHal BrunsonPresidentJohn AdamsHead coachRob KeefeTeam historyAlbany Empire 2018 2019 ChampionshipsLeague championships 1 2019Conference championships 0 Division championships 0 Playoff appearances 2 2018 2019Home arena s Times Union Center 2018 2019 The Empire was Albany s third arena football team and second AFL team it succeeded the original Albany Firebirds who began AFL play in 1990 and enjoyed great success most notably winning ArenaBowl XIII before moving to Indianapolis following the 2000 season and later the Albany Conquest who played in the af2 developmental league from 2002 until that league folded after the 2009 season and was known as the Firebirds for that last season Contents 1 History 2 Season by season results 3 Players 3 1 Individual awards 4 Personnel 4 1 Head coaches 4 2 Staff 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditAfter the American Hockey League s Albany Devils relocated to Binghamton NY the Times Union Center was left without a full time professional tenant It remained home to the Siena College men s basketball team of the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference On March 14 2017 Center general manager Bob Belber confirmed that it was in early discussions to bring an AFL team back to Albany 2 On October 24 the new Albany team was officially announced as a member of the AFL for the 2018 season The local ownership group led by George Randolph Hearst III has partnered with that of their AFL leaguemates the Philadelphia Soul which includes Ron Jaworski Dick Vermeil Marques Colston and Jahri Evans among others to run both teams business operations while keeping their football operations separate 3 This marks the second time that the AFL has announced two teams with common ownership and management but separate football operations as the Washington Valor and Baltimore Brigade are both owned and operated by D C area businessman Ted Leonsis but are competitors on the field and separately coached On November 7 Rob Keefe was named the Albany team s head coach 4 On November 9 the Albany team announced that the four team name finalists were the Empire Fire Machine and Phoenix 5 Voting ended on November 15 and the winning name was announced on January 23 2018 as the Albany Empire 6 The team played its first game on April 14 2018 losing at home to the Philadelphia Soul 56 35 before a sellout crowd of 13 648 7 On August 11 2019 the Empire won their first ArenaBowl defeating the Philadelphia Soul 45 27 8 After the 2019 season the AFL announced it was ceasing operating teams in local markets and looking into becoming a traveling league 9 However the entire league filed for bankruptcy in November 2019 and ceased operations 10 Season by season results EditArenaBowl Champions ArenaBowl Appearance Division Champions Playoff BerthSeason League Regular season Postseason resultsFinish Wins LossesAlbany Empire2018 AFL 1st 8 4 Lost in playoffs Washington 2019 AFL 1st 10 2 Won semifinals Baltimore Won ArenaBowl XXXII Philadelphia 45 27Total 18 6 Regular season 4 1 Postseason 22 7Players EditIndividual awards Edit Offensive Lineman of the YearSeason Player Position2018 Hayworth Hicks OL2019 Ryan Cave OLDefensive Lineman of the YearSeason Player Position2018 Joe Sykes DLMost Valuable PlayerSeason Player Position2018 Tommy Grady QB Offensive Player of the YearSeason Player Position2018 Tommy Grady QB2019 Malachi Jones WRDefensive Player of the YearSeason Player Position2018 Terence Moore LBRookie of the YearSeason Player Position2018 Malachi Jones WR Kicker of the YearSeason Player Position2019 Adrian Trevino KPersonnel EditHead coaches Edit Name Term Regular season Playoffs AwardsW L Win W L Win Rob Keefe 2018 2019 18 6 750 4 1 800Staff Edit Albany Empire staffOwnership 11 Albany ownership group George Randolph Hearst III Albany ownership group Daniel Nolan Albany ownership group Ed Swyer Philadelphia ownership group Craig A Spencer Philadelphia ownership group Ron Jaworski Philadelphia ownership group Pete Ciarrocchi Philadelphia ownership group Cosmo DeNicola Philadelphia ownership group Martin E Judge Philadelphia ownership group Marques Colston Philadelphia ownership group Dick Vermeil Philadelphia ownership group Nicholas Giuffre Philadelphia ownership group Jahri Evans Philadelphia ownership group Philip Jaurigue Philadelphia ownership group Stewart Anmuth Philadelphia ownership group Gil Peters Philadelphia ownership group Hal Brunson Front office 12 Chief operating officer George Manias Chief ticketing officer David Beck Vice president of finance Carly GriffinCoaches 13 Head coach Rob Keefe Assistant head coach general manager Les Moss Director of player personnel line coach Dave Ewart Director of player operations Brandon Goldstein Head athletic trainer Brett AllenAs of 2019 seasonReferences Edit THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE EXPANDS TO ATLANTIC CITY N J Arena Football League January 22 2019 Dougherty Pete March 14 2017 Times Union Center eyeing return of Arena Football indoor lacrosse Times Union Retrieved October 24 2017 Skodnick Leif Hughes Steve October 24 2017 It s Official Arena Football League returning to Times Union Center Times Union Retrieved October 24 2017 Albany AFL Names Rob Keefe as Head Coach ArenaFan com November 7 2017 Retrieved November 7 2017 Skodnick Leif November 9 2017 Fans can vote for Albany AFL team name Times Union Archived from the original on November 11 2017 Retrieved November 11 2017 Albany AFL owners look to build Empire Spectrum News January 23 2018 Retrieved November 12 2021 Singelais Mark April 15 2018 Empire open with defeat Times Union Retrieved April 15 2018 Weiner Bob August 12 2019 Empire wins ArenaBowl 32 The Daily Gazette The Daily Gazette Retrieved February 12 2021 Dougherty Pete October 28 2019 Albany Empire other Arena Football League teams close operations Times Union Archived from the original on October 29 2019 Retrieved October 29 2019 Gleeson Scott November 27 2019 Arena Football League files for bankruptcy ceases all operations USA Today Retrieved November 27 2019 Albany Empire Ownership Albany Empire Archived from the original on February 8 2019 Retrieved February 7 2019 Albany Empire Front Office Albany Empire Archived from the original on December 6 2018 Retrieved February 7 2019 Albany Empire Coaching Staff Albany Empire Archived from the original on February 9 2019 Retrieved February 7 2019 External links EditOfficial website permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albany Empire AFL amp oldid 1087210471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
