Impact of Losing Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Mavericks in AF1
Image via X @WBArenaFootball
It’s an all-too-common occurrence in indoor football, as AF1 has terminated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Mavericks’ membership.
On Valentine’s Day evening, the league announced through social media and a press release that the Mavericks will not participate in the 2025 season. While there isn’t word on why the move was made, league leaders Jerry Kurz and Jeff Fisher stay committed to providing fans with the best product on the field.
“This is one of the hardest messages any organization has to deliver,” said CEO Jerry Kurz, “but it is better to eliminate concerns before the season starts than during the season, as many other leagues have had happen. The teams and staff of AF1 remain committed to delivering the best quality product to our fans on the field. We remain optimistic about the future of our league and our great sport.”
“Unfortunately, the Mavericks will not take the field this season, and we are disappointed for the fans in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton,” said Commissioner Jeff Fisher. “They are phenomenal advocates for Arena Football, and their passion for our sport has not gone unnoticed.”
When situations like this happen, the first aspect to consider is turning the attention to the players, coaches, and staff members who have effectively lost their jobs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton knocked it out of the park with their head coach as they hired Shawn Liotta, a veteran of the indoor football game for almost two decades.
This isn’t the first time a situation like this has happened in arena football. In its only season, the AFL had eight 16 teams either fold or get expelled. Three teams in the Indoor Football League, including the Duke City Gladiators, Frisco Fighters, and Sioux Falls Storm, announced going dormant for the 2025 season. In the National Arena League, the Amarillo Dusters were terminated from the league earlier in the month.
Team movement happens all the time for arena football teams. This is not the first time an article like this has been written, and it won’t be the last. The hope is that it will slow down once these leagues establish themselves as long-term solutions for football fans.
Looking at the AF1 outlook, it’s too early to panic. They still have some of the best leadership in arena football and established teams with name recognition. Dropping the league to even 10 teams will make scheduling easier to handle.
Not losing sight of the unfortunate events that affected people’s lives will only strengthen the longevity of AF1, as kickoff is still set for next month.
