Calgary Becomes the Third Canadian Alliance Franchise
The Calgary Greys Have Joined the Alliance
March 16, 2022
Calgary, Alberta, Canada - N. Murray Edwards and Calgary Sports and Entertainment LLC announced that the Calgary Stampeders would be leaving the Canadian Football League and joining the AAF for the 2023 season. The 2018 CFL Champions opted out of the 2022 CFL/NFL Europa merger in order to begin preparations for the 2023 AAF season. However, Calgary Sports and Entertainment LLC minority owner and former Calgary Stampeders' QB Doug Flutie announced a new team name and logo for the franchise, the Calgary Greys.
Minority owner and spokesperson Flutie then announced that the team retained many of the former Stampeders' coaching staff. Former Head Coach Dave Dickenson would be the Greys' Offensive Coordinator while former OC and DC Brent Monson and Pat DelMonaco would stay on the staff as the OL Coach and LBs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, respectively. Calgary Stampeders' General Manager John Hufnagel would stay on in the same position.
New familiar faces would also be joining the coaching staff. Former Stampeders great, and current TSN host, Henry Burris would be joining as the QBs coach and former Stampeders and XFL's San Francisco Demons' great Kelvin Anderson as the RBs coach.
Next, Calgary Sports and Entertainment LLC minority owner and former Calgary Stampeders' QB Jeff Garcia came out to introduce the crowd to their newest Head Coach, former Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach, Jack Del Rio. Del Rio was the Head Coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003 to 2011 and for the Oakland Raiders from 2015-2017. He was most recently the Defensive Coordinator for the Washington Football Team in 2020 and 2021.
Former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach from 2008 to 2014, Mike Smith would also be joining the staff as the Defensive Coordinator. Jack Del Rio's son Luke Del Rio would also be joining the staff as the WRs Coach.
Minority Owner Garcia also announced that many former Stampeders' would be joining the inaugural Greys team including three time CFL Champion and three time CFL Most Valuable Player, Bo Levi Mitchell. Joining Mitchell would be RBs KaDeem Carey and Jerome Messam, WRs Markeith Ambles, Josh Huff, Reggie Begelton, Kamar Jorden, and Hergy Mayala, OL Shane Bergman, DL DeShawn Williams, Chris Odom and Folarin Orimolade, LBs Cory James, Nate Holley and Alex Singleton, DBs Tre Roberson and Raheem Wilson, LS Aaron Crawford, K Ronnie Pfeffer and P Rene Paredes.
The Greys will be playing their home games at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.
The Alliance Still Looking at Vancouver
March 17, 2022
Stamford, CT - AAF Owner Vince McMahon announced this morning that the league was still looking at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as one of the expansion cities for the 2023 season despite the BC Lions ownership group, David Braley estate announced that the team would be folded and the organization disbanded after balking at the $30M Alliance buy-in price.
Negotiations have begun with the former NBA Vancouver Grizzlies and current NHL Vancouver Canucks ownership group Canucks Sports & Entertainment LLC and majority owner Francesco Aquilini.
The Alliance also expects to expand to two United States cities for the 2023 season.
The Indoor Football League is Back
March 18, 2022
Grand Island, NE - IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon announced that the Indoor Football League would be kicking off their 2022 season at the end of April after the league sat out 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 virus.
The 18 teams participating in the 2022 IFL season will include the Arizona Rattlers, Green Bay Blizzard, Columbus Wild Dogs, Iowa Barnstormers, Sioux Falls Storm, Louisville Xtreme, Spokane Shock, Tucson Sugar Skulls, Northern Arizona Wranglers, Jacksonville Sharks, Quad City Steamwheelers, Carolina Cobras, Jersey Flight, Ontario Bandits and Indianapolis Enforcers and former AAF members, Oakland Panthers, Cleveland Gladiatros and Orlando Predators.