Albany Empire (AFL)
{{short description|Arena football team}}
{{About|the defunct Arena Football League team that operated in 2018 and 2019|the National Arena League team of the same name|Albany Empire (NAL)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Albany Empire
| current =
| logo = Albany Empire.png
| helmet = Albany Empire Helmet Logo 2018.png
| founded = 2018
| folded = 2019
| city = MVP Arena
in Albany, New York
| misc = [http://www.thealbanyempire.com TheAlbanyEmpire.com]
| uniform =
| colors = Fiery reddish orange, dark navy blue, grey
{{colorbox|#FF4500}} {{colorbox|#202946}} {{colorbox|#B1B4B0}}
| coach = Rob Keefe
| owner = Trifecta Sports and Entertainment{{cite web |url=http://www.atlanticcityafl.com/home/ |title=THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE EXPANDS TO ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. |website=Arena Football League |date=January 22, 2019}}
Main owners:
George Randolph Hearst III
Dan Nolan
Ed Swyer
Partner owners (with Philadelphia Soul):
Ron Jaworski
Craig Spencer
Pete Ciarrocchi
Cosmo DeNicola
Martin E. Judge
Dick Vermeil
Marques Colston
Jahri Evans
Nicholas Giuffre
Philip Jaurigue
Stewart Anmuth
Gil Peter
Hal Brunson
| chairman =
| president = John Adams
| mascot =
| pastnames =
| nicknames =
| league =
Arena Football League ({{AFL Year|2018}}–{{AFL Year|2019}})
| team_history =
- Albany Empire (2018–2019)
| no_league_champs = 1
| no_conf_champs = 0
| no_div_champs = 0
| league_champs =
- 2019
| conf_champs =
| div_champs =
| no_playoff_appearances = 2
| playoff_appearances =
- {{AFL Year|2018}}, {{AFL Year|2019}}
| arena_years =
- MVP Arena (2018–2019)
}}
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 MVP Arena located in downtown Albany.
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).
History
After 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.{{Cite news |url=http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Times-Union-Center-eyeing-return-of-Arena-10999070.php |title=Times Union Center eyeing return of Arena Football, indoor lacrosse |last=Dougherty |first=Pete |date=March 14, 2017 |work=Times Union |access-date=October 24, 2017}}
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.{{Cite news|last=Skodnick|first=Leif|last2=Hughes|first2=Steve|date=October 24, 2017|title=It's Official: Arena Football League returning to Times Union Center|work=Times Union|url=http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/It-s-Official-Arena-Football-League-returning-to-12301704.php|access-date=October 24, 2017}} (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.{{cite web|date=November 7, 2017|title=Albany AFL Names Rob Keefe as Head Coach|url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=13717|access-date=November 7, 2017|website=ArenaFan.com|publisher=}} On November 9, the Albany team announced that the four team name finalists were the Empire, Fire, Machine and Phoenix.{{cite web|author=Skodnick|first=Leif|date=November 9, 2017|title=Fans can vote for Albany AFL team name|url=http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Fans-can-vote-for-Arena-team-name-12345379.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111200821/http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Fans-can-vote-for-Arena-team-name-12345379.php|archive-date=November 11, 2017|access-date=November 11, 2017|website=Times Union|publisher=}} Voting ended on November 15 and the winning name was announced on January 23, 2018, as the Albany Empire.{{Cite web|date=January 23, 2018|title=Albany AFL owners look to build 'Empire'|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2018/01/23/albany-arena-football-team-empire|access-date=November 12, 2021|website=Spectrum News|language=en}}
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.{{cite web|author=Singelais|first=Mark|date=April 15, 2018|title=Empire open with defeat|url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Empire-open-with-defeat-12835240.php|access-date=April 15, 2018|website=Times Union|publisher=}} On August 11, 2019, the Empire won their first ArenaBowl, defeating the Philadelphia Soul 45–27.{{Cite web|last=Weiner|first=Bob|date=August 12, 2019|title=Empire wins ArenaBowl 32 {{!}} The Daily Gazette|url=https://dailygazette.com/2019/08/12/empire-wins-arenabowl-32/#:~:text=Moqut%20Ruffins%20kisses%20the%20championship,won%20ArenaBowl%2032%20Sunday%20night.&text=45-27%20victory%20over%20the,12,042%20at%20Times%20Union%20Center.|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=The Daily Gazette}}
After the 2019 season, the AFL announced it was ceasing operating teams in local markets and looking into becoming a traveling league.{{Cite web|last=Dougherty|first=Pete|date=October 28, 2019|title=Albany Empire, other Arena Football League teams close operations|url=https://www.timesunion.com/empire/article/Albany-Empire-other-Arena-Football-League-teams-14569753.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029214131/https://www.timesunion.com/empire/article/Albany-Empire-other-Arena-Football-League-teams-14569753.php|archive-date=October 29, 2019|access-date=October 29, 2019|website=Times Union}} However, the entire league filed for bankruptcy in November 2019 and ceased operations.{{Cite web|last=Gleeson|first=Scott|date=November 27, 2019|title=Arena Football League files for bankruptcy, ceases all operations|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/11/27/arena-football-league-declares-bankruptcy-shuts-down/4322126002/|access-date=November 27, 2019|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}
In 2024, the AFL returned to Albany with a new franchise under new ownership, a revival of the Albany Firebirds.
Season-by-season results
| class="wikitable" style="margin:center; font-size:75%;"
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|ArenaBowl Champions |bgcolor="#DDFFDD"|ArenaBowl Appearance |bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|Division Champions |bgcolor="#96CDCD"|Playoff Berth |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||
| rowspan="2" |Season
!rowspan="2" |League !colspan="3"|Regular season !rowspan="2"|Postseason results | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish
!Wins !Losses | |||||
| Colspan="6" style="background: #202946"|Albany Empire | |||||
| {{afly|2018}} | AFL | bgcolor="#96CDCD"|1st | 8 | 4 | align=left|Lost in playoffs (Washington) |
| bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|{{afly|2019}} | bgcolor="#DDFFDD"|AFL | bgcolor="#96CDCD"|1st | 10 | 2 | align=left bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|Won semifinals (Baltimore) Won ArenaBowl XXXII (Philadelphia) 45–27 |
| rowSpan="3" colSpan="3"|Total
|18 ||6 ||align=left|(Regular season) | |||||
| 4 | 1 | align=left|(Postseason) | |||
| 22 | 7
|align=left| |
Players
=Individual awards=
{{col-float|width=400px}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Offensive Lineman of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{AFL Year|2018}} | Hayworth Hicks | OL |
| {{AFL Year|2019}} | Ryan Cave | OL |
{{col-float-break|width=400px}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Defensive Lineman of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{AFL Year|2018}} | Joe Sykes | DL |
{{col-float-break|width=400px}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Most Valuable Player | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{AFL Year|2018}} | Tommy Grady | QB |
{{col-float-end}}
{{col-float|width=400px}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Offensive Player of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{AFL Year|2018}} | Tommy Grady | QB |
| {{AFL Year|2019}} | Malachi Jones | WR |
{{col-float-break|width=400px}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Defensive Player of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{AFL Year|2018}} | Terence Moore | LB |
{{col-float-break|width=400px}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Rookie of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{AFL Year|2018}} | Malachi Jones | WR |
{{col-float-end}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Kicker of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{AFL Year|2019}} | Adrian Trevino | K |
Personnel
=Head coaches=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"|Name
! rowspan="2" | Term ! colspan="3" | Regular season ! colspan="3" | Playoffs ! rowspan="2" | Awards | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | Win% | W | L | Win% | |||
| style="text-align:left;"|Rob Keefe | {{AFL Year|2018}}–{{AFL Year|2019}} | 18 | 6 | {{winperc|18|6}} | 4 | 1 | {{winperc|4|1}} | style="text-align:left;"| |
=Staff=
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
| colspan=7 style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Albany Empire|border=2}}; text-align:center;" | Albany Empire staff |
|---|
| colspan=7 align="right" | |
| valign="top"|
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Ownership{{cite web|title=Albany Empire Ownership|url=http://www.thealbanyempire.com/team/ownership/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208133039/http://www.thealbanyempire.com/team/ownership/|archive-date=February 8, 2019|access-date=February 7, 2019|website=Albany Empire|publisher=}}
|width="35"| |valign="top"| | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Front office{{cite web|title=Albany Empire Front Office|url=http://thealbanyempire.com/team/front-office|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206123023/http://thealbanyempire.com/team/front-office|archive-date=December 6, 2018|access-date=February 7, 2019|website=Albany Empire|publisher=}}
:As of 2019 season |
=Former radio affiliate (1 station)=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20221224114813/http://www.thealbanyempire.com/ Official website]
{{Albany AFL team}}
{{Arena Football League}}
Category:2017 establishments in New York (state)
Category:2019 disestablishments in New York (state)