Albany Firebirds (af2)

{{short description|Arena football team}}

{{About|the AF2 franchise|the AFL franchise that played 1990–2000|Indiana Firebirds|the AFL franchise playing since 2024|Albany Firebirds (2023–)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox indoor American football team

| name = Albany Firebirds

| logo = Albany Firebirds Logo.png

| helmet =

| founded = 2002

| folded = 2009

| city = Times Union Center
in Albany, New York

| misc =

| uniform =

| colors = Black, royal blue, red, burnt orange, gold, white
{{color box|black}} {{color box|#2F4C67}} {{color box|#CC0000}} {{color box|#BA4D00}} {{color box|#E7B700}} {{color box|white}}

| coach = Tony Bowick

| owner = Capital District Sports, Inc.

| chairman =

| president =

| general manager =

| mascot = Flames

| cheerleaders =

| nicknames =

| league =

AF2 ({{af2 Year|2002}}–{{af2 Year|2009}})

• American Conference (2002–2009)
• Northeast Division (2002–2004)
• Eastern Division (2005–2006)
• East Division (2007–2009)

| team_history =

• Albany Conquest (2002–2008)
• Albany Firebirds (2009)

| no_league_champs = 0

| no_conf_champs = 0

| no_div_champs = 2

| league_champs =

| conf_champs =

| div_champs =

• {{af2 Year|2002}}, {{af2 Year|2003}}

| playoff_appearances =

• {{af2 Year|2002}}, {{af2 Year|2003}}, {{af2 Year|2009}}

| no_playoff_appearances = 3

| arena_years =

• Times Union Center (2002–2009)

}}

The Albany Firebirds were a professional arena football team of the AF2 based in Albany, New York. Albany was granted an expansion team in 2002{{cite web|date=June 20, 2001|title=Arena football returns to Albany|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/arena-football-returns-to-albany/n-2708288|url-status=live|access-date=July 19, 2017|work=OurSports Central|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208174849/http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/arena-football-returns-to-albany/n-2708288 |archive-date=2017-12-08 }} and began play as the Albany Conquest. The Firebirds played their home games at the Times Union Center. They are the second arena football team for Albany, as the city was granted an expansion team, the Albany Firebirds, in the Arena Football League in 1990. The team moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in 2000 and played as the Indiana Firebirds through 2004 before disbanding.

File:Albany Conquest.png

Then the city of Albany ventured into the world of arena football again, this time joining the AF2 in 2002, creating a new franchise by the name the Albany Conquest. The team enjoyed little success and in 2009 for marketing purposes changed their name back to the Albany Firebirds before disbanding in 2010. They cited low attendance and poor fan support.

Due to financial difficulties and low support, the Conquest were expected to fold following the 2008 season when a new investor could not be found.{{cite web|date=June 29, 2008|title=Turnout to decide if 'Quest will end|url=http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=699874&category=SPORTS&newsdate=6/29/2008|access-date=October 4, 2008|work=Times Union}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} The franchise had notified the league in late September that it would not return, but following a meeting with the Albany Times Union and the operator of the Times Union Center, an agreement was reached that would allow the team to return for 2009. The team also acquired the rights to the old Firebirds name and logo in a rebranding effort to raise interest in the team, hoping to bring back fans from the days of the original Firebirds team.{{cite web|date=October 4, 2008|title=Conquest staying, change to Firebirds|url=http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=726472&category=SPORTS|access-date=October 4, 2008|work=Times Union}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

On April 28, 2009, it was announced that the Albany Firebirds had offered former NFL quarterback Michael Vick a contract. Under the terms of this contract, Vick would be required to donate $100,000 to a local animal shelter.{{cite web|last=Singelais|first=Mark|date=April 28, 2009|title=Firebirds Want to Sign Michael Vick|url=http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=794745|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501053304/http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=794745|archive-date=May 1, 2009|access-date=April 28, 2009|work=Times Union}} The following day, the team retracted the announcement, claiming that it had been a publicity stunt created by the team's marketing department. The team's owner, Walter Robb, who knew nothing of the stunt, was cited as saying, "I'm a dog lover and I don't want anything to do with (Vick)."{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=April 29, 2009|title=Albany Firebirds' owner says Michael Vick contract offer was a bad call|url=https://www.nj.com/sports/2009/04/albany_firebirds_owners_says_m.html|url-status=live|access-date=November 12, 2021|website=NJ.com|publisher=Associated Press|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113011205/https://www.nj.com/sports/2009/04/albany_firebirds_owners_says_m.html |archive-date=2021-11-13 }}