Albany Firebirds leave Arena Football League
Albany Firebirds announce their return. (File / Bill Webster / WNYT)
The Albany Firebirds are no longer members of the Arena Football League. NewsChannel 13’s Rodger Wyland was first to break this story, Live at 6 on Wednesday.
The AFL went from 16 teams down to eight very quickly when one team after another folded last season. Ownership has made the decision to pull out and search for a new league.
The Firebirds replaced the Albany Empire last year, which had a tumultuous ending after former NFL player Antonio Brown bought it.
That led to a revolving door of coaches and the firing of players. It ended when the team was kicked out of the Arena Football League for an unpaid bill.
The Firebirds will be back next season, but it’s still unclear on what league they will play in.