Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 | 9:01 a.m.
The Arena Football League will create a neutral-site championship game within the next two years and Las Vegas ranks among the league's top choices to host the initial contest.
The AFL's board of directors approved the concept of a pre-determined ArenaBowl location -- a la the Super Bowl -- during its Tuesday meeting at the MGM Grand. Commissioner David Baker said plans could be in place for next season and definitely will be ready by 2006.
Baker sees Las Vegas as a prime location for hosting what the league would like to become a week of festivities leading up to its championship game.
"Las Vegas is a leading candidate," Baker said.
Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro, in town from his Miami home for the meeting and to conduct interviews for the team's vacant head coaching position, is lobbying to bring the game to Las Vegas.
"It's going to get a serious look," Ferraro said. In the past, the highest remaining seed has hosted the ArenaBowl, forcing the league to prepare for the game on a week's notice. In the league's infancy, this did not pose problems, but a larger-scale title game -- one involving national TV and corporate sponsors -- requires a significant amount of coordination.
"Frankly, it's been a logistical miracle," Baker said of past ArenaBowl production.
Setting the location for the game would do more than help TV and internal production. The league would like its title game to be a destination for its corporate sponsors to entertain clients and Baker also wants to give fans an opportunity to plan a trip to the game, whether or not their favorite team is playing.
Other contenders for the game include Phoenix, Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Orlando. The game would likely be held at the Thomas & Mack Center, where the Las Vegas Gladiators have played their home game for the past two seasons. In its configuration for arena football, the stadium holds about 17,000 people.
Baker said a decision on whether the neutral-site game begins in 2005 or 2006 would come by early September. Whether Las Vegas gets that game or not, Baker said he is pleased by the progress made by Ferraro during the past two seasons and reiterated the league's commitment to the city.
"We're not leaving and Jim Ferraro is not leaving," Baker said. "I think you've yet to see our best product in Las Vegas."
After finishing with the league meeting, Ferraro and general manager Dan Dolby interviewed New Orleans defensive coordinator Kevin Porter for the Gladiators' head coaching spot. Gladiators assistant head coach Ron James and Indiana interim head coach Mike Wilpolt interviewed Monday.
"All three interviews went great," Gladiators spokesman Adam Grant said. "All three guys bring something different to the table."
Ferraro said that the team plans to make an announcement of its choice by Friday. The free agent signing period begins Sept. 1 and the team wants time to review personnel with the new coach, who will have some say in transactions.
Baker also said Tuesday that he phoned Ferraro after Arizona released head coach Danny White to inform him of the coach's interest in coming to Las Vegas. The Gladiators fired head coach Frank Haege on July 28 -- a week after Arizona let go of White -- but the team denied that White's availability affected Haege's dismissal.
Negotiations between the Gladiators and White broke down, and Baker stressed that he was only acting as a messenger in suggesting the coach to Ferraro.
"It's an opportunity, not an obligation," Baker said, adding that he regularly makes such calls to teams.
The board of directors also discussed expansion and changes to the schedule and playoff format. Nashville is already approved to join the league next year and a group from Salt Lake City -- featuring White -- made a presentation Tuesday. The league is also considering Boston, Miami and Milwaukee for expansion.
With struggling franchises in Detroit, Indiana and Carolina, the league could consider relocation. But Baker said he is "reluctant" to move any of those franchises into new markets, bringing up the possibility they could be disbanded before next season.
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