The Wenatchee Valley Venom are the latest team to officially join the Indoor Football League. The Venom come to the IFL after an inaugural season in the AIFA. They join the Reading Express and Wyoming Cavalry as AIFA teams to move to the increasingly-popular IFL this off-season. The addition of the Washington-based team won't impact the Express schedule too much, but we're excited to see the IFL continue to grow and firmly root a national footprint.
For the Venom's part, the team joins the Kennewick-based Tri-Cities Fever, Kent Predators, Fairbanks Grizzlies, and two-time defending league champion Billings Outlaws in the Pacific North Division. Division alignment for the Venom was determined during league meetings this week in Chicago, and the 14-game schedule that begins in February and runs through early June 2011 is slated to be available by November 2010.
Although the IFL is only in its third year, most of the teams have been operating for five or more years. After a
successful first season resulting in 8-6 record that included a season-ending six game winning streak and a 6-1 home record, the Venom will celebrate its second year of professional indoor football at Town Toyota Center when the 2011 IFL season begins.
"We are opening a new chapter for the fans and sponsors of the Wenatchee Valley Venom," says Team President Kyle Skalisky. "We have a committed ownership group and are ready to build on the success of last season. It’s an exciting time to be a Venom fan!"
"We look forward to meeting and working with our new business partners in the IFL, and we anxiously anticipate building an intense in-state rivalry with Tri-Cities and Kent, matching the fierce intensity of competition with Fairbanks that Wenatchee fans are accustomed, and competing with such a storied franchise as Billings," continues Skalisky.
"We are proud to welcome the Wenatchee Valley Venom to our established league," says IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio. "In our continuing efforts to add strong playing partners, the IFL considers the addition of the Venom as a great success. Wenatchee Valley is a great fit both in geography and quality of operation."
The Wenatchee Valley Venom press release contributed to this report.
