Albany Conquest
Encyclopedia
The Albany Firebirds are a professional arena football
team of the af2
based in Albany, New York
. Albany was granted an expansion team in 2002 and began play as the Albany Conquest. The Firebirds play 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.
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. 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.
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.
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)."
The team is currently in negotiations to join Arena Football League (2010–), likely in 2012, and are expected to remain dormant for the 2010-11 seasons.
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Albany Conquest
|-
|2002 || 13 || 3 || 0 || 1st AC Northeast || Won AC Round 1 (Rochester
31-26)
Lost AC Semifinal (Cape Fear
46-30)
|-
|2003 || 13 || 3 || 0 || 1st AC Northeast || Lost AC Semifinal (Macon
59-47)
|-
|2004 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 3rd AC Northeast || --
|-
|2005 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 5th AC East|| --
|-
|2006 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 6th AC East || --
|-
|2007 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 4th AC East || --
|-
|2008 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 3rd AC East || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Albany Firebirds
|-
|2009 || 7 || 9 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Lost AC 1st Round (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
78-21)
|-
!Totals || 60 || 72 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
team of the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
based in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. Albany was granted an expansion team in 2002 and began play as the Albany Conquest. The Firebirds play 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
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 2000 and played as the Indiana Firebirds through 2004 before disbanding.
Due to financial difficulties and low support, the Conquest were expected to fold following the 2008 season
2008 af2 season
The 2008 AF2 season was the ninth season of the AF2. The regular season began on Friday, March 28 and ended on Saturday, July 26. The league champions were the Tennessee Valley Vipers, who beat the Spokane Shock in ArenaCup IX.-Standings:...
when a new investor could not be found. 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
2009 af2 season
The 2009 AF2 season was the AF2's 10th and final season. The regular season began on Friday, March 20 and finished on Saturday, July 25. The league champion was the Spokane Shock, who defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 74-27 in ArenaCup X.-Standings:...
. 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.
On April 28, 2009, it was announced that the Albany Firebirds had offered former NFL quarterback Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
a contract. Under the terms of this contract, Vick would be required to donate $100,000 to a local animal shelter.
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)."
The team is currently in negotiations to join Arena Football League (2010–), likely in 2012, and are expected to remain dormant for the 2010-11 seasons.
Season-by-season
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Albany Conquest
|-
|2002 || 13 || 3 || 0 || 1st AC Northeast || Won AC Round 1 (Rochester
Rochester Brigade
The Rochester Brigade was a professional arena football team based in Rochester, New York. The team was a member of af2, the minor league of the Arena Football League, and played their home games at the Blue Cross Arena...
31-26)
Lost AC Semifinal (Cape Fear
South Georgia Wildcats
The South Georgia Wildcats were a professional arena football team. They were a 2002 expansion member of af2, the minor league for the Arena Football League...
46-30)
|-
|2003 || 13 || 3 || 0 || 1st AC Northeast || Lost AC Semifinal (Macon
Macon Knights
The Macon Knights were a professional arena football team, playing in the af2 league. They were a 2001 expansion member of af2. They played their home games at Macon Coliseum. The Knights were owned and operated by Beverly Olson. The Knights were formerly coached by Derek Stingley, who was a...
59-47)
|-
|2004 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 3rd AC Northeast || --
|-
|2005 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 5th AC East|| --
|-
|2006 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 6th AC East || --
|-
|2007 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 4th AC East || --
|-
|2008 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 3rd AC East || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Albany Firebirds
|-
|2009 || 7 || 9 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Lost AC 1st Round (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers were a minor league arena football team that played in the AF2. The team was part of the East Division in the American conference. The Pioneers were an expansion team for the league's 2002 season, and were the runner-ups in ArenaCup VIII and ArenaCup X.-2001:The...
78-21)
|-
!Totals || 60 || 72 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)