On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were reportedly suspended,[3][4] and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams.[5] The league filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 17, 2019.[6] The league left debts of over $1.4 million to three local hotels and $200,000 to a catering business.[7]
Historyedit
The Alliance San Antonio charter team of the Alliance of American Football spring league was announced on June 21, 2018. Also, the league announced former San Diego Chargers coach Mike Riley as head coach and former Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston as General Manager of the team.[8][9] The western four teams' names and logos were revealed on September 25 with San Antonio as the Commanders.[10] The name is a tribute to San Antonio's military history, with maroon and silver representing the city and the small swords carried by military officers, respectively.[11][12]
The final 52-man roster was set on January 30, 2019.[13] The team's first game was a 15–6 win at home against the San Diego Fleet on Saturday, February 9, 2019.[14]
The Commanders, who drew an average of approximately 27,720 fans to each home game, were by far the best-attended team in the AAF.[7]
The league was suspended on April 2, 2019, with about 20 minutes left in the Commanders' practice. "It ended in the blink of an eye. Like that," Riley said later.[15]
The next year, the XFL began discussions about relocating one of its eight teams to San Antonio;[16] this would eventually bear fruit with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2023.[17]
(0:00) SA – Nick Rose 38-yard field goal, Commanders 18–17
Third Quarter
(9:28) SA – Nick Rose 37-yard field goal, Commanders 21–17
(8:10) SA – Garrett Gilbert (ORL) fumble recovered by Joey Mbu and returned 8 yards for touchdown (Logan Woodside pass to Evan Rodriguez), Commanders 29–17
(3:12) ORL – Elliott Fry 24-yard field goal, Commanders 29–20
Fourth Quarter
(13:51) ORL – Elliott Fry 47-yard field goal, Commanders 29–23
In addition to league-wide television coverage through NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, TNT, and B/R Live, Commanders' games were also broadcast on local radio by KZDC, an ESPN Radio affiliate.[30] The team also had a television agreement with local station KMYS of the Sinclair Broadcast Group to carry all Commanders' games that were not broadcast nationally.[31]
Referencesedit
^ abBailey, W. Scott (June 20, 2018). "New pro football league to add San Antonio franchise". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
^Marquez, RJ (June 21, 2018). "San Antonio's newest pro football team to be introduced on..." www.ksat.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
^Kercheval, Ben (April 2, 2019). "AAF operations suspended, league's future in doubt after eight games of first season". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
^"AAF to immediately suspend operations". ESPN. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
^Schwartz, Nick (April 4, 2019). "AAF star Keith Reaser becomes first player to sign NFL deal after league shutdown". USA Today. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
^"AAF files for bankruptcy, officially closes down", USA Today, April 17, 2019, retrieved April 17, 2019{{citation}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
^ abMarquez, RJ (April 17, 2019). "San Antonio businesses at risk of losing big, AAF bankruptcy filings show". KSAT-TV. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
^"San Antonio is 8th AAF franchise; Riley to coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
^"San Antonio set to get Alliance of American Football team, but history is stacked against them". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
^Benjamin, Cody (September 25, 2018). "LOOK: Here's a full list of team names and logos from the Alliance of American Football". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
^Blietz, Lena (September 26, 2018). "New pro football team honor's San Antonio's military legacy". Spectrum News San Antonio. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
^Yasin, Kareem (November 27, 2018). "The Alliance of American Football Unveils its Inaugural Uniforms". Alliance of American Football. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
^"San Antonio Commanders set final roster". Alliance of American Football. January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
^"Alliance of American Football schedule released for Arizona Hotshots, other 7 teams". AZ Central. USA Today Network. October 16, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
^Luca, Greg (April 12, 2020). "One year later, San Antonio Commanders' sudden departure remains a shock". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
^Miketniac, Chuck (April 13, 2020). "SOURCES: XFL called about relocating team to San Antonio days before suspending operations". WOAI-TV. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
^Kerr, Jeff (July 25, 2022). "XFL announces eight host cities for relaunch in 2023; no New York, California teams for first time in league". CBS Sports.
^Inabinett, Mark (July 12, 2018). "Alabama, Auburn players to go on Birmingham AAF team's assignment list". AL.com. Alabama Media Group. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
^"CBS SPORTS ELEVATES TWO ALLIANCE GAMES TO CBS TELEVISION NETWORK". Alliance of American Football. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
^"2019 San Antonio Commanders Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
^Filipe, Cameron (February 9, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 1, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^Filipe, Cameron (February 13, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 2, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^Filipe, Cameron (February 22, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 3, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^@NWSBirmingham (March 3, 2019). "SEVERE STORMS LIKELY for SE Central AL Counties" (Tweet). Retrieved March 3, 2019 – via Twitter.
^Filipe, Cameron (February 27, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 4, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^Filipe, Cameron (March 9, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 5, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^Filipe, Cameron (March 14, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 6, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^Filipe, Cameron (March 21, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 7, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^Filipe, Cameron (March 28, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 8, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
^"SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS ANNOUNCE ESPN SAN ANTONIO 1250 AM/94.5 FM AS OFFICIAL RADIO PARTNER". ESPN San Antonio. KZDC Radio. January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
^"San Antonio Commanders Announce Sinclair Broadcast Group as Television Partner". oursportscentral.com. January 24, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
Further readingedit
Mendoza, Madalyn (April 3, 2019). "Commanders break silence, thank San Antonio in reacting to end of AAF online". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved April 3, 2019.