We just got the invite: Tomorrow at 4 p.m., there will be a press conference "to announce the return of the Dallas Depserados," which, as you may (or may not) recall, canceled its 2009 season exactly one year ago along with the rest of Arena Football League. Probably the most intriguing item contained in the release is news of new ownership: Peter C. "Woody" Kern, former owner of the Tampa Bay Storm, has replaced Jerry Jones; Revolution Enterprises out of Columbus, Ohio, will handle the day-to-day business operations.
Stephen Evans, Vice President of Operations and Communications for the Dallas Desperados, tells Unfair Park today that "Woody is the sole, 100 percent owner of the team." He also says that the coach, who will be announced tomorrow, is a former Desperados assistant. And the league's now called Arena Football 1. Other than that, he says, "Same football, same rules, same players, same coaches."
Interesting, though: When I said, "No more Jerry, hunh?," Evans said, "At least not for now." When I asked if there was a chance Jones could end up buying back in, he said, "Anything's possible. It's not contemplated." OK, so maybe it's not that interesting.