
The Arena Football League is looking to make Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall the home of one of its franchises.
Ron Jaworski, majority owner of the league’s Philadelphia Soul told the Press of Atlantic City that the franchise wants to start another franchise in Atlantic City
“It’s going to happen,” Jaworski said. “There are a lot of moving parts to it, but I’m confident we can get the local support to put a team there. As everyone knows, I’ve been bullish on the Atlantic City market for a long time. We’re going to make it work.”
Jaworski is a former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback who owns Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in nearby Galloway Township and was responsible for bringing the Philadelphia-based Maxwell Football Club to Atlantic City.
He also staged an Arena League game at Boardwalk Hall in May 2015 which drew an announced crowd of 6,514 that watched the Soul earn a 51-43 victory over the now-defunct Las Vegas Outlaws in the short-lived DraftKings Boardwalk Bowl game, according to the Press.
Jaworski said he is scheduled to meet with city officials this week to discuss the plan.
“I think it’s a great idea,” City Council President Marty Small told the paper. “I’m for anything that will bring family-oriented entertainment to the city.”
Atlantic City has seen four other professional sports franchises unsuccessfully attempt to thrive playing in the resort, but most have been affiliated with independent leagues not affiliated with a major pro sports league. All have either folded or left the city.
“I know we’ve tried sports franchises here before, but this is different,” Small said. “The Arena League is the major leagues of indoor football.”
The Press also reported that Ted Leonsis is also behind the deal. Leonsis’ company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owns a number of sports franchises, including the NHL-champion Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards and WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
Leonsis also owns two of the four active AFL franchises. He has said that legalized sports betting in New Jersey makes the state an attractive place to locate a franchise, the report said.
“When the league was first talking about expanding, Atlantic City was one of the top three contenders because of sports betting,” Jaworski said. “Sports betting is a game-changer.”