The Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) was a regional professional indoor football league that began its inaugural season on February 18, 2011[1] as the Ultimate Indoor Football League before playing as the United Indoor Football League in 2012, then switched back to "Ultimate" for the 2013 season. After the 2014 season, the league merged with X-League Indoor Football.
The complete 2011 season concluded without any teams folding, nor any games being missed or rescheduled. The Northern Kentucky River Monsters finished with the best regular season record, 11–3. However, due to league sanctions they were not able to host any playoff games and were dropped to a four seed.
Saginaw finished 9–5, followed by Eastern Kentucky at 8–6, Huntington at 7-7, Johnstown at 6–8, and Canton at 1–13.
Saginaw defeated Northern Kentucky, 48–47, in the first semifinals of the Ultimate Bowl I Playoffs, sponsored by Trophy Awards. In the other semifinal game, Eastern Kentucky advanced to the championship game with a 20–4 victory over Huntington. Ultimate Bowl I, also sponsored by Trophy Awards, was played Friday, June 9, 2011, at the Dow Center in Saginaw, MI, with the Sting claiming an 86–69 victory over the visiting Drillers.
Following the Northern Kentucky River Monsters' elimination from the playoffs, owner Jill Chitwood and the UIFL came to terms allowing the River Monsters to leave the UIFL.[2]
Draft
1 overall pick: Victor Sesay, DL Johnstown Generals
On June 15, 2011, Michael Taylor and Andrew Haines sold their controlling slate in the UIFL to Assured Equities IV, a Florida corporation, for the sum of 1.45 million dollars.[3] As part of the acquisition, UIFL Co-founder Andrew Haines will remain as League President and a member of the Board of Directors, and UIFL Co-founder Michael Taylor will continue as a consultant and a member of the board of directors for Assured Equities.[4]
On January 19, 2012, the league was sold by Cecil Van Dyke and Assured Equities IV, back to Andrew Haines and Michael Taylor.[6] The league took on the name United Indoor Football League for the 2012 season (at the time, the United (outdoor) Football League had suspended operations; the league reverted to the Ultimate Indoor Football League when the outdoor UFL ended its suspension). Six teams folded in the process, including charter members Canton and Huntington, plus four teams (Carolina Aviators, Danville Dragons, Tennessee Rail Runners, and Kentucky Monsters) that never took the field, reducing the number of teams in the league from 16 to 10. Haines resigned his post as league president in June 2012.[7]
2013 season
The 2013 season saw a reduction to six teams. Furthermore, prior to championship weekend, three of the four teams that had been eliminated had announced their intentions to jump leagues and join the Xtreme Indoor Football League. The UIFL has stated it is exploring all options regarding the future of the league. The Florida Tarpons won Ultimate Bowl III, with a victory over the Corpus Christi Fury.
2014 season
The UIFL fielded four teams for the 2014 season; in addition to the returning Tarpons and Fury, the Miami Inferno and Missouri Voodoo joined the league. Another team called the Austin Nitro had been listed on the UIFL's website, however, no further information was ever announced about that team. In addition, a new team based out of Columbia, South Carolina known as the Capital City Revolt was set to join in time for the 2015 season. However, the Voodoo and Inferno both folded mid-season, leaving the Tarpons and Fury as the only two teams remaining in the UIFL for the season. After the Fury beat the Tarpons in Ultimate Bowl IV by a score of 60–23, both teams announced they were joining X-League Indoor Football for the 2015 season. With the Revolt's subsequent announcement of delay of operations until the 2016 season, the UIFL announced they were now defunct.
Georgia Rampage - originally announced as Rome River Dogs and later Rome Rampage, team played 2012 season as a travel-only squad, then moved to Dalton, Georgia for 2013 season. Left to form X-League Indoor Football.
Sarasota Thunder - played in 2013 season as a travel-only team, then folded.
Western Pennsylvania Sting - played in 2012 season as a travel-only team. Was set to move to Miami, Florida to play 2013 season as Miami Sting, but folded before season started.
Announced but never began play
Austin Nitro - to have played in 2014 in Austin, Texas
Capital City Revolt - to have played in 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina
Carolina Aviators - to have played in 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina
Danville Dragons - to have played in 2012 in Danville, Illinois
Kentucky Monsters - to have played in 2012 in Highland Heights, Kentucky
Tennessee Rail Runners - to have played in 2012 in East Ridge, Tennessee
United States