29:
397:, one of the ten surviving teams, cancelled an upcoming game amid in-team turmoil that had forced the sudden forfeiture of that team's previous game. The Blackbears announced an agreement to finish the 2024 season on May 17 after a local ownership group was found to cover the league's shares in the team; ultimately, Gaines and Hutton never sold their stakes, and the entanglement of these "legal relationships" ultimately prevented the team from returning to the field.
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Hutton) for ticket sales for "any future home games." On June 17, after the team was unable to find opponents for their two remaining scheduled home games, the
Blackbears formally concluded their season, finishing 3-1 in their inaugural season. Gaines and Hutton left rent bills of $ 30,000 unpaid for the three games held at the fairgrounds.
388:
With the ouster of commissioner Lee Hutton on May 14, 2024, the
Blackbears were initially left out of the reorganized ten-team league. League officials expressed openness to continuing to schedule games against the Blackbears. In a statement, Johnson expressed surprise that his organization had not
263:
in Salem. The
Blackbears have been in a state of uncertainty since a league reorganization early in the 2024 season, having twice been removed from, then restored to the league, as original owner and original league president Travelle Gaines was ousted from the league midseason and never sold the
337:
Four years after the original AFL folded for the second time, it was announced on
February 1, 2023 that the league intended on relaunching in 2024. On July 18, the 16 intended market cities were announced, including Salem. Like some other locations, Salem city officials were surprised about the
409:
Jared Widman, the league officially removed the team from the remainder of the 2024 season schedule. The team continued to negotiate with the league while also exploring other options and the team announced the renewal of its contract with HUMBL (which had been the AFL's online platform under
413:
The
Blackbears were not among the teams who were involved in pre-launch promotions for what is expected to be the AFL's successor, Arena Football One; attempts to reach team officials went unanswered in early September, and the team had not made any social media posts since June 17.
404:
in place of the
Billings Outlaws "due to unforeseen circumstances," the Blackbears were briefly removed from the Arena Football League's list of teams on May 27 without their knowledge before being restored later that day. On May 28, 2024, coinciding with the naming of new league
834:
In a dramatic turn of events, the Oregon
Blackbears executive team has agreed in principle with (the Arena Football League) on a new licensing agreement that allows for the completion of the 2024 season and the addition back onto the remaining 2024 AFL
393:, he indicated plans to discuss the team's exclusion with the other ten remaining owners before taking any further action. As of May 16, the Blackbears are still scheduled to play the Washington Wolfpack on May 18. filling a schedule hole left when the
361:, Thibodeaux stated that he was never an owner of the team and that "(t)he league used my name for publicity.". Travelle Gaines, who served as league president under commissioner Lee Hutton, was the listed majority owner of the team, through a
324:
in 2016 after the league took control of the franchise from Emmert, then abruptly folded at season's end with no explanation. The second incarnation of the league would fold three years later. Both teams played their home games at the
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been involved in the decision and that he would accept the ruling and disband the team, beginning negotiations with other leagues to ensure
Blackbears players could finish the season elsewhere. In a statement to the
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SCHEDULE CHANGE: Due to unforeseen circumstances with The Oregon
Blackbears The AFL has adjusted our schedule to play The Cedar Rapids River Kings.
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561:"Former Oregon Ducks star Kayvon Thibodeaux leads ownership team of Arena Football League's Oregon Blackbears franchise"
533:"New Oregon Arena Football League team based in Salem seems to be a surprise to all: 'We look forward to learning more'"
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team to an ownership group that had agreed to take over the team's operations and allow it to continue.
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Unconfirmed rumors have a new Oregon arena football franchise (not tied to the
Blackbears) joining the
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OREGON BLACKBEARS LEFT OUT OF REALIGNMENT, FORCED TO CEASE PLAY FOR REMAINDER OF 2024 SEASON
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The Blackbears were the third official (and likely final) Oregon-based team to play in the
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848:"Salem-based Oregon Blackbears arena football team restarting days after canceling season"
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589:"Oregon Blackbears' launch is 'a full go' for Arena Football League franchise in Salem"
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783:"Salem-based Arena Football League team Oregon Blackbears cancels remainder of season"
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706:"Oregon Blackbears facing $ 30k outstanding balance at OSFE Center from 2024 season"
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673:"Thibodeaux denies involvement with Blackbears ownership despite AFL announcement"
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On April 27, 2024, the Blackbears won the debut at home over the Wolfpack 47-40.
341:
On October 25, 2023, a press release announced that the team would be called the
326:
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and would take the field a few months later. The Thunder were rebranded as the
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477:"Arena Football League announces it's returning for 2024 season with 16 teams"
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HUMBL and the Oregon BlackBears Deliver Innovative Digital Ticketing Program
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895:"Arena Football League (AFL) Appoints New President & COO Jared Widman"
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and that their head coach is former player Chuck Jones. In a statement to
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was named the team president. Their main rivals in the new AFL are the
280:, area. They were also the first "major" sports team based in Salem.
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505:"Salem, Oregon to get an Arena Football League team in 2024: Report"
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announcement, but stated that they "look forward to learning more".
255:. They were announced as one of the inaugural teams for the revived
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62:
617:"Oregon Blackbears announced as new team in Arena Football League"
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345:. The ownership group was announced to have been led by former
1157:
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645:"Salem gets an Arena Football League team: Meet the Blackbears"
649:
937:"Oregon Blackbears again missed in Arena League realignment"
807:"Stream Live Sports, Concerts and Special Events on VYRE TV"
73:
312:. Oregon would not see the AFL again until 2013 when the
731:"Is The Newest Arena Football League Already Collapsing?"
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400:After declining a Week 5 reassignment to play the
259:(AFL), beginning play in 2024. They play at the
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8:
276:, but were the first to play outside of the
1684:American football teams established in 2023
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316:were established by Clackamas billionaire
296:The first team representing the state of
146:Arena Football Management, LLC (minority)
925:(press release). Retrieved May 28, 2024.
587:Arnold, Geoffrey C. (October 25, 2023).
559:Arnold, Geoffrey C. (October 25, 2023).
1714:Sports clubs and teams in Salem, Oregon
439:
18:
503:Arnold, Geoffery C. (July 18, 2023).
475:Thompson, Jaylon (February 1, 2023).
7:
882:List of Arena Football League teams
615:White, Austin (October 25, 2023).
14:
1694:American football teams in Oregon
821:"Marshals Cancel Saturday's Game"
261:Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion
229:Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion
54:Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion
1709:2024 disestablishments in Oregon
1450:International Portland Select FC
1310:
671:Carter, Anthony (May 26, 2024).
27:
704:Carter, Anthony (2024-06-19).
643:KGW Staff (October 25, 2023).
447:AFL Staff (January 13, 2024).
148:Justin Butler (minority stake)
84:League/conference affiliations
1:
1704:2023 establishments in Oregon
757:FISHER IN AS AFL COMMISSIONER
729:McKenna, Dave (May 5, 2024).
531:Streng, Nik (July 21, 2023).
16:American indoor football team
1699:Arena Football League (2024)
1003:Arena Football League (2024)
206:Conference championships (0)
1624:Portland Men's Roller Derby
449:"AFL West Division Preview"
1730:
1222:Campesinos de Salem-Keizer
935:Streng, Nik (2024-09-05).
214:Division championships (0)
1599:Emerald City Roller Girls
1523:Portland Fighting Fillies
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771:. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
759:. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
363:limited liability company
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407:chief operating officer
333:Birth of the Blackbears
306:Portland Forest Dragons
1663:Portland State Vikings
1604:Lava City Roller Dolls
1460:Eugene Timbers FC Azul
1334:Portland Trail Blazers
1237:Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
1184:Sports teams based in
1103:Southwest Kansas Storm
402:Southwest Kansas Storm
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1614:Sick Town Derby Dames
1302:Willamette Wild Bills
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424:National Arena League
349:standout and current
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1653:Oregon State Beavers
1634:University athletics
1551:Portland Winterhawks
1277:Springfield Drifters
426:and that Salem will
418:Possible move to NAL
247:were a professional
63:OregonBlackBears.com
1561:Rogue Valley Royals
1110:Washington Wolfpack
1089:Rapid City Marshals
395:Rapid City Marshals
371:Washington Wolfpack
292:Initial Logo (2023)
1528:Portland Shockwave
1513:Oregon Black Bears
1415:Portland Timbers 2
1405:Portland Thorns FC
1355:Portland WNBA team
1287:Gresham GreyWolves
1252:Klamath Falls Gems
1227:Portland Mavericks
1124:Wichita Regulators
884:as of May 27, 2024
430:be the host city.
310:Oklahoma Wranglers
294:
284:Oregon AFL History
79:
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1609:Rose City Rollers
1367:Portland Chinooks
1297:Portland Rosebuds
1292:Portland Gherkins
1267:Corvallis Knights
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1075:Orlando Predators
1068:Oregon Blackbears
852:Statesman Journal
787:Statesman Journal
391:Statesman-Journal
355:Kayvon Thibodeaux
343:Oregon Blackbears
245:Oregon Blackbears
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22:Oregon Blackbears
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42:Established 2023
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823:. 15 May 2024.
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166:Chuck Jones
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