Arena Football League Ceases Operations and Files For Bankruptcy

In some capacity, we all grew up with the Arena Football League, and the game's small field and fast-paced action that generated gaudy statistical numbers made for quite the interesting watch (and was nothing short of a blast to attend).

Unfortunately, it turns out the league was struggling with the financial end of things in recent years, and the clock has struck midnight on the AFL.

The AFL has filed for bankruptcy, which will likely spell the end for the league, which was founded in 1987.

Back in 2004, the league had a record 19 teams and would routinely sell out games. However, as competing indoor leagues emerged and interest in the gimmicky style of play slowly died out, teams either left to join other leagues or declared bankruptcy themselves and faded out of the limelight.

In the league's final year of operations, only six teams were active, which was up from four the previous season.

At the league's peak, the AFL was the biggest non-NFL professional football spectacle in America. However, as the novelty wore off and teams lacked the financial resources to stick around, the league slowly but surely wilted away and was reduced to a shell of itself. Pour one out for the AFL. It was fun while it lasted.