ARENA FOOTBALL

• Report: AFL to suspend play for 2009

  
  

  Denver, CO (Sports Network) - The Arena Football League will reportedly announce before the end of the week that the league will suspend play for the 2009 season.

  The Rocky Mountain News reported the story on its website earlier Wednesday.

  The league has faced trouble in the offseason as longtime commissioner David Baker resigned in July and no replacement has been named.

  Also, the New Orleans VooDoo franchise was disbanded in October despite being near the top of the league in attendance for the past two seasons.

  The schedule for 2009 has not been released, and free agency and the dispersal draft for New Orleans have been placed on hold.

  The 15-team league was founded in 1987 with last season's championship game featuring the Philadelphia Soul and San Jose Sabercats in a 59-56 final in favor of the Soul.

  12/10 11:17:58 ET