The New Haven Ninjas of arenafootball2 have suspended operations for the 2003 season, according to a report in the Connecticut Post. Wang’s other af2 team
suspends operationsStar-Bulletin staff and wire services
The team is owned by Charles Wang, who also owns the Hawaiian Islanders in the same league.
According to the article, the Ninjas and the group that operates the Arena at Harbor Yard in nearby Bridgeport, Conn., couldn't reach an agreement for the upcoming season.
The Ninjas played their home games at the New Haven Coliseum last year, but the city had already decided to demolish the 30-year-old building by the time they played last season's final home game in July, the article read.
The team may come back for 2004.
Wang also owns software giant Computer Associates, the New York Islanders of the NHL and the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League.
"We were not able to find a suitable arrangement for next season," Michael Picker of the Ninjas told the Post. "We looked into a lot of different things, but as of now, we'll be going dark for a year."
The article also quoted Michael Bannon, the arena's executive director: "We made what we felt was a good and fair offer. I would love to have the Ninjas here, but I can't just turn the lights on and make money."
The Ninjas went 6-10 in the American Conference last year in their inaugural season.
The Hawaiian Islanders, who play their home games at Blaisdell Arena, went 5-11 in the National Conference in their first season.
The team is expected to announce Cal Lee -- the winningest coach in Hawaii high school history -- as their new head coach today.
As of yesterday morning, the Islanders' new coach still hadn't been interviewed or approved by the league, according to Robert Banks of af2.
League officials expect the approval to be a formality.
Hawaiian Islanders