The Albany Empire was a professional arena football team based in Albany, New York, that began play in the Arena Football League (AFL) in 2018. Home games were played at MVP Arena located in downtown Albany.
The Empire was Albany's third arena football team and second AFL team; it succeeded the original Albany Firebirds who began AFL play in 1990 and enjoyed great success, most notably winning ArenaBowl XIII, before moving to Indianapolis following the 2000 season, and later the Albany Conquest who played in the af2 developmental league from 2002 until that league folded after the 2009 season (and was known as the Firebirds for that last season).
History After the American Hockey League's Albany Devils relocated to Binghamton, NY, the Times Union Center was left without a full-time professional tenant. (It remained home to the Siena College men's basketball team of the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.) On March 14, 2017, Center general manager Bob Belber confirmed that it was in early discussions to bring an AFL team back to Albany.
On October 24, the new Albany team was officially announced as a member of the AFL for the 2018 season. The local ownership group (led by George Randolph Hearst III) has partnered with that of their AFL leaguemates the Philadelphia Soul (which includes Ron Jaworski, Dick Vermeil, Marques Colston and Jahri Evans among others) to run both teams' business operations while keeping their football operations separate. (This marks the second time that the AFL has announced two teams with common ownership and management but separate football operations, as the Washington Valor and Baltimore Brigade are both owned and operated by D.C.-area businessman Ted Leonsis but are competitors on the field and separately coached.) On November 7, Rob Keefe was named the Albany team's head coach. On November 9, the Albany team announced that the four team name finalists were the Empire, Fire, Machine and Phoenix. Voting ended on November 15 and the winning name was announced on January 23, 2018, as the Albany Empire.
The team played its first game on April 14, 2018, losing at home to the Philadelphia Soul 56–35 before a sellout crowd of 13,648. On August 11, 2019, the Empire won their first ArenaBowl, defeating the Philadelphia Soul 45–27.
After the 2019 season, the AFL announced it was ceasing operating teams in local markets and looking into becoming a traveling league. However, the entire league filed for bankruptcy in November 2019 and ceased operations.
In 2024, the AFL returned to Albany with a new franchise under new ownership, a revival of the Albany Firebirds.
Season-by-season results ArenaBowl championsArenaBowl appearanceDivision championsPlayoff berth
SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPostseason resultsFinishWinsLossesAlbany Empire AFL 1st 8 4 Lost in playoffs (Washington) AFL 1st 10 2 Won semifinals (Baltimore) Won ArenaBowl XXXII (Philadelphia) 45–27Total 18 6 (Regular season)4 1 (Postseason)22 7
Players Individual awards
Offensive Lineman of the Year Season Player PositionHayworth HicksOLRyan CaveOL
Defensive Lineman of the Year Season Player PositionJoe SykesDL
Most Valuable Player Season Player PositionTommy GradyQB
Offensive Player of the Year Season Player PositionTommy GradyQBMalachi JonesWR
Defensive Player of the Year Season Player PositionTerence MooreLB
Rookie of the Year Season Player PositionMalachi JonesWR
Kicker of the Year Season Player PositionAdrian TrevinoK
Personnel
Head coaches Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards W L Win% W L Win% Rob Keefe – 18 6 4 1
Staff Albany Empire staff Ownership Albany ownership group – George Randolph Hearst III Albany ownership group – Daniel Nolan Albany ownership group – Ed Swyer Philadelphia ownership group – Craig A. Spencer Philadelphia ownership group – Ron Jaworski Philadelphia ownership group – Pete Ciarrocchi Philadelphia ownership group – Cosmo DeNicola Philadelphia ownership group – Martin E. Judge Philadelphia ownership group – Marques Colston Philadelphia ownership group – Dick Vermeil Philadelphia ownership group – Nicholas Giuffre Philadelphia ownership group – Jahri Evans Philadelphia ownership group – Philip Jaurigue Philadelphia ownership group – Stewart Anmuth Philadelphia ownership group – Gil Peters Philadelphia ownership group – Hal Brunson Front office Chief operating officer – George Manias Chief ticketing officer – David Beck Vice president of finance – Carly Griffin
Coaches Head coach – Rob Keefe Assistant head coach/general manager – Les Moss Director of player personnel/line coach – Dave Ewart Director of player operations – Brandon Goldstein Head athletic trainer – Brett Allen
As of 2019 season
Former radio affiliate (1 station) WQSH/105.7: Malta
References
External links Official website