Proposed Cincinnati Arena Football League team won't play at Heritage Bank Center

If reports of an Arena Football League team coming to Cincinnati are accurate, they will not play in either of the venues previous indoor football undertakings have used.

The AFL announced a third re-launch of the league in February. Tuesday, they released a similar announcement on Twitter with plans to play in 2024. The countdown clock on their website equates to a start date next March.

Cincinnati has hosted the Rockers, the Marshals, the Swarm and the Jungle Kats at the arena now called Heritage Bank Center. It was known as Riverfront Coliseum when the Rockers were in town in 1992-1993 and has also been known as The Crowne, Firstar Center and U.S. Bank Arena before Heritage Bank took naming rights.

No plans for arena football downtown

Heritage Bank Center general manager Kristin Ropp told The Enquirer she didn't have discussions with the Arena Football League but she controls the calendar. The AFL is not part of any future events. She said Vice President of Programming and Business Steve Liberatore took the call.

"They did reach out. We just didn't think it was going to be a fit for us," Ropp said. "I have no idea where they're going. I don't think Xavier or UC are big enough. I don't know what their target number is for capacity. I would think NCAA properties are a little harder because I think they do a pretty good job of programming those spaces year-round."

Ropp said the product has been in the market several times but didn't seem to latch on to consistent popularity.

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What other venues would be available?

Cincinnati's other indoor football attempt was the Cincinnati Commandos, which featured numerous former Cincinnati Bearcats and other local players. They played at Cincinnati Gardens, which met the wrecking ball in 2018.

That leaves only college venues: University of Cincinnati's Fifth Third Arena, Xavier University's Cintas Center, Northern Kentucky University's Truist Arena, Wright State's Nutter Center, Miami University's Millett Hall and University of Dayton Arena.

Local event experts say with college basketball, high school basketball tournaments, other sports and graduations, any of those facilities would be difficult for a team with a spring season. NKU did host the Northern Kentucky River Monsters, but if the Arena Football League is talking about a franchise from Ohio, that would seemingly squash that possibility.

Advice from a veteran Rocker

Tom Gregory, owner of the Montgomery Inn, was part of Cincinnati's first indoor football endeavor when his family led by the "Ribs King" Ted Gregory brought the Cincinnati Rockers to town. Wednesday, he said he had no knowledge of a new attempt.

The Rockers featured former Ohio State and NFL quarterback Art Schlichter in the first year, then former Notre Dame and NFL passer the late Blair Kiel in year two.

"It was fun, but a long two years working full-time here, plus there," Gregory said of the early 1990s run. "We had a lot of laughs with it, a lot of fun. I hope they do well."

Another unique feature at Rocker games was a hot tub in the first year.

"I would tell them good luck," said Gregory in giving advice. "If it's marketed right and you have a decent enough team and you price it right, I think they'll be fun. They should try to get that crossover. Get some UC kids, some local kids. UC supporters would come. Start there."

Past history of other Cincinnati indoor football teams

The Cincinnati Swarm played one 7-9 season in 2003 in AF2 and folded.

The Cincinnati Marshals played in 2005 and 2006 in the National Indoor Football League. When then-U.S. Bank Arena announced an AF2 team, the Cincinnati Jungle Kats (part-owned by Bengal Sam Adams and Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.) the Marshals relocated to Dayton's Hara Arena.

The Cincinnati Jungle Kats played in 2007 the dissolved in November of that year.

The Cincinnati Commandos won three straight Continental Indoor Football League titles playing at Cincinnati Gardens from 2010-2012. They suspended operations in 2013. The team included former UC quarterback Ben Mauk and teammates Dominick Goodman and Terrill Byrd. Ex-UC basketball player Eric Hicks even had a run as a receiver.

Northern Kentucky's River Monsters played in the Ultimate Indoor Football League and later the Continental Indoor Football League with their most famous player being the late Jared Lorenzen, also known as "The Hefty Lefty" who made his name as the University of Kentucky's quarterback and backed up Eli Manning with the New York Giants.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati arena football team won't be at Heritage Bank Center