Fans of the Chicago Rush, mourning the folding of the original Arena Football League, can now rejoice. Arena Football is coming back to Chicago, though it won't be the Rush, exactly. A new league - Arena Football 1 - will start play in 2010, featuring teams from the original AFL, new teams in old AFL cities, and teams from the AFL's offshoot afl2 league. But! This is a completely new league. According to a report by the Associated Press (via Deadspin): more ›

While league officials have not publicly made the announcement, sources are reporting that the Arena Football League - including the Chicago Rush - is folding up shop after 22 years. The league suspended operations for the 2009 season in order to save money and attempt a comeback in 2010, but it looks like that comeback will never happen. Brett Bouchy, majority owner of the Arizona Rattlers, told the Orlando Sentinel about the news, adding, "I am as shocked as anyone. If you had asked me 90 days ago, I would have told you there was a 98 percent chance that the league would be back and playing in 2010. I am so upset. I have dedicated 12 years of my life to arena football and it's a shame to see it slip away." The league's website hasn't been updated since a late-April story claiming the 2010 season would be a-go. Sources said the league is expected to make the announcement sometime this week. [Tribune] more ›