VERMONT ICE STORM

For Immediate Release

(877) 624-4485
e-mail: empirefoot@aol.com
website: www.empire-football-league.com 

The Empire Football League held its 41st Annual Meeting recently in Amsterdam, New York and announced that it will have 7 member teams for the 2010 season. The Amsterdam Zephyrs will return from a leave of absence, while a new team, the New York Stallions of Oneonta joined the league.

Because of the continued increase with logistics issues, the Empire Football League decided to cease operations in Canada. In spite of our best efforts at different approaches over the years, our football teams, officiating crews, and  league personnel continued to experience problems at the border. This created a ripple effect on overall league operations.  Additionally, potential new teams saw the border as a major negative preventing them from joining the Empire Football League. As a result, the Quebec Titans and Joliet Chargers (formerly Ottawa) are no longer members of the EFL. Regrettably,   the Empire Football League felt that this decision was the best solution to preserving its legacy as a upstate New York based semi pro football league.

 For the 2010 season the EFL will be comprised of the following teams: Watertown, Massena, Amsterdam, Binghamton, Plattsburgh, Vermont, Oneonta.  The EFL season starts July 10^th, has a bye September 4^th and ends September 25^th.  The EFL Playoffs will take place on October 2^nd and will conclude with the EFL Championship Game on October 9^th. 

During the Annual Meeting Weekend, The Empire Football League is celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a banquet at the Crystal Ristorante in Amsterdam, NY. Attending were past EFL Commissioners, Officials, Coaches, and Offices.............there were some great war stories told and personal testimonies given about the league's history.

2010 Empire Football League Officers were elected as follows:
- Dave Burch, EFL Commissioner

- Bill Higgins, Commissioner of Officials
- Concetta Sager, Treasurer

- Al Dole, Rules Committee Chairman/Deputy Commissioner
- Jane Dole, Secretary

- Gary Shaver, EFL Advisor