albany Conquest press conference 2 pm most likely staying

[heroesjets]

Conquest look ready to stay

Team to announce its plans for season today

The Albany Conquest called a news conference for this afternoon amid signs the arenafootball2 team will return to Times Union Center next year.

There have been doubts whether the Conquest would survive for an eighth season in Albany because of financial struggles and diminishing crowds.

While declining to reveal the specifics of the news conference, Times Union Center general manager Bob Belber said Thursday, "I think it'll be a very favorable announcement for the fans of Arena Football."

Albany Conquest general manager Garen Szablewski said he was optimistic but that no decision had been reached. "We're still working on it," he said. "We're moving in a positive direction. We need to put the final pieces of the puzzle together. I anticipate we're going to get it done, but we'll keep after it."

Szablewski said the team has set a deadline of today to make a decision on its future because af2 needs to begin assembling its 2009 schedule.

The Conquest are considering changing their name to the Firebirds, same as the Arena Football team that played in Albany from 1990 to 2000, Szablewski said.

"That has been discussed," he said. "It's not one of the focuses we're involved with right now, but it's a possibility."

That could be an effort to appeal to nostalgia and lure back fans who were alienated when the original Firebirds moved to Indiana.

Conquest owner Walter Robb, who is expected to be in attendance today, declined comment. He has been looking for someone with local connections to buy all or part of the franchise. If not, the Conquest could be moved out of town.

The af2 league office didn't return a call seeking comment. The Times Union, which owns naming rights to the arena, is also involved in the negotiations. Publisher Mark Aldam said he would defer to the Conquest to make their announcement today.

[the soveriegn]

i really hope they stay but i think firebirds is a good name