Piranhas Surrender Membership

The Anaheim Piranhas officially have given up on the Arena Football League, but the league said Thursday it has not given up on the Orange County market.

“The Anaheim Piranhas surrendered their membership to the league,” said David Cooper, director of media services for the Arena Football League. “There were last-ditch efforts to save the franchise and there are still efforts ongoing to try and bring a team back to Orange County.”

Cooper said the league is attempting to find new owners for the Piranhas franchise, but he sounded doubtful that a new group could be secured in time to play in 1998. Cooper said the league has not officially released its 1998 schedule and added that schedules have been drawn up to include scenarios involving 14 or 15 teams.

League commissioner Dave Baker, the Piranhas’ majority owner their first season, was not available for comment and he was not quoted in a one-page press release that announced the Piranhas were ceasing operations.

“Dave Baker is very close to this situation and I’m sure he’s heartbroken about this,” Cooper said.

League president and general counsel Ronald J. Kurpiers II was quoted in the press release: “The Arena Football League emphasizes that Anaheim has been and will continue to be a strong market. The Piranhas have enjoyed a competitive team as well as an outstanding fan base, a state-of-the-art arena and considerable community support.”

With or without the Piranhas, the Arena Football League will begin its 12th season next summer. In 1999, Buffalo will join the league.

“We want to emphasize that we are more stable than we have ever been,” Cooper said.