Albany Empire (NAL)
The Albany Empire is a professional indoor football team based in Albany, New York. They are members of the National Arena League since 2021 and play home games at MVP Arena. They are named after the defunct Arena Football League (AFL) team of the same name that won the last ArenaBowl before the AFL folded.
| Albany Empire | |
|---|---|
 Current season | |
| Established 2020 Play in MVP Arena in Albany, New York www | |
 | |
| League/conference affiliations | |
| National Arena League (2021–present) | |
Current uniform | |
| Team colors | Fiery reddish orange, dark navy blue, grey |
| Cheerleaders | Albany Empresses |
| Personnel | |
| Owner(s) | Mike Kwarta
Antonio Brown Steve Von Schiller Charlotte Von Schiller |
| President | Matt Woods |
| General manager | Tom Menas |
| Head coach | Tom Menas |
| Team history | |
| |
| Championships | |
| League championships (2) NAL: 2021, 2022 | |
| Conference championships (0) | |
| Division championships (0) | |
| Playoff appearances (2) | |
| NAL: 2021, 2022 | |
| Home arena(s) | |
| |
History
In August 2020, Albany was announced as a 2021 expansion team in the National Arena League (NAL) and later obtained the rights to use the name of a defunct Arena Football League (AFL) team, the Albany Empire.[1] The team was owned by the same ownership group, including Ron Tridico and Nate Starling, as another NAL team that was named after a former AFL team, the Orlando Predators.[2] Former AFL Empire head coach Rob Keefe was brought back as head coach along with former Jacksonville Sharks' head coach and Empire assistant head coach Les Moss as assistant head coach.[3] However, by April 2021, both had left to join the Indoor Football League's Iowa Barnstormers, stating they did not have the same plans as the owners.[4][5] The team's head coach during their inaugural season was Tom Menas,[6] who led the Empire to a 7–1 record and an NAL championship.[7]
In November 2021, Tridico's and Starling's majority ownership of the team was sold to local businessman Mike Kwarta, while Tridico and Starling retained a minority stake.[8] In March 2023, former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown joined the team as a part owner. His father Eddie Brown, a longtime member of the AFL's Albany Firebirds, also joined the organization as the Vice President of Football Operations and will be involved in the team’s day-to-day operations.[9]
Season-by-season results
| League champions | Playoff berth | League leader |
| Season | League | Regular season | Postseason results | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | |||
| 2021 | NAL | 1st | 7 | 1 | 0 | Won semifinal (Carolina) 55–41 Won NAL championship (Columbus) 79–62 |
| 2022 | NAL | 1st | 8 | 4 | 0 | Won semifinal (Jacksonville) 68–67 Won NAL championship (Carolina) 47–20 |
| 2023 | NAL | |||||
| Totals | 15 | 5 | 0 | All-time regular season record (2021) | ||
| 4 | 0 | — | All-time postseason record (2021) | |||
| 19 | 5 | 0 | All-time regular season and postseason record (2021) | |||
Current roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
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References
- "EXPANSION ALERT: ALBANY, NEW YORK JOINS THE NAL". National Arena League. August 13, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "NAL'S ALBANY FRANCHISE TO BRING THE EMPIRE BACK TO THE TIMES UNION CENTER". National Arena League. October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Dougherty, Pete (September 8, 2020). "'I look at it as an opportunity,' Rob Keefe says of return to Albany". Times Union. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Dougherty, Pete (April 12, 2021). "Rob Keefe steps down as coach of Albany Empire". Times Union. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Dougherty, Pete (April 12, 2021). "Rob Keefe: 'When visions don't align ... sometimes it's difficult to move forward'". Times Union. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "STAFF". Albany Empire. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- Seelig, Jennifer (August 14, 2021). "Albany Empire fans thrilled to see their team win the NAL Championship". News 10 ABC. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Singelais, Mark (November 12, 2021). "Albany Empire announces ownership change". Times Union. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Former NFL Wide Receiver Antonio Brown Joins The Albany Empire Of The NAL As Part-Owner". xflnewshub.com.
