League official says AFL shutdown won't affect Bullfrogs

SPT Bullfrogs received 11/17/2008 Handout not Blade photo Toledo, Ohio Caption: Name and logo for Toledo's Arena Football team the Bullfrogs, this is an AF2 team, arenafootball2.

The Arena Football League's shutdown in 2009 will not affect arenafootball2 or the formation of the Toledo Bullfrogs, the minor arena league's top official said Monday.

Despite the AFL's announcement Monday that it will suspend play this season(subject to approval from the players' association), af2 commissioner Jerry Kurz said his league will play its full schedule in 2009.

"It doesn't make a lick of difference for us," Kurz said of the AFL's Monday announcement.

Kurz said the Toledo Bullfrogs who are scheduled to begin play at the new Lucas County Arena downtown in the spring of 2010 can continue to build themselves up without fear of a league shutdown.

Toledo Mud Hens general manager Joe Napoli, who oversees the non-profit organization that owns the Bullfrogs, did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment. Fans can purchase season tickets for Toledo's future arena football team by logging onto www.toledobullfrogs.com.

Contact Joe Vardon at: jvardon@theblade.com or 419-410-5055.