Adams wants to bring arena football to Cincinnati

Bengals defensive tackle Sam Adams has purchased rights to bring arena league football team to U.S. Bank Arena. It would begin play in April, Adams said Friday.
The still-nameless team would play in the af2, arenafootball2.

Adams’ investment group includes Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., Adams said. The two became friends when playing in Seattle in the mid- and later-1990s for the Seahawks and Mariners.

Other members of the ownership group are Bengals running back Rudi Johnson and Reds team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek. Bengals players Tory James and T.J. Houshmandzadeh also are expected to join, Adams said.

"It's a great football town. It has great fans who love football,” Adams said of the Cincinnati area. “You have to have something in the (NFL) offseason. You have nothing. You've got baseball, and it's a great baseball town. But to be able to have football year around and to take that burning desire to see live football in the offseason, this is a chance to see something fresh.”

Adams already owns an af2 team. He has run the Everett Hawks since 2002. In that time in Everett, Adams has linked his franchise with several community groups, including the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers-Big Sisters and the American Diabetes Association.

Adams said U.S. Bank Arena management has been cooperative and good to him.
A coach already is in place, former University of Kentucky player Tony Missick, who played five seasons in arena football as a wide receiver and linebacker.