Bizz Buzz: Pro football league sets its base in Richmond

Richmond is a business town. From large corporations such as Altria, CarMax and Owens & Minor to mom-and-pop stores and service companies, the area's business community is diverse and active.

But the area's newest corporate citizen brings something new: pro football.

Richmond is now home to the Indoor Football League. In April, the 19-team league moved its headquarters from Odessa, Texas, to new digs in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom, at East Main and 21st streets.

The IFL, which was founded last year after a merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football, is about halfway through its inaugural season. The championship game will be Aug. 8.

The league office chose Richmond because newly elected commissioner Tommy Benizio wanted to move east and to a central location.

The league has teams across the country, from as far west as Fairbanks, Alaska, to suburban Washington on the East Coast. The official work is done here in Richmond.

While it's not the Washington Redskins -- or even the Detroit Lions -- the IFL is a professional league.

Mike Clark, director of communications for the IFL, says about 25 players have already signed NFL contracts for next season. And the league also boasts former NFL players, including one-time Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter, who plays for the Abilene Ruff Riders.

Pro football is littered with startup leagues that have failed, among them the USFL and the XFL. And this year, the Arena Football League cancelled its season because of financial issues.

The AFL had a large following, network television contract and teams in markets such as Philadelphia, Chicago and Tampa.

But Clark believes the IFL can make a go of it where the AFL and others have not.

"We have a better business model that allows our teams to be profitable," he said.

The model controls player and venue costs, which are two of the biggest operating expenses for any sports organization.

Players, Clark said, are paid a maximum of $200 per game and get a $50 bonus for victories. Most owners provide housing and other benefits for players, but salaries are held in check.

Games, which have average attendance of about 4,000, are played in smaller arenas that cost less to lease and are easier to fill. The Maryland Maniacs play in an equestrian center several miles outside of Washington.

Clark said that to ensure drawing larger crowds and staying popular, the IFL operates in and plans to expand in smaller metropolitan areas where pro football is something new.

"Look," he said, referring to fan interest, "the Alaska [Wild] team hasn't won a game all season, but they still draw 3,500 to 4,000 per game. That's what we're looking for."

The league expects to have a Richmond team in place for the 2010 season, which will begin in March.

Chesterfield happenings

The food court at Chesterfield Towne Center will see some changes in the next few months as one owner looks to reshuffle his offerings.

The first move came when Deli Time closed. The space is now under construction and is expected to reopen this summer as Knockout Cheese Steak.

When Knockout opens, the Great Steak & Potato Company will shut down. In its place will be a restaurant that will sell made-to-order salads. The restaurant has not been named.

Also at the mall on Midlothian Turnpike, Dollar Village, which opened in April in the space vacated by KB Toys, is on a month-to-month lease, which means it will move if a permanent tenant is found. The store would have 30 days to shut down.

New Ukrop's line

Ukrop's Super Market Inc. has added a line of baked foods to its roster of prepared meals.

The grocer calls the offerings Ukrop's Bakes. The line includes entrees, side dishes and desserts that are "oven ready" in about 30 minutes.

For now, the line includes baked manicotti, roasted eggplant and tomato provencal, and peach blueberry crisp. Ukrop's will be adding items throughout the remainder of the year.

All items are prepared at Ukrop's central kitchen in Henrico County and delivered to stores.

The grocer began selling prepared food in 1989 and now carries about 250 dishes.

One item yet to come involves one of Ukrop's most popular items, White House roll bread pudding.

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or .