Former Empire Boss Hints Pro Sports Could Return To The TUC

We continue to catch up with former Albany Empire players, coaches, and personnel with the former COO George Manias. George was a key figure in getting the Empire up and running as well as winning a championship in just the second year of the team's existence. Manias was so good at launching the franchise as well as making them not only winners but also profitable that if the league had continued he would have been moved to the position of launching new teams across the entire league. So when George Manias hints to pro sports returning to the Capital Region you can bet I listen.

We all remember when the picture above was taken, it was August 11th, 2019 right after the Albany Empire beat the Philadelphia Soul 45 - 27 to win ArenaBowl XXXII. Manias would leave the field that night knowing he helped build a champion and looking forward to building the Arena Football League itself back to the giant it once was. There were reports George was working on launching as many as four teams over the next two seasons. Sadly we all also remember when the AFL was forced to close its doors due to issues from the league's past.

Now George Manias is working for the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders. However thanks to the coronavirus pandemic he has some free time and it sounds like he's using that time to find ways to bring pro football and maybe even pro lacrosse back to the Capital Region.