Kevin Jinks said he has done everything he can do to keep the Tri-Cities Fever afloat, and now it's up to owner Doug MacGregor to see if he wants to do the same.
Jinks, a machinist in the area, formed Trademark Sports Group -- a faction of local investors -- to buy the Fever from MacGregor for the $100,000 asking price.
Jinks said Monday night the group submitted its offer last Wednesday and has yet to hear back from MacGregor, who was in Las Vegas over the weekend for owners meetings and the ArenaCup.
"I am beginning to question a little bit how bad he wants to sell the team," Jinks said.
It is the second offer Jinks' group has submitted, the first one being declined earlier this month.
Trademark likely would move the team into the Indoor Football League, ending the Fever's three-year run in the arenafootball2 league, where it managed to win just 15 of its 49 games. It likely would end the possibility of MacGregor staying on as a minority owner.
Jinks said the IFL is more cost-effective and thinks it's a better fit for the Tri-Cities. He also said he has been in talks with IFL commissioner Tommy Benizio and has approval to move the Tri-Cities franchise into the league.
The pending move would unite the Fever with former National Indoor Football League foes the Billings Outlaws and RiverCity Rage, who recently played each other for the league championship.
Jinks said he is an avid Fever fan, like most others in the investment group, and is making it his mission to keep indoor football in the Tri-Cities.
Jinks and a few others were part of the group that spearheaded the shareholder deal that fell through a couple of weeks ago, and now have come through with their strongest offer.
For nearly two months, MacGregor has made a big push to find some sort of local ownership. He said without local ownership the team cannot survive and would fold the franchise at the end of this month.
MacGregor said recently he was optimistic that a deal would get done by the deadline, and the Fever would stay in the Tri-Cities -- something he has wanted all along.
"We want to keep a team in Tri-Cities," Jinks said.
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The Allen Wranglers said wide receiver Terrell Owens is close to agreeing to a deal with the Indoor Football League team. He also would receive an ownership stake of “likely 50 percent,” owner Jon Frankel told ESPN Dallas.
According to the Wranglers’ website, the compensation package would range from $250,000-$500,000.
In 15 NFL seasons, Owens, 38, was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He last played in the NFL in 2010 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fever frantically preps for preseason camp
Fever frantically preps for preseason camp
KENNEWICK -- Let's call this the storm before the calm for the Tri-Cities Fever.
Training camp for the 2012 Indoor Football League season for the Fever kicks off this weekend, with a 2:30 p.m. practice Saturday inside the Toyota Center.
But to get there, plenty of details have to be tended to.
Fever's division foes likely to change
Fever's division foes likely to change
KENNEWICK - Tri-Cities Fever owner Teri Carr heads to Chicago this week for the Indoor Football League meetings.
She has one burning question that needs to be answered: What will the Fever's division look like for the 2012 season?
Here's what it looked like in 2011: the Fairbanks Grizzlies, Seattle Timberwolves, the Fever and the Wenatchee Valley Venom.
Fever coach busy moving players
Fever coach busy moving players
KENNEWICK -- Adam Shackleford is already getting excited for the 2012 Indoor Football League season.
No matter that kickoff for the opener won't be until near the end of February.
The Tri-Cities Fever coach has been busy trying to put together a roster for next season, and he likes what he sees so far.
Fever QB Lillard to return in 2012
Fever QB Lillard to return in 2012
Coach Adam Shackleford always has made sure Houston Lillard knows he has a place to play football: in the Tri-Cities.
On Thursday, the 25-year-old quarterback took Shackleford up on that offer and signed a contract with the Tri-Cities Fever, ensuring that the team's de facto MVP from the 2011 season would be back in the fold.
Lillard passed for 2,517 yards during the regular season with 68 touchdown passes and just 15 interceptions.
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