 In July 2016, Lions' owners Skip Seda and his father, Keke Seda, announced the formation of a new league called the Arena Developmental League to begin play in spring 2017.They named former Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, and AF2 coach John Gregory as the league's commissioner.In November 2016, the Jacksonville Sharks joined and the Sedas yielded control over the new league for it to become the National Arena League.