The National Arena League announced Thursday afternoon that it had booted the Albany Empire out of participating in league competition for the season due to its failure to meet financial obligations under its owner, former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown.

"The decision was reached after an emergency conference call of the members in good standing to discuss the Empire’s failure to pay their league mandated and overdue assessments," the NAL statement says. "Each team is responsible to pay for 1/7 of the league’s operating budget via monthly assessments starting in April. The Empire’s owner, Antonio Brown, was also fined $1,000 for Conduct Detrimental to the League for his recent public comments. Mr. Brown refused to pay that fine."

The league said its board of owners made what was a unainmous decision afer exhausting attempts to resolve the issue. The decision highlights what's been a tumultuous two-month ownership period for Brown, who as recently as Wednesday pledged to suit up for the Empire.  

The league said Brown paid the team's April assessment payment to the league after acquiring the Albany Empire in April, but failed to make its May 15th payment and notified the league it was challenging its April assessment. That payment was credited back to Brown, according to the league.

After learning Brown apparently did not intend to to pay the assessment or fine, the league set a deadline of noon Thursday for the Empire to pay, a deadline Brown failed to meet, resulting in the cancellation of its home game against Jacksonville and the rest of its 2023 regular season, the league stated. 

The league is adjusting the rest of its regular season schedule, and will announce it in the near future.

Albany Empire head coach Moe Leggett said late Thursday he found about the team's fate during a staff meeting when players were knocking on the door, asking if the termination was true.

“A lot of guys are sad, disappointed, upset, extremely angry, because we were ready to go play against Jacksonville,” he said.

According to Leggett, players and coach will become free agents. He says he was completely surprised by the league’s move.

Leggett wouldn’t blame anyone for what happened, and said he’s still not completely sure what’s going on. Right now, he says his main concern is looking out for his now unemployed staff and players.

“At the end of the day, we’re just trying to figure out how to bounce back,” Leggett said.

Thankfully, he said team sponsors are helping out players who are still in town until they figure out their next moves.

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy released a statement on Thursday, calling it an unfortunate situation.

"We are aware MVP Arena management is alerting ticketholders, and we will be reviewing options moving forward,” McCoy said.