derek-thomas/squad-v1.1-t5-question-generation huggingface dataset:
The year 2000 brought heightened interest in the AFL. Then-St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, who was MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV, was first noticed because he played quarterback for the AFL's Iowa Barnstormers. While many sports commentators and fans continued to ridicule the league, Warner's story gave the league positive exposure, and it brought the league a new television deal with TNN, which, unlike ESPN, televised regular season games live. While it was not financially lucrative, it helped set the stage for what the league would become in the new millennium. Also, the year also brought a spin-off league, the AF2, intended to be a developmental league, comparable to the National Football League's NFL Europe. There was a lot of expansion in the 2000s. Expansion teams included the Austin Wranglers, Carolina Cobras, Los Angeles Avengers, Chicago Rush, Detroit Fury, Dallas Desperados, Colorado Crush, New Orleans VooDoo, Philadelphia Soul, Nashville Kats, Kansas City Brigade, New York Dragons and Utah Blaze. Some of these teams, including the Crush, Desperados, Kats, and VooDoo, were owned by the same group which owned the NFL teams in their host cities. The NFL purchased, but never exercised, an option to buy a major interest the AFL. Of all of these teams, only the Soul still compete in the AFL as of now.

Question: What NFL team did Kurt Warner play for? Question: Kurt Warner was the Most Valuable Player in what Super Bowl? Question: What AFL team did Kurt Warner play for? Question: What television network did the AFL sign a deal with in 2000? Question: What was the name of the AFL team based in New Orleans?
In 2003, the season expanded to 16 games. There were also several rule changes in this period. In 2005, players were no longer allowed to run out of bounds. The only way for a player to go out of bounds presently is if he is tackled into or deliberately contacts the side boards. This was also the first year the ArenaBowl was played at a neutral site. In 2007, free substitution was allowed, ending the "iron man" era of one-platoon football. And in 2008, the "jack" linebacker was allowed to go sideboard to sideboard without being penalized for "illegal defense".

Question: How many games made up the AFL season in 2003? Question: In what year did the rules first forbid players running out of bounds? Question: In what year was the ArenaBowl first played at a neutral location? Question: What year introduced the free substitution rule? Question: What year saw a rules change that had an impact on the role of the "jack" linebacker?
After 12 years as commissioner of the AFL, David Baker retired unexpectedly on July 25, 2008, just two days before ArenaBowl XXII; deputy commissioner Ed Policy was named interim commissioner until Baker's replacement was found. Baker explained, "When I took over as commissioner, I thought it would be for one year. It turned into 12. But now it's time."

Question: For how many years did David Baker serve as commissioner of the AFL? Question: Who was the commissioner of the Arena Football League for the first half of 2008? Question: On what date did Baker step down as commissioner of the AFL? Question: What Arena Football League event occurred two days after Baker's resignation? Question: Who temporarily served in the commissioner's post after Baker's departure?
In October 2008, Tom Benson announced that the New Orleans VooDoo were ceasing operations and folding "based on circumstances currently affecting the league and the team". Shortly thereafter, an article in Sports Business Journal announced that the AFL had a tentative agreement to sell a $100 million stake in the league to Platinum Equity; in exchange, Platinum Equity would create a centralized, single-entity business model that would streamline league and team operations and allow the league to be more profitable. Benson's move to shut down the VooDoo came during the Platinum Equity conference call, leading to speculation that he had folded because of the deal.

Question: Who made the announcement that the VooDoo were shutting down? Question: What team shut down in October 2008? Question: What publication announced the Platinum Equity business deal? Question: How large a stake did Platinum Equity want to buy in the AFL? Question: What business wanted to buy a stake in the AFL?
Because of the sudden loss of the New Orleans franchise, the league announced in October that the beginning of the free agency period would be delayed in order to accommodate a dispersal draft. Dates were eventually announced as December 2 for the dispersal draft and December 4 for free agency, but shortly before the draft the league issued a press release announcing the draft had been postponed one day to December 3. Shortly thereafter, another press release announced that the draft would be held on December 9 and free agency would commence on December 11. However, the draft still never took place, and instead another press release was issued stating that both the draft and free agency had been postponed indefinitely. Rumors began circulating that the league was in trouble and on the verge of folding, but owners denied those claims. It was soon revealed the players' union had agreed to cut the salary cap for the 2009 season to prevent a total cessation of operations. However, the announced Platinum Equity investment never materialized.

Question: On what date was the dispersal draft first scheduled to occur? Question: When was free agency first scheduled to begin? Question: To what date was the dispersal draft first delayed? Question: After the second delay, when was the dispersal draft schedule to occur? Question: When was free agency scheduled to begin after the delay?
Although the Arenafootball2 league played its tenth season in 2009, a conference call in December 2008 resulted in enough votes from owners and cooperation from the AFLPA for the AFL to suspend the entire 2009 season in order to create "a long-term plan to improve its economic model". In doing so, the AFL became the second sports league to cancel an entire season, after the National Hockey League cancelled the 2004-05 season because of a lockout. The AFL also became the third sports league to lose its postseason (the first being Major League Baseball, which lost its postseason in 1994 because of a strike). Efforts to reformat the league's business model were placed under the leadership of Columbus Destroyers owner Jim Renacci and interim commissioner Policy.

Question: What numbered season did Arenafootball2 in 2009? Question: In what month and year was it decided to suspend the 2009 Arena Football League season? Question: What National Hockey League season was cancelled? Question: What led the National Hockey League to cancel the 2004-2005 season? Question: Who owned the Columbus Destroyers in 2008?
High hopes for the AFL waned when interim commissioner Ed Policy announced his resignation, citing the obsolescence of his position in the reformatted league. Two weeks later, the Los Angeles Avengers announced that they were formally folding the franchise. One month later, the league missed the deadline to formally ratify the new collective bargaining agreement and announced that it was eliminating health insurance for the players. Progress on the return stalled, and no announcements were made regarding the future of the league.

Question: What was the job title of Ed Policy? Question: What reason did Policy give for his resignation? Question: How many weeks after Policy's resignation did the Avengers fold? Question: After Ed Policy resigned, what franchise closed? Question: How long after the shuttering of the Avengers did the league fail to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement?
On July 20, 2009, Sports Business Journal reported that the AFL owed approximately $14 million to its creditors and were considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In early August 2009, numerous media outlets began reporting that the AFL was folding permanently and would file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The league released a statement on August 4 to the effect that while the league was not folding, it was suspending league operations indefinitely. Despite this, several of the league's creditors filed papers to force a Chapter 7 liquidation if the league did not do so voluntarily. This request was granted on August 7, though converted to a Chapter 11 reorganization on August 26.

Question: On what date was it reported that the AFL was considering bankruptcy? Question: What publication reported that the Arena Football League was thinking about filing bankruptcy? Question: How much debt was the AFL reported to have as of July 20, 2009? Question: What type of bankruptcy was the league reportedly thinking about filing in July 2009? Question: On what date did the AFL announce that it was not shutting down?
Following the suspension of the AFL's 2009 season, league officials and owners of af2 (which had played its season as scheduled) began discussing the future of arena football and the two leagues. With its 50.1 percent ownership of af2, the AFL's bankruptcy and dissolution prompted the dissolution of af2 as well. That league was formally considered disbanded on September 8, 2009, when no owner committed his or her team to the league's eleventh season by that deadline. For legal reasons, af2 league officials and owners agreed to form a new legal entity, Arena Football 1 (AF1), with former AFL teams the Arizona Rattlers and Orlando Predators joining the former af2.

Question: What Arena Football League season was suspended? Question: What percent of af2 was owned by the AFL? Question: On what date was af2 regarded as disbanded? Question: What legal entity was created by af2 league owners? Question: Along with the Orlando Predators, what former Arena Football League team joined af2?
All assets of the Arena Football League were put up for auction. On November 11, 2009, the new league announced its intention to purchase the entire assets of the former AFL; the assets included the team names and logos of all but one of the former AFL and af2 teams. The lone exception was that of the Dallas Desperados; Desperados owner Jerry Jones had purposely designed the Desperados' properties around those of the Dallas Cowboys, making the two inseparable. The auction occurred on November 25, 2009. The assets were awarded to Arena Football 1 on December 7, 2009, with a winning bid of $6.1 million.

Question: When was an auction announced for the Arena Football League's assets? Question: Who owned the Dallas Desperados? Question: When did the auction for the Arena Football League's assets take place? Question: Who won the auction for the AFL's assets? Question: What was the purchase price for the Arena Football League's assets?
On February 17, 2010, AF1 announced it would use the "Arena Football League" name. The league announced plans for the upcoming season and details of its contract with NFL Network to broadcast AFL games in 2010. AF1 teams were given the option of restoring historical names to their teams. In addition to the historical teams, the league added two new expansion franchises, the Dallas Vigilantes and the Jacksonville Sharks.

Question: On what date did AF1 announce that it would be called the Arena Football League? Question: What television network was contracted to show Arena Football League games in 2010? Question: How many expansion teams were announced in 2010? Question: Along with the Dallas Vigilantes, what expansion team was announced in 2010?
For the 2011 season, the Philadelphia Soul, Kansas City Brigade, San Jose SaberCats, New Orleans VooDoo, and the Georgia Force returned to the AFL after having last played in 2008. However, the Grand Rapids Rampage, Colorado Crush, Columbus Destroyers, Los Angeles Avengers, and the New York Dragons did not return. The league added one expansion team, the Pittsburgh Power. Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann was one of the team's owners. It was the first time the AFL returned to Pittsburgh since the Pittsburgh Gladiators were an original franchise in 1987 before becoming the Tampa Bay Storm. The Brigade changed its name to the Command, becoming the Kansas City Command. Even though they were returning teams, the Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings moved to New Orleans as the Voodoo, the identity formerly owned by New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson. The Alabama Vipers moved to Duluth, Georgia to become the new Georgia Force (the earlier franchise of that name being a continuation of the first Nashville Kats franchise). On October 25, 2010 the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz did not return. The Milwaukee Iron also changed names to the Milwaukee Mustangs, the name of Milwaukee's original AFL team that had existed from 1994 to 2001.

Question: Along with the New Orleans VooDoo, Kansas City Brigade, Philadelphia Soul and Georgia Force, what former team returned for the 2011 season? Question: Along with the Grand Rapids Rampage, Colorado Crush, Columbus Destroyers and Los Angeles Avengers, what team did not return for the 2011 season? Question: What expansion team joined the league in 2011? Question: For what NFL team did Lynn Swann play? Question: What was the former name of the Tampa Bay Storm?
In 2012, the AFL celebrated its silver anniversary for its 25th season of operations. The season kicked off on March 9, 2012. The Tulsa Talons moved to San Antonio, Texas and Jeffrey Vinik became owner of the Tampa Bay Storm. The Dallas Vigilantes were left off the schedule for the 2012 season with no announcement from the management, raising speculations that either the team had suspended operations for the season or was ceasing operations altogether. (Apparently the latter was the case as the organization did not field a team for the 2013 season or any subsequent one either.) Like the National Football League, the AFL postponed the free agency period to October 31 due to Hurricane Sandy.

Question: What anniversary did the Arena Football League celebrate in 2012? Question: What was the first day of the 2015 AFL season? Question: To what city did the Tulsa Talons relocate? Question: Who bought the Tampa Bay Storm in 2012? Question: What event resulted in the postponement of the AFL free agency period?
It was announced on December 12, 2012, that the AFL reached a partnership agreement with NET10 Wireless to be the first non-motorsports-related professional sports league in the United States to have a title sponsor, renaming it the NET10 Wireless Arena Football League. The redesigned website showed the new logo which incorporated the current AFL logo with the one from NET10 Wireless. The title sponsorship agreement ended in 2014 after a two-year partnership.

Question: On what date did the AFL announce its title sponsorship deal? Question: What business was the title sponsor of the AFL? Question: What was the league renamed after the title sponsorship deal? Question: When did the AFL title sponsorship deal come to an end? Question: How many years did the AFL title sponsorship deal last?
In 2013, the league expanded with the addition of two new franchises to play in 2014, the Los Angeles Kiss (owned by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the legendary rock band Kiss) and the Portland Thunder.

Question: What was the name of the Los Angeles-based team added in 2013? Question: Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are members of what musical group? Question: Along with Paul Stanley, who owned the Los Angeles Kiss? Question: Other than the Los Angeles Kiss, what expansion team entered in the league in 2013?
In 2014, the league announced the granting of a new franchise to former Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil, previously part-owner of the Jacksonville Sharks. That franchise, the Las Vegas Outlaws, were originally to play in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2015, but instead played their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center, previous home to the Las Vegas Sting and Las Vegas Gladiators. After 20 years as a familiar name to the league, an AFL mainstay, the Iowa Barnstormers, departed the league to join the Indoor Football League. The San Antonio Talons folded on October 13, 2014, after the league (which owned the team) failed to find a new owner. On November 16, 2014, despite a successful season record-wise, the Pittsburgh Power became the second team to cease operations after the 2014 season. This resulted from poor attendance. It was later announced by the league that the Power would go dormant for 2015 and were looking for new ownership.

Question: What band was Vince Neil a part of? Question: What was the name of the Las Vegas team owned by Vince Neil? Question: What was the original intended home field of the Las Vegas Outlaws? Question: Where did the Outlaws play their home games? Question: Along with the Las Vegas Gladiators, what prior AFL team played its home games at the Thomas & Mack Center?
Jerry Kurz also stepped down as commissioner of the AFL as he was promoted to be the AFL's first president. Former Foxwoods CEO Scott Butera was hired as his successor as commissioner.

Question: Who was the first president of the AFL? Question: What was Jerry Kurz's job title prior to being president of the AFL? Question: Where did Scott Butera work prior to becoming AFL commissioner? Question: What was Scott Butera's job title prior to becoming AFL commissioner? Question: Who became commissioner of the AFL after Jerry Kurz?
On August 9, 2015, ESPN reported that the New Orleans VooDoo and Las Vegas Outlaws had ceased operations, effective immediately, a claim which was subsequently validated on the AFL website. On September 1, 2015, the Spokane Shock officially left the AFL and joined the IFL under the new name Spokane Empire, becoming the fifth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since bankruptcy (Iowa Barnstormers, Tri-Cities Fever, Green Bay Blizzard and Arkansas Twisters—now the Texas Revolution—left previously).

Question: On what date was it reported that the Las Vegas Outlaws were shutting down? Question: Who first reported the closure of the New Orleans VooDoo? Question: On what date did the Spokane Shock leave the AFL? Question: What rival league did the Spokane Shock join? Question: What was the name of the Spokane Shock after they joined the IFL?
Rumors began swirling with regards to bringing the AFL back to Austin and San Antonio, Texas. Both cities have hosted franchises in the past (Austin Wranglers, San Antonio Force and San Antonio Talons), but an AFL spokesman, BJ Pickard, was quoted as saying, "News to me." Announcements have yet to be made on any sort of expansion plans. An expected "big announcement" on Friday, October 30 at a San Antonio Spurs game never came to fruition.

Question: What prior AFL franchise was based in Austin? Question: Along with the San Antonio Talons, what AFL franchise did San Antonio host at one time? Question: Who worked as an AFL spokesman during this period? Question: What day of the week was October 30, 2015? Question: At what team's game was an announcement by the AFL supposed to happen on October 30?
On November 12, the league announced the defending champion San Jose SaberCats would be ceasing operations due to "reasons unrelated to League operations". A statement from the league indicated that the AFL is working to secure new, long-term owners for the franchise. This leaves the AFL with eight teams for 2016.

Question: When was it announced that the SaberCats would be shutting down? Question: Who were the defending champions of the Arena Football League? Question: What was the reason given for the closing of the SaberCats? Question: How many AFL teams are operating as of 2016?
On January 6, 2016, the league took over "ownership and operational control" of the Portland Thunder from its previous owners. The AFL stated this move was made after months of trying work out an arrangement "to provide financial and operational support." On February 3, 2016, it was announced that the franchise will start from scratch and no longer be called the "Thunder" as the name and trademarks belong to former franchise owner Terry Emmert (similar to the Jerry Jones move with the Desperados). AFL commissioner Scott Butera announced that a new identity will be announced at a later date.

Question: On what date did the AFL take control of one of its teams? Question: What team did the league take control of? Question: Who owned the trademark to the Portland Thunder? Question: Who owned the Desperados trademarks? Question: Who is commissioner of the Arena Football League?
The league's 2016 schedule, announced on the league's website on December 10, 2015, shows an eight-team league playing a 16-game regular season over 18 weeks, with two bye weeks for each team, one on a rotational basis and the other a "universal bye" for all teams during the Independence Day weekend, the first weekend in July. All teams will qualify for the postseason, meaning that the regular season will serve only to establish seeding.

Question: How many regular season games will each team play in 2016? Question: On what date did the league announce its schedule for 2016? Question: How many teams are active in the AFL for 2016? Question: How many weeks will the 2016 regular season last? Question: On the weekend of what holiday will all teams have a bye?
From the league's inception through ArenaBowl XVIII, the championship game was played at the home of the highest-seeded remaining team. The AFL then switched to a neutral-site championship, with ArenaBowls XIX and XX in Las Vegas. New Orleans Arena, home of the New Orleans VooDoo, served as the site of ArenaBowl XXI on July 29, 2007. This was the first professional sports championship to be staged in the city since Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. The San Jose SaberCats earned their third championship in six years by defeating the Columbus Destroyers 55–33. ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans was deemed a success, and the city was chosen to host ArenaBowl XXII, in which the Philadelphia Soul defeated the defending champion San Jose Sabercats. In 2010, the location returned to being decided by which of the two participating teams was seeded higher. In ArenaBowl XXIII, the Spokane Shock defeated the Tampa Bay Storm at their home arena, Spokane Arena, in Spokane, Washington. In ArenaBowl XXIV, the Jacksonville Sharks, coming off of a victory in their conference final game four nights earlier, traveled to US Airways Center in Phoenix and defeated the Arizona Rattlers 73–70. ArenaBowl XXV returned to a neutral site and was once again played in New Orleans, where the Rattlers returned and defeated the Philadelphia Soul. Since 2014 the ArenaBowl has been played at the higher-seeded team.

Question: Where did ArenaBowl XX take place? Question: What arena was ArenaBowl XXI played in? Question: On what date was ArenaBowl XXI played? Question: In what month and year did Hurricane Katrina occur? Question: What team won ArenaBowl XXI?
The practice of playing one or two preseason exhibition games by each team before the start of the regular season was discontinued when the NBC contract was initiated, and the regular season was extended from 14 games, the length that it had been since 1996, to 16 from 2001 to 2010, and since 2016. From 2011 to 2015, the regular season league expanded to 18 games, with each team having two bye weeks and the option of two preseason games.

Question: A contract with what television network led to the discontinuation of exhibition games in the preseason? Question: How many games was the regular season in 1996? Question: How many games were played in the 2001 regular season? Question: How many games will each team play in the 2016 regular season? Question: How many games long was the 2011 regular season?