$0NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) –The Arena Football League's 2009 season is the casualty of the recession.$0$0The AFL said late Monday that it had decided to suspend its 2009 season"while the league works on developing a long-term plan to improve itseconomic model." It's hoped that the league will resume again in 2010.$0$0Where that leaves the AFL's TV partners is less certain. ESPN has a long-term agreement to televise AFL games nationally under a deal that gave the sports cable network'scontrolling shareholder, Disney, a financial stake in the NewYork-based league. News Corp.-owned FSN also carries games on aregional basis for teams that are spread across the country.$0$0"At this point, we're still assessing the situation," an ESPN spokesman said Monday.$0$0The Cleveland Plain Dealer said the AFL's prospects for 2009 seemed dim as a source said that several teams -- including Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago and Cleveland -- weren't likely to be back. The Plain Dealer said half of the 16 teams might not have returned and that ESPN wasn't interested in televising a league with only eight teams.$0$0Acting AFL commissioner Ed Policy said team owners "recognize that,especially in light of the current unprecedented economic climate, theAFL, as a business enterprise, needs to be restructured if it is tocontinue."$0$0The decision was made Sunday night in a conference call with leagueowners. ESPN execs were aware of the situation ahead of time and hadbeen consulting with the league. They hope to return in 2010.$0$0The AFL has attracted a number of well-known owners, including musician Jon Bon Jovi, who co-owns the Philadelphia Soul, and former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, co-owner of the Colorado Crush.But in its 22 years the league has failed to attract a large, lucrativefollowing, especially on TV. NBC had a TV deal with the AFL from2003-06 but dropped it after declining ratings. ESPN picked it up in December 2006.$0$0$0$0http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081216/tv_nm/us_arena;_ylt=Av3RFunTtP8i.L7cEWiVc4RpMhkF$0