The professional indoor football organization, the National Arena League, announced the addition of the Dallas Apex team to its league at a press conference in Mesquite today. Apex is led by former Super Bowl winner and current Washington Commander Deatrich Wise Jr. and his family.
The conference was held at Rodeo City Provisions, a restaurant within the Gomez Western Wear Arena, which will serve as Apex’s home venue in the spring of 2027.
The NAL was founded in 2016 and consists of eight teams across six states, not including the recent addition of Apex. This past April, the NAL announced the expulsion of the Dallas Bulls team due to the failure to meet the league’s financial and operational standards. The team denied these allegations in a formal statement posted on social media and expressed their interest in playing in another league.
Following the departure of the Bulls, the league used the introduction of Apex to demonstrate its interest in collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships with its teams.
In today’s press conference, NAL Commissioner Brandon Ikard said, “We’re trying to expand the footprint of the National Arena League within our current footprint, but with valid and viable owners.”
Apex’s general manager, Richard Sickler, is committed to building a strong relationship between the team and the NAL, as well as creating a connection with football fans in North Texas.
“We’re very excited to bring a team to the Dallas Metroplex area and play here in the beautiful Gomez Western Wear Arena,” Sickler said.
Co-owners Deatrich Wise Jr. and his father, Deatrich Wise Sr., have deep ties to the football community. Wise Jr. is co-owner of the Beaumont Renegades, a franchise that recently competed in the Arena Football League. He currently plays in the NFL for the Washington Commanders as a defensive end. His father, Wise Sr., played for the British Columbia Lions in the Canadian Football League and for the Tampa Bay Storm in the original Arena Football League in the early 1990s. In 1992, he began his coaching career at his alma mater, Jackson State University, and then continued coaching several teams in the original AFL. Most notably, Wise Sr. began coaching the Dallas Desperados in 2007. He currently coaches at Coppell Middle School West, as well as co-owns Apex.
The official 2027 spring game schedule will be released later this year, and Apex will make its North Texas debut. Wise Sr. emphasized the need for passionate coaches and players who are ready to compete.
“This franchise is about exciting football, community pride, and creating unforgettable experiences for fans,” Wise Sr. said. “We are committed to building a winning organization on and off the field.”
