FAYETTEVILLE — The city of Fayetteville will field an

Arena Football 2

(af2) team for the 2002 season.

The indoor football team, owned by the

Arena Football League's

(AFL)

Carolina Cobras

managing owner Roddy Jones, will be named the Cape Fear Wildcats and play at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum starting in March 2002.

The af2 league, which began play in 2000, is the developmental league of the Arena Football League. Teams are located in small to mid-size markets and typically play in venues of less than 10,000. Players are paid $200 per game.

Last year 28 teams participated in the league's second season with as many as 12 expansion teams slated to join the league in 2002.

Last season a number of af2 players shined during the 16-week indoor season and were given an opportunity to make NFL rosters, including Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Reggie Swinton.

Wilbur Christy, who worked the past two seasons as the Cobras' Director of Operations, was named the Wildcats' general manager. He will oversee the day-to-day business operations of the club. A head coach is expected to be named in the next few weeks.

Season ticket information will be available in the coming weeks.