List of dead teams and cities

[robertboyd]

Hello, I'm wondering if people can help me compile a list of cities and teams that used to have indoor/arena football teams but dont anymore.

I'll start first

Carolina GhostRiders - Asheville NC

[mrinsideto-u]

Dayton, Ohio

[PIONEERSFAN101]

www.angelfire.com/pa5/indoorfootball

Just go to all the historical team sections and you should be able to compile a list rather quickly.

[mvhcpa]

...was, at least name-wise, the Minnesota Fighting Pike (AFL)! MVH

[BMAN]

The Milwaukee Mustangs-AFL

[off_the_nets]

Here are some cities:

Baton Rouge, LA (Arena2- Blaze)
Lafayette, LA. (Arena2- Roughnecks)
Columbus, GA. (Arena2- Wardogs; AIFL- Vipers)
Syracuse, NY (AIFL- Soldiers)
Miami, FL. (Arena- Bobcats and Hooters; NIFL- Morays)
Jacksonville, FL. (Arena2- Tomcats)
Mobile, AL. (Arena2- Wizards; IPFL/NIFL- Seagulls)
Honolulu, HI. (Arena2- Islanders; IPFL- Hurricanes; IPFL- Hammerheads)
Rome, GA. (NIFL/AIFL/WIFL- Renegades)
Buffalo, NY (Arena- Destroyers)
Rochester, NY (Arena2- Brigade)
Charleston, SC (Arena2- Swamp Foxes; NIFL- Sandsharks)
Myrtle Beach, SC. (NIFL- Stingrays)
Des Moines, IA- (Arena/Arena2- Barnstormers)
Anaheim, CA. (Arena- Piranhas)
Charlotte, NC (Arena- Rage and Cobras)
Hartford, CT. (Arena- Coyotes)
Providence, RI. (Arena- Steamrollers)
Worchester, MA. (Arena- Marauders)
Detroit, MI. (Arena- Drive and Fury)
Sacramento, CA. (Arena- Attack)
Fort Worth, TX. (Arena- Cavalry)
Fort Collins, CO. (NIFL- Venom)
Indianapolis, IN. (Arena- Firebirds)
Houston, TX. (Arena- Terror and Thunderbears)
East Rutherford, NJ (Arena- Red Dogs/Gladiators; NIFL- Xtreme)
Memphis, TN. (Arena- Pharaohs)
Portland, OR. (Arena- Forest Dragons)
Eugene, OR. (NIFL- Mercury)
Waco, TX. (NIFL- Marshalls)
Peoria, IL. (IFL/Arena2- Pirates, UIF- Rough Riders)
Houma, LA. (NIFL- Bucks)
Kissimmee, FL. (NIFL- Kreatures)
Lincoln, NE. (IFL/Arena2- Lightning; NIFL- Capitols)
Monroe, LA. (NIFL- Beast)
Biloxi, MS. (NIFL- Firedogs)

Ok, my fingers are getting tired. LOL! I'll send more later. :-D

[nksports]

Topeka, KS (IFL Knights. they also went by another name for a year)
Wichita, KS (IFL/af2 Warlords, changed name to Stealth in af2)
Enid, OK (NIFL Oklahoma Crude)
Kearney, NE (NIFL, Tri-Cities Diesel)

[tony-o]

Columbus, GA. (Arena2- Wardogs; AIFL- Vipers)Columbus has the Lions now.
Topeka, KS (IFL Knigts. they also went by another name for a year)
Wichita, KS (IFL/af2 Warlords, changed name to Stealth in af2)
Topeka has the Kansas Koyotes and Wichita has the Wild.

[nksports]

Columbus has the Lions now.

Topeka has the Kansas Koyotes and Wichita has the Wild.

The Knights were a different franchise than the Koyotes. When OPE (the then operating name for the Orlando Predators), which was an af2 operator, bought the IFL, the Topeka franchise wasn't taken in the deal and allowed to fold. (They didn't draw much in their second season. They played under a different name their first season, but I can't remember the name.)
The Koyotes (an APFL) were formed a year or two later.
Some of the other IFL refugees formed a league that would later become part of the NIFL.

In the IFL-af2 "merger," the Wichita franchise (then the Warlords) was transfered to the AFL Oklahoma Stampede ownership, then Grand Rapids, then sold to a Wichita businessman. The Wichita franchise was re-named the Stealth. That franchise folded. The owner's non-football business went belly up, and the league operated the team for the remainder of the 2004 season. The league tried to sell the franchise, but there were no takers due to arena questions (the Kansas Coliseum was at the time set to be shut down for two years for renovations and the new arena vote hadn't taken place yet.)

The APFL Aviators formed (just barely in time) for the 2005 season.

BTW -- You can add (Oklahoma City) Oklahoma Stampede (AFL) to the list. The Yard Dawgs came a year or two later.

[nksports]

Another couple of adds to the list:
(Overland Park) Kansas Storm (APFL travel team in 2005)
St. Joseph, Mo. Storm (APFL, another long story. The short version: bogarted by the NIFL).

[sportsguy12]

BTW -- You can add (Oklahoma City) Oklahoma Stampede (AFL) to the list. The Yard Dawgs came a year or two later.

The AFL team was called the Oklahoma Wranglers - not the Stampede.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_Wranglers

[nksports]

My bad (too many of these to keep straight sometimes)

[Sugar24]

Dayton, Ohio

Dayton now has The Marshals. The last few years this NIFL team was known as The Cincinnati Marshals but they are now moving to Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio. I am looking forward to watching them this season.

[patmc16]

I see the Detroit Drive & Fury. Also from Michigan are:

Flint Flame (IFL)

Battle Creek Crunch (GLIFL - now CIFL)

The Motor City Reapers were supposed to play this season in the CIFL but folded long before playing a down.

[Jammer]

Minnesota Fighting Pike- AFL, Minnesota Monster-PIFL, Minnesota (Mankato) Purple Rage-IFL and Duluth Lumberjacks-IFL.

[Minor League Man]

Milwaukee Mustangs (AFL), La Crosse NightTrain (NIFL), Green Bay Bombers (PIFL/IFL), La Crosse River Rats (IFL), Madison Mad Dogs (PIFL/IFL)

[tcgatorfan]

any thing in monroe la just want last if it is it gone

[hawk174md]

Allow me to add a couple:

Maryland/Washington Commandos (Arena)
Detroit Drive (Arena)
Columbus/Cleveland Thunderbolts (Arena)
Cincinnati Rockers (Arena)
Roanoke Steam (Arena2)
Richmond Speed (Arena2)
Norfolk Nighthawks (Arena2)
New Haven Ninjas (Arena2)

[Shootmaster_44]

Are the Toronto Phantoms (AFL 2001-02) the only Canadian Indoor/Arena Football team? I read through the site mentioned above and that was the only one I could find.

[robertboyd]

Thanks guys for all your help in getting a list together.

Rob

[AllTheRage]

BTW -- You can add (Oklahoma City) Oklahoma Stampede (AFL) to the list. The Yard Dawgs came a year or two later.

The AFL team in Oklahoma City was the Oklahoma Wranglers. The Oklahoma Stampede was a semi-pro team several years before.

[nksports]

The AFL team in Oklahoma City was the Oklahoma Wranglers. The Oklahoma Stampede was a semi-pro team several years before.

You missed my earlier mia culpa, but you also proved my point of the mia culpa.

[Tatonka]

Wooster, Ohio... Dead.

[sportsfan27]

Macon, GA (AF2) Knights

[nksports]

The entire EIFL — dead

[robertboyd]

The entire EIFL — dead
Dont know if I would count them all out yet, or if you can even count them as existing in the first place. If you base a team out of Pittsburgh, but your players are from Ohio, did the team exist?

[PolishX]

dont forget the old Cleveland Rockers .

[Football Chick]

Topeka, KS (IFL Knights. they also went by another name for a year)
Wichita, KS (IFL/af2 Warlords, changed name to Stealth in af2)
Enid, OK (NIFL Oklahoma Crude)
Kearney, NE (NIFL, Tri-Cities Diesel)


Topeka was also the Kings. They changed names mid season I believe.

[jjbballfan]

Rapid City-- i think they were the rage?? in a league then the R.C. Red dawgs in the NIFL then the Black Hills Red Dawgs in the UIF then the aces in the NIFL-- The red dawgs still hold franchise rights in the UIF and the aces havn't folded YET just disfuctional... I doubt arena football will return in the near future after last year though..

[kicker]

Actually they were the Topeka Knights in 2000 and then the Topeka Kings in 2001.

[jjbballfan]

I really think that the reasons that there are so many disfunct cities are because of this.

Arena/Indoor football can be played in most Arena's in america, however it requires quite abit of capital to get started (nets, turf, boards, pads, helmets, uniforms) compared to a basketball team that needs uniforms.... The difference between the 2 are the franchise fee's.. You get accouple of thousand dollars and you've got a franchise and people see a quick profit.. They buy a franchise then go and buy the lease, and equiptment on credit and then the cost come in and they don't have the money to back it... A city can only back so many teams before they simply quit coming.. Look at R.C. its been 10 years since basketball has been into the city after faulty ownership.. and I believe it will be long before indoor football goes to that city.

The average fan doesn't see a different owner they just see a team and after a team comes in sets up shop then leaves (NIFL--generally bad terms) its tough for a franchise to be profitable in that city.

The NIFL has an interesting idea in owning teams I believe what the are doing is this there putting teams in marginal facilites hoping it works out and will be able to sell them to local investers and if it doesn't there not out much and have made it alot tougher for another league to come in there.

[billm75]

I really think that the reasons that there are so many disfunct cities are because of this.

Arena/Indoor football can be played in most Arena's in america, however it requires quite abit of capital to get started (nets, turf, boards, pads, helmets, uniforms) compared to a basketball team that needs uniforms.... The difference between the 2 are the franchise fee's.. You get accouple of thousand dollars and you've got a franchise and people see a quick profit.. They buy a franchise then go and buy the lease, and equiptment on credit and then the cost come in and they don't have the money to back it... A city can only back so many teams before they simply quit coming.. Look at R.C. its been 10 years since basketball has been into the city after faulty ownership.. and I believe it will be long before indoor football goes to that city.

The average fan doesn't see a different owner they just see a team and after a team comes in sets up shop then leaves (NIFL--generally bad terms) its tough for a franchise to be profitable in that city.

The NIFL has an interesting idea in owning teams I believe what the are doing is this there putting teams in marginal facilites hoping it works out and will be able to sell them to local investers and if it doesn't there not out much and have made it alot tougher for another league to come in there.


I think you have a VERY valid point with what you're saying. The only thing I disagree with (and not vehemently, I might add) is that the NIFL is trying to prevent any future indoor league from playing in these cities/arenas.

I sincerely doubt the the NIFL's mission is to destroy the sport of indoor football, even if their past (and present) actions might lead you to believe otherwise. I believe that the NIFL's ownership and management are in over their heads and won't admit as much. They're lacking in many ways, and much of the trouble they are facing can be overcome with some common sense approaches.

League-owned teams, for example, are a BAD IDEA. Look at the MLB....the Expos were owned by the league for a while. That's not going to produce a quality product on the field.

Releasing schedules before knowing that you have a team, ownership, facilities and equipment in place. BAD IDEA. Solution? Make a phone call, assist the team in acquiring the equipment needed and put a few thousand in their pockets for marketing the team.

Pewonski. 'nuff said. Sure, he brought the Stingers to Columbia, and I'm glad that he did. I love indoor football. However, if the guy is giving your league a black eye....maybe it's best to exclude him from any future dealings.

That's just a sample. None of my solutions are hard to get your head around. They are common sense approaches to fixing what's wrong. ANY small-time league will have problems, and these problems can't be fixed by simply slamming them on their faults. You need to offer solutions, support your TEAMS, and be willing to pitch in if you're able. Money isn't going to cure everything, sometimes your efforts as a supporter of the team and/or league can do more good than any amount of money.

But then, this is just MY opinion. I could be wrong. ;)

[Football Chick]

Actually they were the Topeka Knights in 2000 and then the Topeka Kings in 2001.

Have to prove you wrong here......and you know I know my football! :D

"Midway through the 2000 season, the Topeka Knights changed management and nicknames and became the Kings."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_Football_League

[kicker]

Well, don't I feel like an ass. But it doesn't bother me that much since I am on Spring Break. My time has been spent in nothing but underware and doing nothing but grilling burgers and steaks, drinking beer, watching the AFL, ESPN, and comedies.

[preeths]

Here is the deal with Topeka. The Knights were owned jointly by George Lemon, son of Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon, and Indoor Football League owner Keary Ecklund. In 2000, bills weren't being paid and other problems arose, and Ecklund took sole control of the team. He changed the name to prevent Lemon from coming after him for copyright violation.

[Football Chick]

Well, don't I feel like an ass. But it doesn't bother me that much since I am on Spring Break. My time has been spent in nothing but underware and doing nothing but grilling burgers and steaks, drinking beer, watching the AFL, ESPN, and comedies.

So what...I did prove you wrong now didn't I? LOL

And Preeths, you are absolutely right with the whole deal. It all went down kinda quick as well.

[cRUSHer]

Allow me to add a couple:

Maryland/Washington Commandos (Arena)
Detroit Drive (Arena)
Columbus/Cleveland Thunderbolts (Arena)
Cincinnati Rockers (Arena)
Roanoke Steam (Arena2)
Richmond Speed (Arena2)
Norfolk Nighthawks (Arena2)
New Haven Ninjas (Arena2)

The original 1987 Washington Commandos did not die.
They moved in 1988 and became the Detroit Drive.

The Drive were sold & moved in the mid nineties
and became the Massachusetts Marauders. The
Marauders subsequently went dormant and were
purchased as such , renamed and moved to Grand Rapids.

As a result the Rampage are the only team besides Tampa
Bay Storm to have lineage all the way back to the 1st season.

The 89-90 Commandos I believe did fold .

I'm just saying.

[cRUSHer]

Here are some cities:

(edited for space)
....................................
......................................
Memphis, TN. (Arena- Pharaohs)
........................................
.........................................
Ok, my fingers are getting tired. LOL! I'll send more later. :-D

That was quite a list.
While you were in Memphis, you could have also
added the 2005 af2 arena cup champion Memphis Xplorers