Longest running indoor franchise

[indoor fan]

I am really suprised that there are that many indoor teams that have been around for more than 5 years. I guess it is possible to run an indoor football organization and be successful off the field.

I believe the Kansas Koyotes will be going on year 5 this year, as well.

[Minor League Man]

The longest-running indoor football team is now known as the Johnstown Riverhawks.

Topeka Knights 1999-2000
Topeka Kings 2000
Tennessee ThunderCats 2001-2002
Tennessee Riverhawks 2003
Greenville Riverhawks 2004
Lancaster Riverhawks 2004
Johnstown Riverhawks 2005-present

[tgbob]

The Ohio Valley Greyhounds are tied with the Johnstown Riverhawks for the longest, I believe. The Greyhounds were originally known as the Steel Valley Smash, and began play in 1999 in the IFL just like the Topeka team. After the AF2/Predators buyout, the Smash organization went to the NIFL and became the Greyhounds.

[preeths]

[quote=""Minor League Man""]The longest-running indoor football team is now known as the Johnstown Riverhawks.

Topeka Knights 1999-2000
Topeka Kings 2000
Tennessee ThunderCats 2001-2002
Tennessee Riverhawks 2003
Greenville Riverhawks 2004
Lancaster Riverhawks 2004
Johnstown Riverhawks 2005-present[/quote]

No, all the IFL teams that did not go to af2 folded. When OPE bought the IFL, George Lemon had already been kicked out as owner of Topeka, hence the name change, and Lincon was the only other team not owned by Keary Ecklund. Ecklund sold it all to OPE, which chose to close down most of the teams. Some of the markets such as Casper and Wheeling gained new teams, sometimes with players and front office personnel from the old, but they were new organizations.

[tony-o]

Including AFL, it would be the Tampa Bay Storm who played originally as the Pittsburgh Gladiators. They are the only team left from the AFL's first year.

The Beaumont Drillers has been around since 2000, when they were the Louisiana Rangers. The Rock River Raptors also have been around since 2000 when they were the original Tennessee Valley Vipers.

Birmingham(af2), Arkansas(af2), Quad Cities(af2), Wyoming(NIFL), Tulsa(af2) and Omaha(UIF) have been around in the same city since 2000.

[jjbballfan]

[quote=""tony-o""]Including AFL, it would be the Tampa Bay Storm who played originally as the Pittsburgh Gladiators. They are the only team left from the AFL's first year.

The Beaumont Drillers has been around since 2000, when they were the Louisiana Rangers. The Rock River Raptors also have been around since 2000 when they were the original Tennessee Valley Vipers.

Birmingham(af2), Arkansas(af2), Quad Cities(af2), Wyoming(NIFL), Tulsa(af2) and Omaha(UIF) have been around in the same city since 2000.[/quote]


Sioux Falls has had a franchise since 2000-- first was the Cobra's then in 01 changed to the storm.. Seem's to me to be the most stable franchise in minor league football

[Sykotyk]

Ohio Valley Greyhounds started in 1999 as the Steel Valley Smash. So, they stayed in the same city the longest, just couldn't keep the same name. The oldest team in all of indoor football (not counting AFL/AF2 which I consider 'arena football') would be the Beaumont Drillers. I haven't gotten confirmation, but the original Louisiana Bayou Beast of 1998 moved to Alexandria in 2000 to become the Louisiana Rangers. The rangers joined the NIFL in 2001 as a charter member, and moved to Beaumont to become the Drillers in 2003.

Oldest, overall: Beaumont Drillers (1998- )
Oldest in one city: Ohio Valley Greyhounds [Wheeling, WV] (1999- )
Oldest in one city, same name: Omaha Beef (2000- )
Oldest in one city, same league/name: Wyoming Cavalry, NIFL (2001- )

Sykotyk

[The Abyss]

sioux city was the attack in 2000 and became the bandits in 2001. Between Sioux City and Sioux Falls they are to me the most stable teams as far as longevity with sioux city having a slight edge cuz we have a brand new and better arena.

[tony-o]

[quote=""Sykotyk""]Ohio Valley Greyhounds started in 1999 as the Steel Valley Smash. So, they stayed in the same city the longest, just couldn't keep the same name. The oldest team in all of indoor football (not counting AFL/AF2 which I consider 'arena football') would be the Beaumont Drillers. I haven't gotten confirmation, but the original Louisiana Bayou Beast of 1998 moved to Alexandria in 2000 to become the Louisiana Rangers. The rangers joined the NIFL in 2001 as a charter member, and moved to Beaumont to become the Drillers in 2003.

Oldest, overall: Beaumont Drillers (1998- )
Oldest in one city: Ohio Valley Greyhounds [Wheeling, WV] (1999- )
Oldest in one city, same name: Omaha Beef (2000- )
Oldest in one city, same league/name: Wyoming Cavalry, NIFL (2001- )

Sykotyk[/quote]
The Rangers and Bayou Beast were two seperate teams. The Bayou Beast moved to the NIFL before the 2000 season so the IPFL brought in the Rangers, who moved to the NIFL the next year. The oldest team would be the Ohio Valley Greyhounds then.

[Sykotyk]

The NIFL didn't start until the 2001 season. I haven't gotten confirmation of it. And I hate going off a Wikipedia article, but they did have a source listed that at one time was able collaborate it.

I have no info, and the person who posted history about the Louisiana Rangers had mentioned a tie to the Bayou Beast years ago. I forget just 'who' that was, they might still post under a different name. That was back before OSC went to the sign-on boards.

Sykotyk