Indoor Football League Franchise Changing Name and Address
November 4, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
West Michigan Thunderhawks News Release
Grand Rapids, Michigan - It was announced today that effective immediately, the professional indoor football franchise formerly known as the Muskegon Thunder have relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan and will be renamed the West Michigan ThunderHawks. A press conference was held at the team's new playing facility, the DeltaPlex Arena and Conference Center, located at 2500 Turner Ave. NW, to reveal the breaking news.
The ThunderHawks will begin their fourth year of operation when the Indoor Football League's 2010 14-game regular season kicks off in March of next year. The team returns to the IFL for the second straight season after spending their first two campaigns in the Continental Indoor Football League.
"We are extremely excited about the future of our organization in light of today's announcement," said Bob Eacker, director of media relations for the ThunderHawks. "The DeltaPlex Arena is a first-class facility where fans will get an up-close and personal view of all the hard-hitting action on the field."
The IFL features 8-on-8 arena-style football. There are no nets in the end zones and any balls that leave the field of play are take-home souvenirs for the fans. Bone-jarring hits and plenty of scoring make this incredibly fast-paced sport a favorite for spectators of all ages.
"There is truly no other sport that allows for such intimacy between the fans in the stands and the athletes on the field," said Eacker. "The arena setup will make this building an imposing place for visiting teams to play in when the fans get rocking."
ThunderHawks and DeltaPlex Arena officials confirmed the sides have agreed on a multi-year deal. The 'Hawks previously played their home games at the L.C. Walker Arena in downtown Muskegon, 40 miles away.
"We are certainly grateful to the people of Muskegon and the surrounding communities for their support over the past three years," added Eacker. "We hope those fans will understand that there were many factors that went into this difficult decision. The good news is that there is still professional indoor football for all the fans in West Michigan to enjoy."
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Indoor Football League Stories from November 4, 2009
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- Indoor Football League Franchise Changing Name and Address - West Michigan Thunderhawks
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