L.A. Avengers celebrate eighth anniversary
Published on June 14, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- On June 14, 1999, at a news conference overlooking a still-under-construction STAPLES Center, 24-year-old owner Casey Wasserman unveiled the nickname and logo of Los Angeles' new Arena Football League franchise, giving birth to the Avengers.
Eight years later, the team is celebrating another anniversary while also gearing up for the 2007 AFL Playoffs.
The Avengers (8-6) will host the Las Vegas Gladiators (2-12) at STAPLES Center on Sunday, June 17. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. With a victory, Los Angeles will clinch its fifth postseason berth in its last six seasons (a Nashville loss at Kansas City on Saturday, also would seal the deal for L.A.).
Following Sunday's contest, the Avengers will close out the regular season by hosting the Utah Blaze (7-8) on Saturday, June 23. If Los Angeles is able to win both of its remaining games, the Avengers will host a first-round playoff game at STAPLES Center on Monday, July 2.
With 120 regular-season games played, the Avengers are the third-longest running professional football team in the Los Angeles-Orange County area. Only the Los Angeles Rams (49 seasons) and Los Angeles Raiders (13 seasons) had longer runs. However, the Avengers are the longest running pro football team that was born in Los Angeles, since the Rams moved here from Cleveland and the Raiders made L.A. their home between stints in Oakland.
Below is a list of the 20 professional football teams that have been associated to the Los Angeles-Orange County area, in order of longevity.
Los Angeles Rams, NFL -- 1946-1994 (1980-1994 in Anaheim)
Los Angeles Raiders, NFL -- 1982-1994
Los Angeles Avengers, Arena Football League -- 2000-present
Los Angeles Bulldogs, PCPFL (Pacific Coast Professional Football League) -- 1940-1945
Hollywood Bears/Wolves, PCPFL -- 1940-1942, 1944-1945
Los Angeles Dons, AAFC (All-America Football Conference) -- 1946-1949
Los Angeles Express, USFL -- 1983-1985
Southern California Sun, WFL -- 1974-1975 (32 games)
Anaheim Piranhas, Arena Football League -- 1996-1997 (28 games)
Orange County Ramblers, ConFL (Continental Football League) -- 1967-1968 (24 games)
Los Angeles Mustangs, PCPFL -- 1943-44 (18 games)
Los Angeles Chargers, AFL -- 1960 (15 games, 14 in regular season)
Los Angeles Wildcats, AFL -- 1926 (14 games)
Los Angeles Cobras, Arena Football League -- 1988 (13 games, 12 in regular season)
Los Angeles Xtreme, XFL -- 2001 (12 games, 10 in regular season)
Hollywood Rangers, PCPFL -- 1944 (11 games)
Los Angeles Buccaneers, NFL -- 1926 (10 games, road games only)
Los Angeles Bulldogs, AFL -- 1937 (8 games)
Los Angeles Wildcats, PCPFL -- 1944 (8 games)
Long Beach Admirals, ConFL -- 1967 (1 game)
Wasserman, who continues to own and operate the Avengers, also has been busy in recent years managing the rapid growth of the team's holding company, Wasserman Media Group (www.wmgllc.com), which is a worldwide leader in sports management, marketing and content.
Single-game tickets for both of the Avengers' final two regular-season games are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com and the STAPLES Center box office.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 14, 2007
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