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Phantom sports franchises 2006

by Dan Krieger
January 15, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)


When planning a season in any sports league, whether it's a newly developed league or an established league, events happen that might force a previously announced team to fold, move, or change its name before the team or league even begins play. The following list provides some of these 2006 "phantom franchises" that never played a game. Several teams announced by developing leagues may not be included because there was still a chance those teams could start playing in 2007 or beyond.

Akron Quakers: Proposed International Basketball League (IBL) franchise for the 2007 season; owner of Cuyahoga Falls Cougars also owned rights to Akron and decided to move the Cougars to Akron as the Akron Cougars, replacing the Akron Quakers for 2007; the Cougars then joined the new Universal Basketball League.

Alaska Wild (af2): Proposed arenafootball2 (af2) franchise for the 2007 season; owner decided to wait until 2008, then switched to the Intense Football League (IFL) where the franchise will also be called the Alaska Wild and play in the 2007 IFL.

Alexandria Mongolian United: Original nickname for the Alexandria (VA) American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise announced for 2006-07; the team changed to the Alexandria Wind Jammers prior to the start of the 2006-07 season under new ownership and sat out the season.

Atlanta Krunk: Original nickname given to a new Continental Basketball Association (CBA) team for the 2006-07 season; team was renamed the Atlanta Krunk Wolverines as it became affiliated with Morris Brown College, the team's home court location; the Krunk Wolverines decided to sit out the 2006-07 season.

Binghamton Brigade: Franchise originally announced as the Binghamton Brigadiers for the 2006 American Indoor Football League (AIFL), but became the Brigade; arena lease fell through, so team never played in 2006.

Binghamton Brigadiers: Proposed American Indoor Football League expansion team for the 2006 season; team changed owners before it even played a game and was renamed the Binghamton Brigade.

Canton Crusaders: Proposed American Indoor Soccer League (AISL) franchise for the 2006-07 season; franchise was dropped during 2005-06 season and did not return.

Carolina Bombers: Formerly the Raleigh Rebels of the 2006 American Indoor Football League (AIFL), the team was renamed the Carolina Bombers as it planned to join the new World Indoor Football League for 2007; the owner of the Bombers and the Rome Renegades decided to dissolve the franchises in 2006.

Carolina Cardinals: Independent Women's Football League (IWFL) football franchise announced for the 2006 season; team pulled out of league just prior to its first game in May 2006; a team called Carolina Women's Football was listed as a replacement for the team.

Carolina Fuel: Proposed nickname for a 2007 American Indoor Football League franchise in Concord (NC); owners then renamed the team the Carolina Speed after a name-the-team contest.

Carson Buzz: Name for the American Basketball Association (ABA) Orange County Buzz that played in the 2005-06 season and moved to Carson (CA) after the season; the team moved to Maywood (CA) just prior to the start of its 2006-07 season and became the Maywood Buzz.

Charlotte Fusion: Proposed 2006 National Indoor Football League (NIFL) franchise that never started play; team was renamed the Carolina Fusion and proposed for the 2007 NIFL season.

Chicago Rockets: Original nickname announced in July 2005 for the Chicago American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise; team was later renamed the Rockstars for the 2006-07 ABA season.

Cincinnati RailRaiders: A season-ticket drive failed to show support for this proposed American Hockey League (AHL) franchise after Anaheim's AHL affiliate moved from the city following the 2005-06 season; this AHL franchise was sold to a group in Windsor (Ontario).

Dayton Miracles: One of the nicknames that appeared on the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) web site for a 2006 team to replace the 2005 Dayton Warbirds; team eventually was renamed the Bulldogs.

Elgin Warriors: Team was the Windy City Dawgs of the 2005 International Basketball League (IBL); announced a name change to Elgin Warriors after the season, but became Elgin Racers before 2006 season started.

Erie Bay Dawgs: Proposed nickname for an Erie-based franchise in the United States Basketball League (USBL) reported in July 2006; the potential franchise owner decided to end plans for bringing the team to the USBL for 2007.

Gulf Coast Swords: An ECHL franchise, formerly the Columbus Cottonmouths (2002-04), proposed for the Lakewood Ranch/Bradenton (FL) area; owner planned to move the team to a new arena and start play in 2005-06, but arena construction was halted due to financing issues and then legal problems followed; in September 2006 the ECHL revoked the franchise because there had been no progress on the partially built arena.

Hammond (LA) Heroes: Proposed 2006 National Indoor Football League (NIFL) franchise that never started the season.

Houston 1836: Original nickname for the relocated San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2006; the nickname was not well received and the team was renamed the Houston Dynamo.

Houston Hurricanes/Havoc: The "Havoc" was the nickname for an American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise announced for the 2006-07 season; the Houston franchise had previously been called the Hurricanes; new ownership renamed the team the Houston Undertakers for the 2006-07 ABA season.

Jacksonville Stallions: Proposed National Indoor Football League (NIFL) franchise that tried to start up for 2006 season; the NIFL has a 2007 Jacksonville team listed as the Pelicans.

Lake Charles Hurricanes: Proposed American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise announced for the 2005-06 season, but never started play.

Las Vegas Cosmos/Saturn/Lightning: Various nicknames used to refer to the Las Vegas franchise that eventually became the Toros in the inaugural 2006 "showcase season" of the indoor National Alliance Soccer League.

Little Rock River Catz: Original name of a 2006-07 American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise; the team moved to Pine Bluff (AR) prior to the season and became the Arkansas Rivercatz.

Long Island Gems: Original name listed for the new Long Island Primetime franchise prior to its inaugural season in the 2006 United States Basketball League (USBL).

Memphis Mojo: An American Indoor Soccer League (AISL) expansion franchise announced for the 2006-07 season; the league terminated the franchise prior to the season because the team did not meet financial requirements.

Minneapolis-St. Paul/Twin Cities Slamma Jammas: Proposed American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise announced for the 2005-06 and then the 2006-07 season; team was also listed as the Twin Cities Slamma Jammas in 2005; franchise never started play and a new team called the Minnesota Ripknees replaced the Slamma Jammas in the area for the 2006-07 season.

New York Empire: Original name announced for an American Indoor Soccer League (AISL) franchise that was scheduled to only play a partial schedule in the 2006-07 season; the team then became a full-schedule team in 2006-07 and was renamed the New York/Hampton Surf.

Orlando Orangemen: Original name of the Orlando American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise for the 2006-07 season; nickname was trademarked by Syracuse University, so the team changed its nickname to the Aces before its inaugural season . Osceola Outlaws: Original name of the Osceola (FL) franchise in the 2006 National Indoor Football League (NIFL); the team and league became involved in a nickname dispute with the Billings Outlaws, so the team was known as Osceola Football during the season; the team eventually lost out in the nickname dispute, left the NIFL after the 2006 season and joined the 2007 World Indoor Football League as the Osceola Ghostriders.

Quebec Rock: Nickname originally given to a proposed American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise in Quebec City; the Quebec City franchise was eventually renamed the Quebec City Kebekwa for the 2006-07 season.

Raleigh Renegades/North Carolina Renegades: Proposed American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise that was announced in August 2004, but never started play; franchise switched back and forth as either Raleigh or North Carolina.

Richmond Warriors/Ballers: Original nicknames for the 2006-07 American Basketball Association (ABA) Richmond Ballerz, who started out as the Warriors, then became the Ballers and finally the Ballerz.

Toledo Rumble: Original name announced for the Toledo franchise in the 2007 Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL), which is now the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL); an arena deal fell through in Toledo, so the team moved to Wooster (OH) and was renamed the Wayne County Rumble for the 2007 CIFL season.

Tulsa Black Widows: An announced 2006 franchise in the Women's Professional Football League (WPFL); franchise folded just prior to the start of the 2006 season.

Wichita Falls Jets: A proposed 2006 Intense Football League (IFL) franchise; team was listed on the league's web site, but never started play.

Dan Krieger is the creator of "Leagues, Teams & Nicknames", which tracks the changes in league alignments, franchise movements and team nicknames in today's sports world. The 2006 version is available on Amazon. Dan can be contacted at dankrieger@leaguesteamsnicknames.com.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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