Wings Stadium Ready for Xplosion
October 25, 2006 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Kalamazoo Xplosion News Release
Kalamazoo, MI - Wings Stadium, which is also home to "The Annex" and "The Cube," announces the Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) will play its home games at Wings Stadium.
The Xplosion will be one of eight expansion teams that will kick-off the second year of the CIFL. Kalamazoo's inaugural season, which will commence on March 24th, will showcase 12 games, including six at Wings Stadium.
"Wings Stadium is always looking for new and exciting ways to entertain the southwest Michigan community," said Wings Stadium Complex Vice President/General Manager Paul L. Pickard. "The Xplosion will provide indoor football for the first-time in Kalamazoo."
Southwest Michigan's newest sports franchise will be owned by Mike Johnson and Mike Trumbull. Johnson is owner of Xcerleration L.L.C., which is a total athletic performance training company covering all aspect of training for athletes at all levels.
Trumbull owns Triple Threat Sports, a multi-sports facility in Battle Creek, Michigan geared towards providing a fun, safe and competitive sports environment.
The CIFL features seven-on-seven bone-jarring football played on a 50-yard surface. The league will be comprised of three divisions. Kalamazoo's division will feature the Springfield (IL) Stallions, along with geographic rivals, the Muskegon Thunder and Port Huron Pirates. The Pirates went a perfect 12-0 to capture last season's championship.
Coaching the Xplosion this season will be Bob Kubiak, a former Kalamazoo Central High School Head Coach and current Assistant Coach for Olivet College.
The Xplosion have also announced the first signing in franchise history. Former Western Michigan University Bronco Linebacker Bryan Lape is the first member of the Kalamazoo Xplosion. In his collegiate career, Lape was a two-time All Mid-American Athletic Conference honorable mention. The native of Jackson, Michigan was the Broncos Team and Defensive MVP in 2001.
Tickets for the upcoming season will range from $8-$13. More information about the Xplosions' first season in Kalamazoo is available at their website (kzooxplosion.com).
Stadium Management Company owns both the Wings Stadium Complex and the Kalamazoo Wings hockey team. The Wings Stadium Complex is comprised of three buildings; Wings Stadium seats more than 5,100 fans for K-Wings home games and more than 8,000 people for concerts and other stage events. The Annex seats 1,367 for ice events and can seat up to 2,850 for non-ice events such as car, boat, and trade shows. The Cube is the newer of the three facilities, that plays host to both ice and non-ice events. All three buildings are available for rental and feature numerous catering and meeting opportunities.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from October 25, 2006
- An Xplosion in Kalamazoo - OSC Original by Randy Snow
- Wings Stadium Ready for Xplosion - Kalamazoo Xplosion
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