United Indoor Football (2008)
81-738: Indoor Football League (2009–2012) The Wichita Wild were a professional indoor football team based in Wichita, Kansas . They were members of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). The team was founded in 2006 as an independent indoor football franchise. In 2008, the team joined United Indoor Football (UIF). They joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) during the UIF and Intense Football League merger of 2009. In 2012,
162-673: A California-based businessman, with the intentions of keeping the team Cedar Rapids but would rebrand the team. In August 2018, the IFL announced that the expansion Tucson Sugar Skulls , owned by Rattlers' coach Kevin Guy, were joining the league after being rumored to have joined the CIF. On September 7, the IFL announced that the Quad City Steamwheelers would join the league from the CIF. The Cedar Rapids team announced their rebrand as
243-587: A candidate must have contributed in some significant fashion to be enshrined in the Hall. There is no official criteria that must be met other than the self-explained significant contributions to the league. Unlike other football Hall of Fames, the IFL Hall of Fame is far more new and laxed. To qualify, a member would need to significantly contribute to a franchise that played in the IFL, United Indoor Football, or Intense Football League during their tenure. Starting with
324-705: A founding member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). The Revolution were based in Allen and Frisco, Texas , within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex . Founded in 2000 as the Arkansas Twisters , the Little Rock -based team played 10 seasons in af2 before that league folded. The team jumped to the Indoor Football League as the Arkansas Diamonds for the 2010 season. Remaining in the IFL,
405-608: A league otherwise centered in the upper Midwest. On August 20, 2019, the Duke City Gladiators joined the IFL after winning back-to-back CIF championships. On September 10, the Oakland Panthers , co-owned by former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch , joined the IFL for the 2020 season. On November 1, the league added the Spokane Shock after it was resurrected by former NFL player Sam Adams , with
486-767: A loss to the Billings Outlaws in the Intense Conference Finals. With the team struggling financially, co-owners Jim Smith and Jeff Everetts announced in September 2009 that the franchise was relocating to Allen, Texas , a prosperous suburb of Dallas . After a name-the-team contest, the team announced on September 29, 2010, it would be called the Allen Wranglers , starting with the 2011 Indoor Football League season. The relocated Intense Conference team would play their home games at
567-432: A new broadcasting agreement with CBS Sports Network ensuring that the next three IFL National Championship games will air on the network. The deal also allows for additional games to be aired on CBS Sports Network throughout the agreement. All other games will still be streamed through YouTube. Some teams also have individual contracts with local or regional TV and radio channels. The Indoor Football League Hall of Fame
648-692: A new ownership group called Championship Sports Group led by CEO Tommy Benizio, the former IFL commissioner, with co-owners in Tim Brown and Ken Paxton . On September 19, 2012, the team unveiled its new name and colors as the Texas Revolution . After three seasons in the Intense Conference, the team was realigned to the United Conference for the 2013 season. In November 2012, the team named Billy Back as head coach for
729-400: A score of (31-25). With the win, Wichita secured their first ever trip to a championship game. Their opponent was the #4 seeded Salina Bombers who they would host at their home venue, Hartman Arena . The Bombers, a brand new team, also enjoyed a magical first season finishing at (8-3) and were fresh off upsetting the #1 seed and two time APFL Champion Sioux City Bandits in their 1st round of
810-627: Is currently no physical location for the Indoor Football League Hall of Fame. Unlike the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Canadian Football Hall of Fame , there is no museum to view the inductees. Instead, it is more similar to the Arena Football Hall of Fame in that the inductees are enshrined online and without a physical location. In order to be nominated for the Indoor Football League Hall of Fame,
891-439: Is the official Hall of Fame of the IFL. The creation and inaugural class for this Hall was formed in 2014 and consisted of three inductees. All classes between 2014 and 2019 have consisted of three inductees which have contributed to the league in a significant way. There were no inductees for 2020; however, the 2021 class included four inductees. The Hall of Fame is the highest honor for players, coaches, and contributors involved in
SECTION 10
#1732786816444972-748: The Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas . The team shared the name with a previous indoor football team in Allen, the Texas Wranglers, who played the 2009 and 2010 seasons in the Independent Indoor Football Alliance . In October 2010, the team announced that Chris MacKeown would be the Wranglers' head coach for the 2011 season. Former Dallas Cowboys player Drew Pearson was named general manager of
1053-558: The American Professional Football League and a few more from the IFL. Together, the new league consisted of 10 teams in total. Every founding member of the league was close to one another in geographic proximity. The Wild opened the season on a strong note, with four straight wins over the Oklahoma , Salina , Kansas , and Bloomington . They suffered their first loss of the season in a close game to
1134-727: The Arena Football League , for the 2017 season. The Rattlers were the third team in three consecutive seasons to leave the AFL for the IFL. The league rejected the bid of another former AFL franchise, the Jacksonville Sharks , who are located outside the IFL's regional territory. They subsequently announced their charter membership in an entirely new league, originally to have been called the Arena Development League but actually beginning play under
1215-761: The Cedar Rapids River Kings on September 22. On October 5, the Bismarck Bucks of the CIF announced their move to the IFL. On November 19, the IFL announced another expansion team, the San Diego Strike Force , owned by the new Cedar Rapids owner Roy Choi to bring the league back up to ten teams. The addition of the Sugar Skulls and Strike Force gave the Rattlers geographic rivals, reducing that team's travel expenses in
1296-649: The Green Bay Blizzard . (The Revolution left the IFL for Champions Indoor Football before ceasing operations in May 2019.) This was the first season the IFL utilized roster restrictions which call for all teams to carry no more than seven players with three or more years' experience in Indoor/Arena football. For the second consecutive season, an AFL team was strongly rumored to join the IFL, as Spokane Shock owner Nader Naini said on August 10, 2015, that he
1377-802: The IFL Game of the Week beginning May 15, 2021. On June 14, the IFL terminated the Xtreme's membership after five games played due to failing to maintain the league's minimum obligations and did not finish the season. On May 11, 2021, the IFL announced that Bill Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights had purchased a 2022 expansion franchise to be based in the Las Vegas Valley called the Vegas Knight Hawks . In October 2021,
1458-737: The Jacksonville Sharks and San Antonio Gunslingers from the National Arena League . The Sharks were added to the Eastern Conference and the Gunslingers were added to the Western Conference. While the Bismarck Bucks will stay idle for another season, the Scheels Arena will host the "Fargo-IFL Gridiron Classic" between Sioux Falls Storm and Massachusetts Pirates . On October 24, 2023,
1539-612: The Kansas City Renegades . The Wild finished with a franchise best record of 10-2, heading into the 2013 playoffs. In a three-way tie for the best league record, The Wild were slotted as the #3 seed in a four team playoff. In the first round of the playoffs, the Wild faced a familiar foe from their prior IFL days, the Omaha Beef. In a tightly contested match up, Wichita was victorious on the road, outlasting their rivals by
1620-630: The Kansas Coliseum . The Wichita Wild went undefeated with a record of 9 wins and no losses. In 2008, they competed in the UIF . The UIF the next season merged with the Intense Football League to form the Indoor Football League . They played their home games at the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita, Kansas . The Wild's breakout year came in 2009 when the Wild established themselves as top tier indoor football franchise. The Wild won
1701-690: The Sioux City Bandits , 76–61. Later that year, a team and potential regional rival called the Mesquite Marshals were launched in nearby Mesquite for the 2016 season. In 2017, the Revolution won Champions Bowl III . The team then relocated to Frisco, Texas , and the Dr Pepper Arena for the 2018 season. On April 9, 2018, Victor Mann returned as head coach. The team finished the 2018 season 5–7 but advanced as far as
SECTION 20
#17327868164441782-524: The Sioux Falls Storm . Although the name "National Indoor Bowl Championship" was used for the 2008 contest between the UIF and the Intense Football League, the "United Bowl" name was used for the combined league's championship instead up through 2021. Starting in the 2022 season the league started a three-year deal to play the now named IFL National Championship Game in the Lee's Family Forum (formerly
1863-597: The UFL , to function as their de facto minor league. The league was formed as a merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football , announced the day before the 2008 National Indoor Bowl Championship, a game which pitted the champions of the two leagues against each other. The Sioux Falls Storm (United) defeated the Louisiana Swashbucklers (Intense) 54–42. Of
1944-733: The United Bowl , the Sioux Falls Storm (United Conference) took the league championship by defeating the Tri-Cities Fever (Intense Conference) by a score of 37–10. The league had 16 teams that played the 2012 season. For the 2012 season, the IFL switched to a two-conference format with no divisions, due in large part to the loss of all the Texas-based teams (except the Allen Wranglers ) to the newly formed Lone Star Football League . The Wranglers brought attention to
2025-539: The 17 teams involved in the two previous leagues, 14 moved over to the new organization's 2009 season. An additional three teams came over from the CIFL and two expansion teams began their life in the new IFL. In the United Bowl , the Billings Outlaws (Intense Conference) took the league championship by defeating the RiverCity Rage (United Conference) by a score of 71–62. After losing two teams to attrition after
2106-496: The 2011 season, Matous was fired. Wild assistant coach, Morris Lolar, was then designated the interim head coach for the last nine games of the Wild’s 2011 season where he inherited an 0-5 team, but lead them to a 6-3 finish to earn the full-time position. In 2012, Lolar led a young Wild team all the way to the IFL conference championship game, but they ultimately fell to the Tri-Cities Fever 51-30 to end their season. Lolar then returned for
2187-469: The 2013 season with a more experienced team heading into their inaugural season with the newly formed Champions Professional Indoor Football League, where they finished with a 12-2 record, a championship win against the Salina Bombers, and a 7-0 record at home to close out the season. Lolar’s leadership in the 2013 season earned the team several league awards and an honorable mention as CPIFL Coach of
2268-610: The 2013 season. After a disappointing 5–9 campaign, the Revolution released head coach Billy Back and hired Chris Williams from the New Mexico Stars . The league released its 2014 schedule in late October 2013 with the Revolution staying in the United Conference but the Chicago franchise replaced by the Bemidji Axemen in the 9-team IFL. The team re-signed several key players for 2014 and, in mid-January, announced
2349-506: The 2021 season, the league added a new tradition of a Hall of Fame game. Similar to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game , the first game of the season will now commemorate and recognize the hall of fame class for that year. Before this, the inductees were celebrated during the United Bowl championship game. Allen Wranglers Indoor Football League ( 2010 – 2014 ) Champions Indoor Football ( 2015 –2019) The Texas Revolution were an American professional indoor football team and
2430-455: The 2023 Championship defeating the Sioux Falls Storm 51–41 after going 1–15 in the previous year. On October 7, the Bismarck Bucks announced they will suspend operations for the 2023 season. For the 2023 season, the league signed a player personnel partnership with the XFL , to function as their de facto minor league. For the 2024 season, the league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of
2511-483: The Arkansas franchise held a "name the team" contest in late January and became the Arkansas Diamonds of the IFL's Intense Conference for the 2010 season. The new team colors for 2010 were Carolina blue, black, and gray. Arena football veteran Danton Barto took over as head coach, leading the team to an 11–3 regular season record and first place in the 2010 Lonestar East Division. The team's playoff run ended with
Wichita Wild - Misplaced Pages Continue
2592-526: The CIF after the two teams had already signed league affiliation agreements with the CIF for 2018. The IFL then threatened to sue the CIF, Storm, and Nighthawks in return despite neither former IFL team signing an affiliation agreement with the IFL for 2018. The CIF then retracted their lawsuit with the IFL but also removed the Storm and Nighthawks from their 2018 schedule. After the IFL meetings in October 2017,
2673-773: The Columbus Wild Dogs announced it would not begin play until 2022. On August 19, 2020, the Massachusetts Pirates , formerly of the National Arena League , were added to the IFL for the 2021 season as the league's first East Coast-based team. On August 25, the league added the Northern Arizona Wranglers in Prescott Valley, Arizona , for the 2021 season, joining the Arizona Rattlers and Tucson Sugar Skulls as
2754-611: The Dollar Loan Center) in Henderson, Nevada. Teams in italics are no longer active in the IFL. On May 11, 2021, the IFL announced a national television partnership with Stadium , in which Stadium will air the IFL Game of The Week nationally each week for the rest of the season. The deal was negotiated by The Team Management, LLC, and each game will be produced exclusively by BEK Communications. In 2023, IFL announced
2835-551: The IFL announced that its first expansion team for 2025 would be based in Indianapolis and would play at the new Fishers Event Center in nearby Fishers . On December 15, the team announced they would be known as the Fishers Freight . Starting in 2024, the league has a theme song for all games – "The Indoor War" by Sioux Falls-based musician Denham. The song was released on March 10, 2024. On October 16, 2024,
2916-460: The IFL announced that the Duke City Gladiators and Frisco Fighters would sit out the 2025 season, both looking to return to play in 2026. The season schedule is set to be announced on October 31, 2024. On October 30, 2024, the Sioux Falls Storm announced they would sit out the 2025 season after their home arena did not renew the team's lease. For the 2024 season, the league is split into two conferences. The IFL Championship Game (formerly
2997-572: The IFL before moving to the CPIFL the following season. The 2013 season was a year of firsts for the Wichita Wild. They competed in the Indoor Football League from 2009-2012. During their tenure in the IFL, the Wild made it to three Conference Championships, but couldn't finish and get to the United Bowl. In 2013, the Wild left the IFL for a new league that was created with former members of
3078-408: The IFL is the oldest active professional indoor football league in North America, and can trace its history to 2003 (as the Intense Football League). IFL players earn US$ 250–500 (before taxes) per game played, with a $ 25 bonus given to players on the winning team each week. Additionally some teams provide housing for their players during the season. The IFL has a player personnel partnership with
3159-481: The IFL's Central Division and fell in the Conference Championship game to RiverCity. Following the season, Wichita was recognized as the IFL's Franchise of the Year. Running back Darius Fudge set league records for rushing touchdowns and rushing yards, which still stand today. Fudge was named the IFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year. For the new season the Wild have returned last years stars in Dixie Wooten, Clinton Soloman, and Darius Fudge. The Wichita Wild Season opener
3240-482: The IFL. The league was formed out of the merger of two indoor football leagues United Indoor Football and Intense Football League , which qualifies players who have also contributed at a high level to these former leagues prior to the merger. This Hall of Fame only incorporates contributors to the IFL, and its former leagues, so no other indoor or arena football leagues factor into the inductions. The Arena Football League has its own corresponding Hall of Fame . There
3321-445: The Minnesota Axemen folded due to the team "Not fulfilling their commitments to the league." Commissioner Mike Allshouse called the move a proactive one to prevent the team having to fold mid-season. On June 30, 2016, the IFL announced that the Tri-Cities Fever franchise would be dormant, but in good standing with the IFL, for the 2017 season. Project FANchise, a group aiming to create a professional sports team where fans help run
Wichita Wild - Misplaced Pages Continue
3402-401: The Sioux Falls Storm announced that they had joined Champions Indoor Football for 2018 after winning six consecutive championships from 2011 to 2016. The Storm was shortly followed by the Wichita Falls Nighthawks . The IFL then added the Bloomington Edge and West Michigan Ironmen from the CIF on September 12. The CIF apparently then attempted to sue the IFL, Edge, and Ironmen for leaving
3483-400: The Spokane team reacquiring the Shock brand following the Empire's folding in 2017. The Bosselman family were looking to sell the Nebraska Danger , but no owner was found before the deadline for participating in the 2020 season. On November 24, 2019, the IFL added a thirteenth team in Frisco, Texas , owned by the Germain family called the Frisco Fighters . The Germain family also purchased
3564-452: The Storm returned to the IFL but the Nighthawks had to suspend operations. While the CIF did drop the lawsuit against the IFL, it filed for an injunction against the Edge and Ironmen teams from participating in the IFL for breaking the terms of their signed affiliation agreements. A temporary injunction from participation in the league was granted on January 31, 2018, with the court ruling determining that both teams had been offered bribes from
3645-485: The United Bowl) has been played every season since 2009. The current IFL champions are the Arizona Rattlers , who won the championship game in 2024 defeating Massachusetts in Las Vegas. The IFL continued to use the "United Bowl" name originally used by United Indoor Football . The UIF used this name before they merged with Intense Football League to form the Indoor Football League. The UIF held United Bowl I, II, III, and IV in 2005 through 2008, with all four being won by
3726-410: The Wild snag their first win of the 2010 season. After an 8-4 start to the 2010 Indoor Football League season the Wichita Wild Clinched their second playoff berth in franchise history. The previous season's success did not carry over to the 2011 season. Starting 0-5, the Wild matched their worst start in team history (they had previously started 0-5 during their inaugural UIF season). Their start lead to
3807-446: The Wranglers on May 29, 2012, with three games left in the season, for his "lack of effort both on and off the field", failure to show up for a scheduled appearance at a children's hospital, and refusal to play in two upcoming road games, Along with his release, Owens also relinquished his ownership stake in the team. In June 2012, Wranglers owner Jon Frankel ceased operations of the team. The IFL then transferred franchise ownership to
3888-436: The Year. After winning their second consecutive CPIFL Championship, owner Wink Hartman put the team up for sale on July 2, 2014. The Wild effectively folded after not joining the new Champions Indoor Football league after its merger with the Lone Star Football League . They began play in 2007 as an independent organization playing all games at home against semi-pro opponents from the midwest. They played their home games at
3969-427: The conference championship, where they lost to the eventual league champion Duke City Gladiators 41–28. For the 2019 season, the Revolution again moved to a new arena in the Ford Center at The Star , the Dallas Cowboys ' practice facility, on a three-year lease. Sometime just prior to the start of the season, a new ownership group called Owner's Box Inc obtained the majority ownership of the team, keeping Benizio as
4050-421: The day-to-day operations, announced they would operate a new team, the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles in Salt Lake City. A fan vote determined the team's name and logo, and select fans will have access to player personnel decisions and in-game play calling. Project FANchise also bought the Colorado Crush in October and began operating the team in the same manner. During the 2016 season, the Billings Wolves' website
4131-414: The end of the 2009 season, and a third in January 2010, the IFL then added another nine franchises to boost its membership to 25 for the 2010 season. Three of the new teams were expansion franchises. Two moved over from the Southern Indoor Football League and Continental Indoor Football League . After playing nine games of the 2010 season the Alaska Wild suspended operations, leaving only 24 teams to finish
SECTION 50
#17327868164444212-442: The field, twice reaching the league's championship game. After the AFL took a season off and was forced into bankruptcy in 2009, the af2 was dissolved and the Twisters were announced as a planned charter member of Arena Football 1 . Concerns for stability with Arena Football 1 lead to a November 2009 shift by Arkansas to the Indoor Football League . However, the rights to the Twisters name and logo belonged to Arena Football 1 so
4293-441: The firing of head coach Ken Matous, and Morris Lolar was named the interim head coach. Although the Wild bravely rallied and went 6-3 the rest of the way, their 6-8 finish and third place standing in the Great Plains Division was not enough for a third consecutive playoff berth (the first time since 2008 that the Wild had missed the playoffs and finished with a losing record). The Wild would return to their winning ways in 2012. Like
4374-432: The first ever champions of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League . * = was called the Bloomington Extreme prior to 2012 ** = was called the Odessa Roughnecks prior to 2010 Indoor Football League The Indoor Football League ( IFL ) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football . It has one of
4455-447: The franchise in early December 2010. The team finished with a 10–4 regular season record and first place in the Lonestar Division. They advanced through two rounds of the IFL playoffs before losing the Intense Conference Championship to the Tri-Cities Fever of Kennewick, Washington . The Wranglers started the 2012 season strong under new head coach Pat Pimmell but after consecutive losses dropped their record to 5–3 in April, Pimmel
4536-401: The interim Commissioner. On October 12, 2012, the Bloomington Edge announced that the team had been sold to the owners of the Bloomington Blaze hockey franchise and would relocate to the new Champions Professional Indoor Football League for the 2013 season. On January 21, 2013, the league announced that the owner of the Cheyenne Warriors had died and that the team would not be entering
4617-399: The largest number of currently active teams among indoor football leagues. As of the 2024 season, the league consists of 16 teams in two conferences with each team playing 16 games over 19 weeks. The league has operated continuously under the same name and corporate structure longer than any other current indoor football league. With the closure of the original Arena Football League in 2019,
4698-404: The league by telling a local TV station that the franchise will explore "all options" in the off-season of their continuance to play, including leaving the Arena Football League and going to the IFL for 2015. They joined the IFL in August 2014, becoming the fourth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since the Texas Revolution (formerly the Arkansas Twisters), the Tri-Cities Fever and
4779-461: The league for offering a $ 500,000 contract to unemployed wide receiver Terrell Owens to become the team's part-owner and wide receiver. Owens accepted the contract. ESPN3 carried Owens's debut game against the Wichita Wild , but his association with the team and the league proved to be short-lived. The front office of the league saw changes as well, as Commissioner Tommy Benizio resigned. The league appointed assistant commissioner Robert Loving as
4860-428: The league this season as planned. The league added the Minnesota-based Bemidji Axemen to expand to 10 teams but the Chicago Slaughter were sold and changed leagues, returning the IFL to nine teams for the 2014 season. In February 2014, the league announced that it would return to Montana in 2015 with the new Billings Wolves franchise. On July 27, 2014, Iowa Barnstormers president Jeff Lamberti hinted at joining
4941-433: The league updated its website, removing the Cedar Rapids River Kings and Columbus Wild Dogs. On February 24, 2022, the Spokane Shock were removed from the league after the team lost its lease for their home arena. On July 26, 2022, the IFL announced that Andy Scurto and the Tulsa Oilers had purchased a 2023 expansion franchise to be based in Tulsa, which would also be called the Tulsa Oilers . The Bay Area Panthers won
SECTION 60
#17327868164445022-429: The merger. The Wild host their home games in Park City, Kansas at the Hartman Arena . The owner of the team is Wink Hartman . Ken Matous was hired as head coach of the team on July 28, 2008. Matous came to the Wild from the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League (AFL), where he served as offensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and directed player personnel for three seasons. After an 0–5 start to
5103-400: The name National Arena League . After the 2017 season came to a close, the website for the Colorado Crush was shut down with no formal announcement on the franchise's future. Project FANchise, which also ran the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles, had announced they would start their own league and left the IFL, with both teams going up for sale. No buyers for either team were subsequently found and
5184-404: The owner of the Arizona Rattlers to break their contract with the CIF. The schedule was revised in February for the six participating teams stating the Edge and Ironmen were to return in 2019. During the season, the Cedar Rapids Titans' ownership announced the team was for sale with hopes of selling to new local ownership. In June 2018, it was announced that the Titans had been sold to Roy Choi,
5265-409: The playoffs. In convincing fashion, Wichita dominated the Bombers in the first ever Champions Bowl , as they jumped out to an early three possession lead and never looked back. Wild quarterback Rocky Hinds was named the game's MVP, completing 18 of 22 passes for 163 yards and four touchdowns. The final score was (47-34). With the win, Wichita secured their first ever league title of any kind and became
5346-424: The previous season, the Wild had started 0-4; what was different, though, is their 8-2 finish was able to pull them into third place in the Intense Conference with an 8-6 record, returning the Wild to the playoffs. After an upset road win over the Allen Wranglers in the conference semifinals, the Wild would once again fall short of the United Bowl, losing to the Tri-Cities Fever in what would be their final game in
5427-402: The signing of running back Jennifer Welter as the first female professional football player for a position other than kicker. The team finished with a 3–11 record, missing the post-season, and head coach Chris Williams resigned after the season. In late August 2014, the team hired former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Wendell Davis as head coach and director of football operations. Days later,
5508-402: The sponsorship rights for the IFL, the management rights of the league's communications and marketing department, as well as a second expansion for the 2021 season in Columbus, Ohio , known as the Columbus Wild Dogs. Two games into the 2020 season, the league postponed the rest of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic . On April 13, 2020, the season was fully cancelled. On June 26, 2020,
5589-414: The state of Washington. The team subsequently held a name-the-team contest, which resulted in their new identity as the Spokane Empire . On September 9, the Minnesota Havok (based in Mankato ) were announced as an IFL team. However, on January 29, just four weeks before the 2016 season was to kick off, the Havok were terminated by the league for failing to meet operational standards. On November 25,
5670-505: The team announced it was leaving the Indoor Football League for the new Champions Indoor Football . The team's 2015 schedule began with a pre-season home game on February 27 and two regular season road games before the home opener on March 20. On March 30, after just four regular season games, the team released Wendell Davis and promoted defensive coordinator Devin Wyman to head coach. The team made its best playoff run since moving to Allen, advancing to Champions Bowl I but falling to
5751-487: The team left the IFL to become charter members of the CPIFL. The Wild's home games were played at Hartman Arena in nearby Park City . When they lost their lease with the Hartman Arena, they folded.. The Wild joined the CPIFL after playing in the Indoor Football League for the past four seasons. The IFL was formed in 2008 through a merger between the Intense Football League and the United Indoor Football (UIF) league. Both leagues had been in business for four seasons before
5832-401: The team moved to Texas to become the Allen Wranglers for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In 2012, former NFL standout and future hall of famer Terrell Owens played eight games for the Wranglers before being cut in late May. In 2012, the Wranglers franchise was transferred to a new ownership group and the team was renamed the Texas Revolution for the 2013 season. After five seasons in the IFL,
5913-611: The team moved to the Champions Indoor Football league for that circuit's inaugural season. The franchise began play as the Arkansas Twisters in 2000 as the only professional football team in the state of Arkansas . The team played 10 seasons as a charter member of af2 , the "developmental" league of the original Arena Football League . The Twisters played their home games at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas . The team enjoyed success on
5994-406: The team. Recovering from surgery and receiving no offers from NFL teams, Owens accepted a generous contract and partial ownership in the franchise to play in Allen. He swelled attendance at Wranglers home games. His debut drew a crowd of 5,711 people, larger than the Wranglers' home attendance for the entire 2011 season, but his contract allowed him to skip many away dates. Owens was released by
6075-561: The teams folded. On July 12, 2017, the Spokane Empire announced that they would be suspending operations effective immediately. On July 25, 2017, the IFL announced that only the Arizona Rattlers, Cedar Rapids Titans, Green Bay Blizzard, Iowa Barnstormers, and Nebraska Danger had committed to play for 2018. However, expansion clubs and current member clubs had until September 1 to commit to the 2018 season. On August 30,
6156-538: The third IFL team to be based in Arizona for 2021. On November 6, the Louisville Xtreme of Louisville, Kentucky , was added. The 2020 expansion Oakland Panthers , as well as the Cedar Rapids River Kings , Quad City Steamwheelers, and the San Diego Strike Force withdrew from the season due to the effects of the pandemic. On May 11, 2021, the IFL announced as broadcast partnership with Stadium to air
6237-475: The year. In the United Bowl , the Billings Outlaws (Intense Conference) took the league championship by defeating the Sioux Falls Storm (United Conference) by a score of 43–34. Seven new teams were added to the IFL for the 2011 season. Some of these were new expansion teams, and others moved to the IFL from the AIFA . The IFL also lost nine teams during the offseason, bringing the total number to 22 for 2011. In
6318-673: Was February, 26 at the Hartman Arena . The 2010 season was the most successful season in franchise history in terms of success on and off the field. The team went 9-5 in the 2010 regular season and went on to win two playoff games before falling to Sioux Falls in the United Conference Championship. The 11 total wins for the Wild in 2010 was the most in franchise history. The team also set a record for total attendance by seeing almost 30,000 fans attend Wild home games in 2010. A crowd of 4,755 attended and watched
6399-569: Was considering all options for the team. On September 1, the Shock officially joined the IFL, becoming the fifth active AFL/af2 franchise to leave for the IFL since the aforementioned Barnstormers, Fever, Blizzard and Revolution. The Shock, however, would have to enter the IFL under a new identity as the Arena League announced on October 12 that they would retain the rights to the Shock logos and name, possibly for future use by another franchise in
6480-460: Was hacked, was never completely fixed, and was non-operational for months. Several former staff members claimed that the team had folded after the completion of the season. On October 24, 2016, the Wolves announced they had left the IFL because of state regulations and failing to find new ownership for the team. On October 17, 2016, the IFL announced it had added the Arizona Rattlers , previously of
6561-463: Was let go and the team's offensive and defensive coordinators shared the title "co-interim head coach" through the end of the season. The team finished with a 9–5 regular season record and reached the IFL playoffs but lost in the Intense Conference semi-finals to the Wichita Wild . National attention was focused on the Wranglers in 2012 when NFL veteran wide receiver Terrell Owens joined
#443556