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50-557: Bernard Glannon purchased a new CBA franchise on June 28, 1985 which he nicknamed the "Sizzlers". During their first and only season in Kansas City the team played their home games at Municipal Auditorium . Citing the over-saturated sports market in Kansas City, Glannon re-located the Sizzlers to Topeka, Kansas before the 1986–87 season. The team used Lee Arena on the campus of Washburn University while construction of Landon Arena

100-451: A H-1 visa , was ineligible to work in country and had to cease playing for the Sizzlers. Kansas City argued that Gudmundsson was exempt from INS rules on employment due to the specialty of his profession, but the INS ultimately rejected that argument. INS District Director Ron Sanders said that for Gudmundsson to be classified as "an alien of distinguished merit and ability" he would have to be in

150-817: A 4 to 1 margin in 1931. The campaign was run by the Civic Improvement Committee chaired by Conrad H. Mann. Other buildings in the plan included the Kansas City City Hall and the Kansas City branch of the Jackson County Courthouse . The plan was championed by most local politicians including Thomas Pendergast and provided Pendergast with many patronage opportunities during the Great Depression. Municipal Auditorium replaced Convention Hall which

200-814: A committee tasked with finding Scheer's replacement. According to the Daily News of Los Angeles in 1987 the Sizzlers had a "co-operative agreement" with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA to develop players. Jo Jo White signed with Topeka as a player-assistant coach in November 1987. White, who was 40, had not played professional basketball since 1981. Twenty-six days later White retired citing his age. He averaged 5.6 points per game in five games played. In 1989 White stated

250-577: A five-year lease of Municipal Auditorium by the Sizzlers in July 1985. The auditorium was the home of the Kansas City Kings who had relocated to Sacramento , California following the 1984–85 National Basketball Association (NBA) season . During the first CBA college draft in 1985 the Sizzlers were awarded the first overall pick. They selected guard Regan Truesdale from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina . On August 5, 1985

300-688: A game on January 8, 1986 Danny Salisbery of the Detroit Spirits made a CBA record 70-foot shot to beat the third quarter buzzer against Kansas City. On January 9, 1986 the Sizzlers acquired center Petur Gudmundsson from the Tampa Bay Thrillers . By the end of January the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) ruled that Gudmundsson, a citizen on Iceland in the United States on

350-553: A striking Streamline Modern interior that seats an audience of 2,400 patrons. The hall presents touring Broadway shows , as well as visiting symphony orchestras , opera and ballet companies, and other events. It was the main hall of the Kansas City Philharmonic for several decades. It's also the home of the 1927 Robert-Morton Theatre Pipe Organ that originally was in the Midland Theatre . The organ

400-441: A total of 14 technical fouls during the 1987–88 CBA season. John Darr , a Kansas high school basketball coach, was hired as head coach following Killilea's dismissal. Just over a week later Bob Hill replaced Darr as head coach. Before the 1988–89 season Sizzlers owner Bernard Glannon sold a majority interest to a group of 14 people led by Jim Garrett and his wife Bonnie Garrett. The Garretts owned several McDonald's franchises in

450-537: Is home to the University of Missouri–Kansas City Kangaroos basketball team. Since January 2009, it has been the home of the Kansas City Roller Warriors roller derby league. The 2013 $ 5 million renovation included new video boards, LED scorer's table, sound system, lighting, electrical upgrades, and lower-level seating. The Kansas City Music Hall is a large proscenium theatre with

500-545: Is owned and maintained by Kansas City Theatre Pipe Organ, Inc. The Little Theatre is an elegant octagonal ballroom with a capacity for 400, or banquet seating for 225 available for catered events, and a private balcony room for up to 36 guests. Tampa Bay Thrillers The Tampa Bay Thrillers were a franchise in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1984–1987. They won back-to-back championships in 1984–85 and 1985–86. At

550-568: The Architectural Record called it "one of the 10 best buildings of the world that year". In 2000, the Princeton Architectural Press called it one of the 500 most important architectural works in the United States. Municipal Auditorium is connected to the H. Roe Bartle Convention Center via skywalks over 14th and Central streets. An underground walkway through a public parking garage provides access to

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600-552: The nosebleed seats of Landon Arena until his team won a game. Goodman spent three days in the arena — including two days where there was no game — until the Sizzlers defeated the Sioux Falls SkyForce on December 9, 1989. If the Sizzlers lost that game, Goodman told The Times Union , he intended to travel with the team to their next game which was against the Omaha Racers and sit in the rafters of Ak-Sar-Ben ,

650-494: The 1990–91 season, went on to win several CBA championships during their 18-year existence. A lawsuit was filed by the Garretts in 1991 alleging Glannon misrepresented the value of the Sizzlers franchise. The Shawnee County, Kansas District Court jury who heard the original case sided with Glannon and a judgement was issued in his favor for the remainder owed to him by the Garretts ($ 205,000). The Kansas Court of Appeals upheld

700-543: The 32-story Fidelity Bank Building at 909 Walnut ; Corinthian Hall ; and many more Kansas City buildings and residences. Municipal Auditorium, however, was a public project and Gentry, whose father had been a prominent Democratic politician in Independence, was the preference of the Pendergast machine. According to Neville, there was little interference with the building's design. When the building opened in 1935,

750-609: The Auditorium. The Kansas City Kings (known at the time as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings) played their first two seasons at the Auditorium, then returned for the majority of the 1979–80 season after the roof of Kemper Arena caved in on June 4, 1979. On November 13, 1979, Darryl Dawkins of the Philadelphia 76ers completely shattered a backboard during a game vs. the Kings with a thunderous slam dunk . It

800-527: The Bayfront Center and had another outstanding season, albeit with a new owner, John Tuschman, head of Fidelity Management Company, which owned and operated residential communities. In January 1987 after only a few games and dreadful attendance, as low as 295, Tuschman announced that he would seek to relocate the franchise. He then went on to blame the St. Petersburg Times newspaper for not properly featuring

850-557: The CBA held an expansion draft for the Sizzlers. The 13 other CBA franchises were able to protect five of the 13 players on their rosters. Bill Ficke was hired to be the Sizzlers head coach from the 1985–86 season. By November 1985 the Sizzlers had sold over 1,400 season tickets according to The Sacramento Bee . The Los Angeles Daily News reported that Kansas City was acting as the Los Angeles Lakers farm team. After

900-689: The Detroit Spirits, 4–3, in the CBA championship series, for which Williams earned MVP honors. (All results are expressed in games won.) The team played its home games at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida . Because of a lease dispute during the off-season, Rosenberg moved the Thrillers' 1985–86 home games to the University of Tampa 's Spartan Sports Center , a 4,200-seat venue built in 1984, but their regular season attendance dipped to an average of 1,339. With Musselman at

950-866: The Kansas City Marriott Downtown, and the Holiday Inn Aladdin Hotel. The Arena, nicknamed "Municipal", has hosted the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament annually, each March since 2003. When Kansas City hosts the Big 12 Conference tournament, women's games take place here. It is currently home to the NAIA Men's Division I Basketball National Tournament. It was played here from 1937 to 1974 , when it moved into Kemper Arena, and has been home since

1000-923: The Kansas Expocentre which was nearing completion. John Killilea was hired as Topeka's head coach on July 1, 1986. Killilea was the assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA during the 1985–86 season and got his start coaching in 1972 as an assistant for Tom Heinsohn on the Boston Celtics bench. Topeka's first game of the season was against the Albany Patroons at the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany , New York . The Patroons were coached by Phil Jackson who would go on to win several NBA Finals at

1050-539: The Kansas Expocentre wrapped up. At the time Sizzlers public relations director Bruce Carnahan remained cool on the idea, telling the UPI that Topeka was just one city under consideration for the franchise relocation. Carnahan also said there was a possibility the team would stay in Kansas City for the 1986–87 CBA season. On May 19 the official announcement was made by the CBA that the Sizzlers were moving to Topeka, Kansas where they would play at Lee Arena until they could move into

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1100-535: The Kansas Expocentre, was completed in 1987 and the Sizzlers played their first game there on March 9 in front of a crowd of 8,917 people. That set a league record for attendance which surpassed that last record of 8,537 at the 1985 CBA All-Star game in Evansville, Indiana . The 1987 CBA All-Star Game featured three members of the Sizzlers, guards Ron Rowan and Calvin Thompson ; and forward Joe Binion . Binion

1150-540: The Lakers cut center Earl Jones , head coach Pat Riley told the Daily News that if Earl cleared waivers then he would sign with the Sizzlers "where he can keep a hand in with us". The Sizzlers' home opener in December 1985 at Municipal Auditorium drew an attendance of 7,012, which at the time was the seventh largest crowd in CBA history. After nine home games the Sizzlers were averaging an attendance of 3,186, which

1200-569: The NBA, not the CBA. Kansas City were eliminated from playoff contention following the 1985–86 season, however, the Evansville Thunder were disqualified from the playoffs for failing to meet their financial obligation to the CBA and the Sizzlers were invited to participate in Evansville's place. A court order was later sought by Evansville who claimed they had met their obligation and the CBA, who had no right to disqualify them from

1250-743: The Racers home venue. Sizzlers guard-forward Duane Ferrell was named the CBA Newcomer of the Year following the 1989–1990 season. The Tulsa World reported in January 1990 that the Topeka Sizzlers were looking to re-locate to the state of Washington . Another proposal, according to the Tulsa World report, had the Sizzlers merging with another CBA team. Jim Garrett, principal owner of

1300-475: The Sizzlers before selling interest to the Glannon's. Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City, Missouri) Municipal Auditorium is a multi-purpose facility located in Kansas City, Missouri . It opened in 1935 and features Streamline Moderne and Art Deco architecture and architectural details. Municipal Auditorium was the first building built as part of the "Ten-Year Plan", a bond program that passed by

1350-646: The Sizzlers would re-locate to Washington. It was announced in March 1990 that Yakima, Washington had won out over the Tri-Cities in their season ticket drive. Chambers, who was representing the group who were negotiating the purchase of the Sizzlers, told the Associated Press, "We're moving to Yakima." During the annual CBA owners meeting in May 1990 the sale and re-location of the Sizzlers to Yakima, Washington

1400-519: The Sizzlers' use of gimmicks, including two appearances by the San Diego Chicken , would draw increased attendance but games that featured no such gimmicks had anemic crowds. Topeka Mayor Doug Wright announced in April 1986 that a lease agreement was being negotiated with the Sizzlers. Wright said that the city was seeking to lease Lee Arena from Washburn University while construction on

1450-656: The Sizzlers, told the United Press International (UPI) in February 1990 that he was looking to sell the team to a buyer in Tri-Cities, Washington . Garrett also told the UPI that there was no chance the Sizzlers would play the 1990–91 season in Topeka. Max Chambers , who was market testing the viability of a CBA franchise in several states, finally concluded that the state of Washington, particularly

1500-545: The Sizzlers. The case was originally heard in 1991 at the Shawnee County, Kansas District Court, who sided with Glannon, saying he did not misrepresent the sale of the Sizzlers. Furthermore, the jury ruled that the Garretts had to pay Glannon the remainder owed to him. The Garretts appealed the case to the Kansas Court of Appeals , who in 1992, sided with the lower court's ruling that Glannon did not misrepresent

1550-502: The Thrillers with cover stories on the sports page. However the team's general manager, Sandy Smith, revealed that the 1986–87 advertising budget was approximately $ 30,000 –well below the figures spent in previous seasons. In a bizarre development, the franchise moved out of Florida at the end of the regular season, and became the Rapid City Thrillers . That did not stop the team from another championship run, which ended in

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1600-436: The Topeka area. Under the Garretts' ownership the Sizzlers conducted a door-to-door season ticket drive that sold 300 packages, which increased their total season ticket holders to 1,200 persons. Topeka hired Art Ross as head coach before the 1988–89 season. Ross resigned his position as head coach on December 19, 1988. His record of 2–14 was last in the CBA. The Sizzlers tapped Ron McHenry for interim head coach. Mike Riley

1650-578: The Tournament moved back to Kansas City from Tulsa in 2002 . The arena hosted three of the first four Final Fours, and hosted its last NCAA tournament game in 1964. In 2013, the University of Dayton Arena passed Municipal Auditorium in number of games hosted as that arena hosts the opening round games of the NCAA tournament. The 19,500-seat Kemper Arena was built in 1974 to accommodate Kansas City's professional basketball teams that had been playing at

1700-539: The architectural services for Municipal Auditorium would be divided between the firm of Gentry, Voskamp & Neville and the firm of Hoit, Price & Barnes. In addition, Gentry's firm would take the lead. The decision was controversial and led to lengthy contract negotiations. Gentry's firm was much smaller, while Hoit, Price & Barnes were known for their work in designing the Kansas City Power and Light Building , an Art Deco skyscraper completed in 1931;

1750-471: The central part of the state, would be the best fit. Chambers set up a season ticket drive in the Tri Cities region and Yakima, Washington to determine which city would be the best location for a CBA team. The group Chambers represented, Pro-Max, was assured by the CBA that they would be able to purchase a franchise following the 1989–1990 season and with the collapse of Topeka it would looking more likely

1800-537: The comeback attempt was not his idea and he regretted it because the damage he sustained to his knees. The 1988 CBA All-Star Game took place in Topeka, Kansas at the Landon Arena. The all-stars faced-off against the Sizzlers on January 23. Topeka lost the game to the CBA All-Stars by a score of 115–94. Sizzlers head coach John Killilea was fired on January 29, 1988 following ejections from three games and

1850-453: The end of the 1986–87 CBA regular season the team relocated to Rapid City, South Dakota , and went on to win a third consecutive CBA title. In the team's inaugural season, head coach Bill Musselman led the Thrillers to a 35-13 record with a roster featuring Coby Dietrick , Sidney Lowe , Brian Martin , Freeman Williams , Ronnie Valentine , Charles Jones , and Perry Moss . With an advertising budget somewhere between $ 50,000 and $ 100,000,

1900-633: The helm of the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers . The Sizzlers won the game 124 to 99 behind a six-for-six field goal showing from guard Ron Kellogg . Two Sizzlers games were broadcast on national television by ESPN in 1987. The first occurred on January 19 when the Wyoming Wildcatters hosted Topeka. The second was a game in Topeka on February 16 against the Rockford Lightning . Landon Arena , also known as

1950-660: The helm, Tampa Bay posted a CBA-best 34–14 record. That season, Thrillers guard Kevin Williams scored 58 points in a game against the Baltimore Lightning. Ten days later, he had a 59-point effort in a playoff game against the Patroons. The Thrillers became the first CBA team to win back-to-back titles, as they dispatched the La Crosse Catbirds in five games. In 1986–87, the Thrillers moved back to

2000-464: The jury's judgment in 1992. Kansas City businessman Bernard Glannon announced on June 27, 1985 that he had worked out a deal to purchase an expansion franchise in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for $ 500,000. CBA owners approved the expansion franchise, named the "Sizzlers", during a conference call vote on June 28 following two weeks of negotiations between Glannon and CBA president Jim Drucker. The Kansas City Council unanimously approved

2050-416: The playoffs. A restraining order was issued by the judge in the case prohibiting the playoff series to continue until a hearing could be held. Evansville's restraining order was ultimately lifted and the series between Kansas City and Cincinnati was allowed to continue. The United Press International (UPI) reported in February 1986 that the Sizzlers were looking to re-locate to Topeka, Kansas where there

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2100-576: The team set a regular season record of 2,946 fans per game that first year. Their cheerleaders were called the Thrillseekers, and dressed in top hats, tails and long black stockings. The Thrillers' original owner was Jeff Rosenberg, a Sarasota restaurateur, who marketed the team heavily. In the postseason, Tampa Bay swept the Lancaster Lightning in the first round (3–0) and disposed of the Albany Patroons (3–2) before getting by

2150-469: Was approved. Jim & Bonnie Garrett, who purchased majority interest in the Sizzlers in 1988, sued the previous owner Bernie Glannon in 1991 for what they alleged was misrepresentation. The Garretts claimed that Glannon overcharged them by $ 475,000 (it cost $ 500,000 for an expansion franchise in the CBA). Glannon disputed the valuation by the Garretts and alleged they failed to pay him the remaining $ 205,000 for

2200-445: Was completed. A group of 14 investors led by married business partners Jim & Bonnie Garrett purchased the Topeka Sizzlers from Glannon before the 1988–89 season. The Garretts put the team up for sale during the 1989–1990 season. A group of investors led by Sacramento , California attorney Robert Wilson purchased the Sizzlers and re-located them to Washington. The Yakima Sun Kings , as the Topeka franchise would become known during

2250-530: Was directly across the street and was torn down for parking to create what is now called the Barney Allis Plaza. The streamline moderne architecture was designed by the lead architectural firm of Alonzo H. Gentry, Voskamp & Neville. Gentry later completed the design of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum after the death of the original architect, Edward F. Neild. Homer F. Neville

2300-497: Was hired as head coach on December 30 replacing McHenry. Before joining Topeka Riley was assistant coach to Charley Rosen of the Rockford Lightning . Jerry Schemmel , who served as the Sizzlers' radio play-by-play broadcaster since their re-location to Topeka, was hired as deputy commissioner of the CBA in February 1989. Topeka lost their first 10 regular season games during their 1989–1990 season which prompted Sizzlers general manager Jim Goodman to announce that he would stay in

2350-590: Was less competition in the entertainment market. At that point their attendance at Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium was 2,820 spectators a game. The 10,000 seat Kansas Expocentre was nearing completion in Topeka, which at the time had no professional sports teams. Kansas City had the Kansas City Chiefs ( football ), the Comets ( indoor soccer ), the Royals ( baseball ) and the Sizzlers. UPI reported that

2400-437: Was named the 1986–87 CBA Most Valuable Player at the end of the season and Rowan was awarded CBA Rookie of the Year . Going into the 1987–88 season the CBA realigned Topeka from the western to the eastern division. After CBA commissioner Carl Scheer resigned to take a job with the NBA Charlotte Hornets , Sizzlers owner Bernie Glannon along with the owners of the Savannah Spirits and the La Crosse Catbirds were members of

2450-417: Was second in the CBA. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) filed a lawsuit against Sizzlers owner Bernard Glannon in January 1986 for his alleged delinquent payment on a loan for his defunct venture, the Indian Springs State Bank, which was eventually revealed to have dealings with organized crime members. Glannon claimed that the FDIC had only filed the lawsuit on his behest to settle. During

2500-491: Was the lead designer for Municipal Auditorium. Hoit, Price & Barnes , the associated architects were responsible for the design of the mechanical work (HVAC, electrical, plumbing). William L. Cassell directed that design effort. Cassell went on to start his own firm in 1933 which is still in business as W. L. Cassell & Associates, Inc. Henry F. McElroy , the choice of Tom Pendergast and other Democratic leaders to be City Manager, announced on January 5, 1932, that

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