It was a nice idea while it lasted, but Tucson won’t be getting indoor football next year, according to KVOA:
The Tucson Thunderkats, a local indoor football club, is suspending operations indefinitely.
Mario Wiggins, chairman and owner of the team, estimates that he has lost over $100,000 during the startup of the franchise. Head coach Floyd Johnson was recently let go.
The Thunderkats were supposed to begin regular season play in February 2011, but now that’s not going to happen. Wiggins says the suspension is indefinite, but will go on while the team goes “through a restructuring process.”
I’m not entirely sure how Mr. Wiggins managed to spend $100,000, although it certainly wouldn’t be on publicity. I heard about the team when it was announced, and I think I had one conversation about them since, but I wasn’t even aware they had a website until today. Best of luck with the “restructuring process,” Thunderkats.
The Thunderkats accomplished something in the history of Tucson professional sports by collapsing before playing a game, but they’re part of a proud history of sports teams that had their moment in the Tucson athletic spotlight, including the Arizona Heat, the Tucson Amigos, the Tucson Fireballs, the Gila Monsters (my personal favorite), the Tucson Mirage, the Tucson Tiberons and the Tucson Tilt (winner of the most-plagiarized-logo contest), among others.
Someday, Tucson, someday.
This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2010.
The Tucson Scorch hockey team also folded before playing a game, back around 2000? 2001? “Someday, Tucson, someday” is right.
My favorite Scorch memories are these:
1. They had a “name the team” contest. My son (then 9 or 10) and I considered suggesting the Pygmy Owls, because they would be rarely seen and soon become extinct. But they exceeded my expectations by becoming extinct before hitting the ice.
2. After they announced their premature departure, some aggrieved person wrote a letter to the editor of the Star complaining that he hadn’t gotten a refund of the money he paid for his season ticket(s). My reaction was incredulity that anyone had forked over money in advance for season tickets.
The Thunderkats offered season tickets as well…as low as $60. I can be overly optimistic at times, but you’d have to be insane to invest in any long-term manner in a minor league sports team anywhere, particularly Tucson.
The Gila Monsters, such fun. I still have two jerseys and very fond memories when the zebras put the entire Colorado Springs team in the penalty box.
I might be remembering this incorrectly, but was there a guy at the Gila Monsters games who would sit next to the penalty box and read recipes involving Spam to the opposing players?
The Tucson Gila Monsters poor funded but well backed! I did the website for free while I was enlisted in the Navy. I miss the Tucson Gila Monsters! Don’t for get about the Toros, Sidewinders, Mavericks, Icemen ect. Some Day Tucson Will have a renovated TCC and earn the support the team needs. BTW the Tucson Scorch did play 2 preseason games before folding.