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Post by Diesel65 on Nov 29, 2007 21:00:48 GMT -5
I was lookin at the CIFL websites for all the teams...I see Saginaw is getting a team, and Flint may get the Pirates back or have one of their own...I wonder could Metro Detroit support a CIFL indoor team? There's certainly enough of a population and fanbase for it. Possible sites could be Compuware Arena in Plymouth or Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena? Or (and I might be crazy as heck for this) the arena on the State Fairgrounds?
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Post by elganned on Nov 30, 2007 7:17:31 GMT -5
Remember the Detroit Drive?
One of the original Arena teams. Played at Joe Louis from 1988 to 1993. Won the national championship four times during those six years. Folded in the off-season before the seventh season. Reason stated: not enough fan support to survive.
I know that Detroit has the population to support an indoor team; I just don't know if they have the motivation or interest.
I hope one forms; I hope it succeeds. The indoor game, though different in significant ways from the outdoor game, is fast-paced and fun to watch.
But my skepticism remains. As my father once observed: "I'm not cynical...just experienced."
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Post by Ads71 on Nov 30, 2007 8:46:05 GMT -5
Remember the Detroit Drive? One of the original Arena teams. Played at Joe Louis from 1988 to 1993. Won the national championship four times during those six years. Folded in the off-season before the seventh season. Reason stated: not enough fan support to survive. I know that Detroit has the population to support an indoor team; I just don't know if they have the motivation or interest. I hope one forms; I hope it succeeds. The indoor game, though different in significant ways from the outdoor game, is fast-paced and fun to watch. But my skepticism remains. As my father once observed: "I'm not cynical...just experienced." Wow, you made me feel old bringing up the Detroit Drive. I remember me and my boy driving to the Joe to watch those games. I also remember another Detroit Arena team (The Fury?) that played at the Palace even more recently that ended up folding, or relocating not exactly sure which. On a hockey note I also remember the Detroit Vipers that suffered the same fate as the Fury even after they won title(s). Elganned maybe right on with his logic about the lack of support for these teams. |
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 30, 2007 9:35:30 GMT -5
That Detroit team was good from what I could remember. That situation shows that even Championships didn't bring money or fans, but that was back then, the indoor game is growing and growing and growing. This team if it's ever comes about could work if you promo it right and if we don't mess it up (I wont get into that). When the CFL expanded over to the States back in the day some of the teams didn't do well because of the promo and location, we did great in Baltimore because thats all you saw around the city, on billboards,on the TV, on the radio, in the schools, in the malls you would see the Baltimore CFL Colts, The Baltimore CFL or the Baltimore Stallions and of course the location was great because Baltimore is a great football city. All of that equaled up to great revenue and a Championship caliber football team.
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 30, 2007 9:37:44 GMT -5
I hope that it does happen so some of our young left out talent can get another shot at playing the game that we Love.
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Post by admirals1 on Nov 30, 2007 13:51:42 GMT -5
Attendence wasn't a problem with the Drive. They regularly sold out JLA. The problem was Mike Illitch owned both the Tigers and the Drive. During times the two played at the same time, the Drive was outdrawing the Tigers (they really stink at the time). So Illitch sold the Drive to a group who moved the fanchise to Massachusetts.
I regularly attended Drive games and loved the atmosphere. I attended Fury games and it wasn't the same. Attendence was terible but I think playing most games on weeknights had a lot to do with it.
How about the Panthers in the mid 80's? I know...not a indoor team but loved them unis!
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Post by Ads71 on Nov 30, 2007 15:24:24 GMT -5
Ahhh...the USFL, that brings back some memories.
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 30, 2007 15:25:51 GMT -5
You know what admirals1, you are 100% right. The Drive had great attendance for Arena Football, all of the years here in Detroit they avg 14400 people per game. So if it can happen, I hope someone does it and follows the handbook of the Drive, but with some ideas of their own.
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Post by CP on Nov 30, 2007 16:14:38 GMT -5
Plymouth cannot be used due to the height of their ceiling not being high enough.
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Post by elganned on Nov 30, 2007 16:19:34 GMT -5
I never knew the whole story, admirals1, I just knew that one year they were league champions and the next year they were gone.
Well, if that's the case, maybe a team here would work.
Speaking of indoor sports teams that didn't last, anybody remember the Turbos, Detroits indoor Lacrosse team? That was a fun sport to watch. ;D Fastest sport I've ever seen that didn't require skates!
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Post by admirals1 on Nov 30, 2007 16:41:47 GMT -5
Kinda nice to involved in a civil, enlightening discussion on this board. The Drive were in 6 Arena bowls, winning four.
Detroit Drive Yearly Results
Season Record Pct. Playoffs Avg Attendance
1988 9-3 0.750 W-Pittsburgh, W-at Chicago 14244
1989 3-1 0.750 W-Chicago, W-Pittsburgh 8445
1990 6-2 0.750 W-Pittsburgh, W-Dallas 14710
1991 9-1 0.900 W-Albany, L-Tampa Bay 16606
1992 8-2 0.800 W-Sacramento, W-Dallas, W-at Orlando 14671
1993 11-1 0.917 W-Dallas, W-Arizona, L-Tampa Bay 14538
1989 was a partial season, only playing 4 games at the last minute.
Indoor lacrosse pretty decent...indoor soccer is too.
I loved the Panthers, Bobby Hebert, Anthony Carter, the sack man John Corker.
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Post by jovan45 on Dec 2, 2007 16:09:10 GMT -5
it was a team in Detroit a couple years ago the Detroit fury they played at the palace.
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Post by Diesel65 on Dec 4, 2007 8:59:28 GMT -5
Hopefully they can make renovations to Plymouth if it happens. Metro Detroit does have a huge appetite for football (why would we put up with the Lions if we didnt lol)
Yes, it is nice to have a civil discussion on the board without any childishness, thank you. Sometimes I look at the posts on here and I laugh. Other times I'm disgusted. But that point's been hammered home enough. What do you think this possible team could do differently than the Drive or the Fury, is that's possible?
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Post by Laffinsilli on Dec 4, 2007 9:11:36 GMT -5
You ask a very good and serious question. First and foremost the team should reflect the values Det. wishes to strive for. Second the team should promote local talent both in players and coaches. Involve local businesses and chamber of commerce to promote. Reach out to area schools by adopting several schools and promote good team work and sportmanship.
Remember the team represents Det. and Mi. and be proud to hold that banner. Finally and most importantly be family friendly and put on a good show. You do this and they will come.
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Post by experienced on Dec 19, 2007 0:13:47 GMT -5
It is hard to put a minor league concept in a large market such as Detroit. A lot of risk goes into competing in a large market. Most teams at this level don't have the money to compete against the professional teams for advertising dollars. Detroit will get an AFL team as soon as they replace the JOE in the next 5 years.
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