Arena Football Returns to Louisiana
Brian Matherne
Wednesday December 6, 2000
Shreveport/Bossier City will host the Battle Wings next year. The Wings will do "battle" in the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum. In 2000, Shreveport`s indoor football team, the Bombers, played in the IPFL (Indoor Professional Football League) and accumulated a record of 5-11, tied for last place in that league.
The latest expansion team added to the list is the Baton Rouge franchise. This team, which is also owned by Mr. Kern, will decide on its nickname, mascot, and colors in a few weeks. Baton Rouge also hosted an IPFL team, the Louisiana Bayou Beast, in 1998 and 1999. Due to poor attendance in those years however, the Beast relocated to Alexandria and were renamed the Rapid’s Rangers
In past years, the Arena Football League had a franchise in New Orleans from March 1991 thru the conclusion of the 1992 season. The New Orleans Night, who had played their home games at the Louisiana Superdome (called the "Thunderdome" for Arena ball games), played a preseason game back then against the Cleveland Thunderbolts in the Cajundome at Lafayette. New Orleans gets a second chance at Arena Football in 2002, when NFL Saints owner, Tom Benson, will field an AFL team in the newly constructed New Orleans Arena, which is located next to the Superdome.
With all of the expansion going on in both the AFL and af2, Louisiana will be represented quite nicely. Get out there and support your local team so that these entertaining leagues can be around for a long time!
Brian Matherne has followed the AFL since its inception in 1987. Brian was the first to purchase front row season tickets when the Night came to town in 1991-92. Brian currently resides in Baton Rouge,LA with his wife, Kristi, and daughters, Madison and Lauren. In 1999, Brian was the webmaster for the IPFL Louisiana Bayou Beast.
