JMurr Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Franchise histories that remainMiami Flamingos / California Magic / Tulsa Ramblers Hamilton Hammers / Minnesota Polaris San Antonio Gunslingers / San Antonio Cannons Tucson Saguaros Viboras de Monterrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujju2 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Bill Gates has a team? SWEET! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMurr Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 Miami Flamingos / California Magic / Bakersfield Drillers / Tulsa Ramblers In 1986 the owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, Joe Robbie, was awarded the first franchise in Florida. Robbie moved the team into the Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood, Florida but he named his team the Miami Flamingos. In 1989 the team would move into Miami when they made the newly constructed Miami Arena their home. Miami Flamingos (1986-1994)On January 7, 1990 Robbie died and the league began searching for a new owner. Reluctantly the league convinced the Dolphins new owner Wayne Huizenga to purchase the Flamingos as well, however Huizenga would only purchase 80% leaving the other 20 to league control. Following his basketball career Magic Johnson was made his mark as a businessman. His mentor was Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Together they decided to purchase the Flamingos in 1995. Johnson would own 52% of the team and be the majority and controling partner. Jerry Buss purchased 25% of the team and they were joined by third part Pat Reiley who assumed 23%. The new owners moved the team across the country into the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. They renamed the team the California Magic. California Magic (1995-1997)The move was foolish however and proved to be an early learing experience for Johnson in his sports ownership career. The Los Angeles market was just to full, with two other teams, for the Magic to be relavent in Southern California. So in 1998 the group of owners sold the team in full to SMG a company that owns and operates sports arenas across the nation. SMG hired Johnson to stay with the team and operate it as the team president. However they did move the team into one of the arenas they own; Bakersfield Centenial Gardens in Bakersfield, California. This move came with the new team name of Bakersfield Drillers in recognition of the cities oil industry history. Bakersfield Drillers (1998-2007)Bakersfield was a rather small market and the team had issues proving to be profitable so SMG searched for a ownership partner. In 2008 they got that partner when BOK Financial Corporation purchased 60% ownership in the team. Such a high stake in the team made them the majority owner and as such they chose to hire their own CEO George Kaiser as the team president. A year after purchasing the team they moved them to the companies home city of Tulsa, Oklahoma and renamed them the Tulsa Ramblers. The new name was a referance to the teams frequent change of home city. It also resembeled names like the Kansas City Wanderers, another team that frequently moved in the leagues past. Their new home arena in Tulsa was the BOK Center. Tulsa Ramblers (2008-Present) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMurr Posted February 8, 2014 Author Share Posted February 8, 2014 Hamilton Hammers / Minnesota Polaris In 1987 Canadian businessman Ron Joyce was granted a franchise. Joyce moved his new club into Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario and called the team the Hamilton Hammers. The name was a reference to the city’s industrial heritage.Hamilton Hammers (1987-2002) In the early 1990s Ron Joyce became good friends with American restaurateur Dave Thomas. In 1993 Thomas purchased 25% of the Hammers. On January 8, 2002 Thomas passed away and Joyce went looking for a new partner. He found interest from Minnesota businessman Glen Taylor but Taylor wanted to buy the team in full not be just a partner. Before the 2003 season Joyce would sale the team in full to Taylor who would move the team to Target Center in Minniapolis, Minnesota and rename them the Minnesota Polaris. Minnesota Polaris (2003-2004)In 2005 the Polaris got a new logo, using a Polar Bear as a team symbol for the first time. Another logo change would come in 2012. Minnesota Polaris (2005-2011)Minnesota Polaris (2012-Present) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevsim1 Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Hamilton Hammers / Minnesota Polaris In 1987 Canadian businessman Ron Joyce was granted a franchise. Joyce moved his new club into Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario and called the team the Hamilton Hammers. The name was a reference to the city’s industrial heritage.Hamilton Hammers (1987-2002) In the early 1990s Ron Joyce became good friends with American restaurateur Dave Thomas. In 1993 Thomas purchased 25% of the Hammers. On January 8, 2002 Thomas passed away and Joyce went looking for a new partner. He found interest from Minnesota businessman Glen Taylor but Taylor wanted to buy the team in full not be just a partner. Before the 2003 season Joyce would sale the team in full to Taylor who would move the team to Target Center in Minniapolis, Minnesota and rename them the Minnesota Polaris. Minnesota Polaris (2003-2004)In 2005 the Polaris got a new logo, using a Polar Bear as a team symbol for the first time. Another logo change would come in 2012. Minnesota Polaris (2005-2011)Minnesota Polaris (2012-Present)Love the use of the Sitka Brown Bears Current Polaris logo could be the best so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMurr Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 San Antonio Gunslingers / San Antonio Cannons One of the team teams with the most interesting of histories was formed in 1988. Just a couple years earlier the USFL had collapsed. The league had been a joke in a lot of ways; stories of team owners who couldn’t pay their players abound in the league. One of the worst offending owners was Clinton Manges of the San Antonio Gunslingers. Manges mishandling of the teams finances has left him to face lawsuits following the collapse of the USFL. In 1988 he came up with a wild idea. He potitioned this league to grant him an expansion franchise. He inteneded to be a success in this league and use its profits to settle the lawsuits steming from the USFL days. This league granted his wish but on the condition that he would bring in the court appointed recievers of the USFL San Antonio Gunslingers as partners. Those men were attorney Jim Mattox and politician Bob Bullock. Manges would be the majorit and controlling partner with 40% while Mattox and Bullock would own 30% each. Though Manges was the controlling partner the league stippulated that all his moves must have the approval of Mattox and Bullock. Manges, Mattox, and Bullock all purchased the rights to the Gunslingers branding from the remenants of the USFL and used it towards their new franchsie in this league. The new club made Freeman Coliseum their home.San Antonio Gunslingers (1988-1990) Despite some success that the team displayed the fact was many in San Antonio were not fond of Manges so by 1990 the three owners decided the team needed to be sold. The owner of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs Red McCombs would purchase the team. It took McCombs one year to identify the issue facing the club. Not only was Manges unpopular in San Antonio the Gunslingers branding had become poisin. So in 1991 the team was rebranded as the San Antonio Cannons. San Antonio Cannons (1991-Present)In 1994 they moved into the Alamodome. Then in 2003 they moved into the SBC Center. In 2006 the SBC Center would be renamed the AT&T Center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsox1974 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 This is an excellent series, but I have just one question, What is Pocketball? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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