Abilene Warriors

Abilene Warriors
Founded 2015
League Independent
Based in Abilene, Texas
Arena Curly Hayes Field (outdoor)
Colors Purple, Gold, Black, White
                   
Owner(s) Earnest Hargraves
Head coach Anthony Bartley
Website Abilene Warriors

The Abilene Warriors were a proposed professional indoor football team and a member of American Indoor Football announced to begin play for the 2016 season. Based in Abilene, Texas, the Warriors were scheduled to play their home games at Taylor County Expo Center,[1][2] however, their opening game was announced as being relocated to Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder, Texas due to lack of ticket sales.[3][4] Their inaugural game opponent, the Dallas Silverbacks of the local North American Indoor Football league, then announced they would not be participating in the game. The Warriors were subsequently removed from the American Indoor Football schedules on March 4, 2016.[5]

After negotiations with the Taylor County Expo Center fell through, the owners sought to find a suitable location to continue operations for the 2016 season. The organization appeared to be attempting to operate independently from a league for the 2016 season playing at the outdoor Curly Hayes Field in Abilene.[6][7] However, this game was also cancelled 36 hours prior to kickoff leading to infuriated sponsors seeking reimbursement. By the time of the scheduled game was to kickoff, head coach Anthony Bartley had already moved out of Abilene due to never being paid by the organization.[8]

The Warriors were to be the second indoor football team to call Abilene home, after the Abilene Ruff Riders/Bombers which played in the Indoor Football League, Southern Indoor Football League and Lone Star Football League from 2009 until ceasing operations following the 2013 season.

Abilene Warriors staff
Front Office
  • Owner - Earnest Hargraves
  • President- Darrin Wilkerson
  • Vice President- Carl Thomas
  • General Manager- Michael Fizer
  

Head Coach

  • Head Coach - Anthony Bartley

Assistant Coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator- Stephon White
  • Defensive Coordinator- Frank Beltre

References

  1. ↑ "Return of arena football in the works for Abilene". KTXS.com. KTXS-TV. November 11, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Abilene Warriors Hold Tryouts". MyFoxZone.com. KXVA. November 30, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Abilene Warriors Game Canceled for Saturday". Big Country Homepage. March 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Abilene Warriors will not play season at Expo Center". Abilene Reporter-News. March 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Still No Location for Abilene Warriors' Game". Big Country Homepage. March 4, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Warriors announce new venue and game". Facebook. March 18, 2016.
  7. ↑ "With future uncertain, Abilene Warriors line up venue for Game 1". Abilene Reporter-News. March 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Abilene Warriors pull plug on first game, season". Abilene Reporter-News. March 25, 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.