Champions Professional Indoor Football League

Last updated
Champions Professional Indoor Football League
Most recent season or competition:
2014 Champions Professional Indoor Football League season
ChampionsProfessionalIndoorFootballLeague.jpg
Sport Indoor football
Founded2012
Inaugural season2013
Ceased2014; merged with LSFL to make CIF
DirectorBob Scott, Jerry Ploeger, Ethan Henson, John Blazek
No. of teams9
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Last
champion(s)		 Wichita Wild (2nd title)
Most titles Wichita Wild (2 titles)
Official website www.cpifl.org

The Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) was an indoor football minor league [1] based along the Midwestern United States region. The league began play in February 2013. In August 2014, the CPIFL and Lone Star Football League (LSFL) completed a merger to form Champions Indoor Football (CIF) and began play in 2015.

Contents

Season structure

During the off-season, teams held open tryouts for free-agent players to earn invites to pre-season camps. Free agent tryouts ranged from October to January depending on the individual team. Pre-season typically ran the duration of February and could involve exhibition games with teams inside the league or outside teams in other indoor football leagues. The regular season schedule was a 12-game format typically starting in mid-March and going until mid-June. Each team played six home games and six road games, typically on Friday and Saturday nights, with some exceptions like occasional Sunday afternoon games. The four teams with the best overall record at the end of the season qualified for post-season play. The teams with the best records hosted the first round of the playoffs, with the first-place team hosting the fourth-place team and the second-place team hosting the third-place team. The league did not have a divisional split. The second round of the playoffs was considered the CPIFL Championship game to crown the league champion each year.

League history

In August 2012, Sioux City Bandits' managing partner, Bob Scott, generated the idea of a league that would be run by team owners, and not by a president. [2] The idea came after the Bandits had spent two years in the American Professional Football League. The focus was to build the highest level of indoor football in the Midwest by adding teams to the league, linking "well-established teams currently coming from Iowa, Missouri and Kansas." [2] The CPIFL brought together the top indoor football teams in the Midwest from existing leagues such as the Arena Football League, Indoor Football League, and the American Professional Football League to fill the new league. The CPIFL is bringing back rivalries from the past. Tulsa (Oklahoma Defenders) vs. Wichita (Wild), Lincoln (Haymakers) vs. Omaha (Beef), Lincoln vs. Sioux City (Bandits) and Omaha vs. Sioux City are a few examples. The league gained its first member on August 11, 2012, when the Bandits officially announced their intentions to join the CPIFL. [3] Also on August 11, the league voted that James Bain would be the league's first Commissioner. [4] [5]

On August 14, 2014, it was announced on the league website that they had merged with the Lone Star Football League to create what they claimed to be the largest indoor football league in the country. [6]

Teams

Map of teams that competed in the CPIFL in 2013 Map - Champions Professional Indoor Football League.svg
Map of teams that competed in the CPIFL in 2013
TeamLocationArena (Capacity)
Bloomington Edge [7] [8] Bloomington, Illinois U.S. Cellular Coliseum (7,000)
Dodge City Law [9] Dodge City, Kansas United Wireless Arena (4,200)
Kansas Koyotes [10] Topeka, Kansas Landon Arena (7,777)
Lincoln Haymakers [11] Lincoln, Nebraska Pershing Center (4,526)
Oklahoma Defenders [12] Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa Convention Center (8,900)
Omaha Beef [13] Ralston, Nebraska Ralston Arena (4,020)
Salina Bombers [14] Salina, Kansas Bicentennial Center (7,583)
Sioux City Bandits [12] Sioux City, Iowa Tyson Events Center (7,500)
Wichita Wild [12] Park City, Kansas Hartman Arena (5,000)

Former teams

CPIFL Champions Bowl results

YearWinnerLoserScore
2013 Wichita Wild Salina Bombers 47–34
2014 Wichita Wild Sioux City Bandits 46–41

Related Research Articles

Omaha Beef American indoor football team

The Omaha Beef is an indoor football team and a charter member of the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) league. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, the Beef play their home games at Liberty First Credit Union Arena in nearby Ralston.

Sioux City Bandits Professional indoor football team in Sioux City, Iowa

The Sioux City Bandits are a professional indoor football team based in Sioux City, Iowa, and compete as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). The team was founded in 1999 as the Sioux City Attack. In 2001, the team assumed their current name of the Bandits. The Bandits joined the CIF as result of a merger in 2014. The Bandits play their home games at the Tyson Events Center.

Bloomington Edge

The Bloomington Edge was a professional indoor football team based in Bloomington, Illinois. While it was in operation, the team hosted home games at Grossinger Motors Arena. Originally named the Bloomington Extreme, the team was a member of United Indoor Football (UIF), and joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2009 during the UIF and Intense Football League merger. They left the IFL for the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) in 2013, and in 2015 the CPIFL merged with the Lone Star Football League (LSFL) to create Champions Indoor Football (CIF), where Bloomington did not follow and joined X-League Indoor Football (X-League). Following the 2015 season the Edge joined the CIF. The Edge then announced it had rejoined the IFL for the 2018 season, but a court ruling prevented the team from joining the league until 2019, however, they were not included in that season's schedule.

Lincoln Haymakers

The Lincoln Haymakers were a professional indoor football team based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Haymakers played their 2013–2014 home games at the Pershing Center.

Wichita Wild

The Wichita Wild were a professional indoor football team based in Wichita, Kansas. They were members of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). The team was founded in 2006 as an independent indoor football franchise. In 2008, the team joined United Indoor Football (UIF). They joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) during the UIF and Intense Football League merger of 2009. In 2012, the team left the IFL to become charter members of the CPIFL. The Wild's home games were played at Hartman Arena in nearby Park City. When they lost their lease with the Hartman Arena, they folded..

Lone Star Football League American indoor football league

The Lone Star Football League (LSFL) was a regional professional indoor football minor league that played three seasons from 2012 to 2014. All of the LSFL's charter teams were based in the state of Texas, with five teams coming from the Southern Indoor Football League, three from the Indoor Football League, plus one expansion team. The LSFL played three seasons to completion before merging with the Champions Professional Indoor Football League in August 2014 to form Champions Indoor Football.

Oklahoma Defenders

The Oklahoma Defenders were a professional indoor football team and a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Defenders played their home games at the Cox Business Center.

San Angelo Bandits

The San Angelo Bandits were a professional indoor football team based in San Angelo, Texas. They were members of Champions Indoor Football (CIF) and the Lone Star Football League (LSFL). The Bandits began play in 2013 as an expansion team in the LSFL. They became members of the CIF when the LSFL and Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) merged at the conclusion of the 2014 season. The Bandits played their home games at the Foster Communications Coliseum. The team folded following the 2016 season and were replaced by the expansion CenTex Cavalry.

Salina Bombers

The Salina Bombers were a professional indoor football team based in Salina, Kansas. The team was founded by Chris Vercher, Jake Leighty and Jake Sharp in 2012 as charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). The Bombers played their home games at the Bicentennial Center in Salina. After the Bombers folded, the Salina Liberty were started as a new indoor football franchise.

The West Texas Wildcatters were a professional indoor football team based in Odessa, Texas. The Wildcatters played their home games at the Ector County Coliseum. The Wildcatters began play in 2014 an expansion team in the Lone Star Football League (LSFL). They had planned on joining the CIF in 2014 during the merger of the LSFL and Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL), but were left out of the league.

Dodge City Law

The Dodge City Law were a professional indoor football team based in Dodge City, Kansas, with home games at the United Wireless Arena. The team joined the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) in 2013 as an expansion member for the 2014 season. In 2014, the CPIFL merged with the Lone Star Football League (LSFL) to form Champions Indoor Football (CIF). The branding was used again for the 2021 season as a replacement team before an expansion team was granted to the Southwest Kansas Storm for the 2022 season.

Champions Indoor Football Indoor American football league

Champions Indoor Football (CIF) is a professional indoor American football minor league created in 2014 out of the merger between the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) and Lone Star Football League (LSFL), plus one team from the Indoor Football League and two expansion teams. Players are paid $75 – $300 per game before taxes with no other benefits.

The 2015 Omaha Beef season was the team's sixteenth season as a professional indoor football franchise and first as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). One of nine teams in the CIF for the inaugural 2015 season, the Omaha Beef was owned and operated by Rich Tokheim and Jim Tokheim. The Beef played their home games at the Ralston Arena in Ralston, Nebraska, under the direction of head coach Cory Ross.

The 2015 Salina Bombers season was the team's third and final season as a professional indoor football franchise and first as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). One of nine teams in the CIF for the inaugural 2015 season, the Salina Bombers were owned by Chris Vercher. The Force played their home games at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, Kansas, under the direction of head coach Bob Ray. The season ended abruptly on May 28, 2015, after the CIF ejected the team from the league and the team subsequently folded entirely.

The 2015 Sioux City Bandits season was the team's sixteenth overall, fifteenth as the Sioux City Bandits and first as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). One of nine teams in the CIF for the inaugural 2015 season, the Bandits finished the regular season with a 9–3 record to earn the number one seed in the playoffs, in which they defeated the Amarillo Venom, 83–52 in the semifinals and beat the Texas Revolution in Champions Bowl I, 76–61.

The 2015 Champions Indoor Football season was the first season of the CIF. The new league was the result of a merger between the Lone Star Football League and the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. The regular season began on Saturday, February 28 and finished on Saturday, June 6. The league champion was the Sioux City Bandits, who defeated the Texas Revolution 76-61 in Champions Bowl I. The season MVP was Charles Dowdell of the Sioux City Bandits, and the Champions Bowl MVP was Drew Prohaska, also of the Bandits.

The 2014 Sioux City Bandits season was the team's fifteenth season as a professional indoor football franchise, fourteenth as the Sioux City Bandits and second as a member of Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). One of nine teams in the CPIFL, the Bandits finished the regular season 9-3 to earn the number two seed in the playoffs, in which they beat the Salina Bombers, 66-37 in the semifinals, but lost the CPIFL Champions Bowl II, 46-41 to the Wichita Wild.

The 2013 Sioux City Bandits season was the team's fourteenth overall, thirteenth as the Sioux City Bandits and first as a member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). One of ten teams in the CPIFL for the inaugural 2013 season, the Bandits finished the regular season with a 10-2 record to earn the number one seed in the playoffs, in which they lost on a missed last-second field goal to the Salina Bombers, 29-28 in the semifinals.

The 2014 Champions Indoor Football season was the second and final season of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). With players like Clemson's #20 Antonio Clay with the Kansas Koyotes. It was the result of the brainchild of Sioux City Bandits owner Bob Scott. The regular season began on Friday, February 28 when the Lincoln Haymakers lost to the Wichita Wild in Nebraska, 62–10. It finished on Saturday, June 7. The league champion was the Wichita Wild, who defeated the Sioux City Bandits by a score of 46–41 in the 2014 Champions Bowl. The season MVP was Rocky Hinds of the Wichita Wild. The CPIFL merged with the Lone Star Football League over the offseason, to create Champions Indoor Football (CIF).

The 2013 Bloomington Edge season was the team's seventh overall, second as the Bloomington Edge and first as a member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). One of ten teams in the CPIFL for the inaugural 2013 season, the Edge finished the regular season with a 5-7 record, failing to qualify for the postseason.

References

  1. ↑ "Minor League Markets:Methodology". Sports Business Journal. 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  2. 1 2 Michael Brauer (August 2, 2012). "Bandits bolt APFL, hope to form new league". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  3. ↑ Nick Filipowski (August 11, 2012). "Bandits to join Champions Professional Indoor Football League". www.ktiv.com. NBC. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  4. ↑ Nick Filipowski (August 16, 2012). "James Bain Named Commissioner of CPIFL". www.ktiv.com. NBC. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Wild to join new indoor football league". The Wichita Eagle. August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ Merger Between CPIFL and LSFL is a Success Archived 2014-08-14 at the Wayback Machine , CPIFL website, August 14, 2014
  7. ↑ "Blaze Owner To Buy Edge, Team To Play In New League". CPIFL.org. Champions Professional Indoor Football League. October 12, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ Deacon, Joe (October 12, 2012). "Bloomington Edge sold to Blaze owner, changing to new league". The Pantagraph . Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Professional Football Makes Its Debut In Dodge City". Champions Professional Indoor Football League. September 26, 2013. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Kansas Koyotes Join Champions Professional Indoor Football League". Champions Professional Indoor Football League. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  11. ↑ Hambleton, Ken (September 11, 2012). "Indoor football team coming to Lincoln". JournalStar.com. Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 Michael Brauer (August 11, 2012). "Bandits join CPIFL; new franchise possible in Lincoln". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Inaugural CPIFL Season to Kick-Off on March 9". Champions Professional Indoor Football League. November 14, 2012. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Salina Bombers name of new indoor football team". Salina Journal. November 1, 2012. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2012.

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