Harrisburg Stampede

Last updated
Harrisburg Stampede
Established 2008
Folded 2024
Played in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
HBGStampede.com
Harrisburg Stampede.png
League/conference affiliations
Current uniform
Team colorsBlue, White, Gold
   
MascotBlitz the Bull
CheerleadersStampede Dance Team
Personnel
Owner(s)Dazzle Sports Group LLC
PresidentJustin Coble
General managerMike Jones
Head coachBernie Nowotarski
Team history
  • Harrisburg Stampede (2009–2014, 2024)
Championships
League championships (1)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (3)
Home arena(s)

The Harrisburg Stampede were a professional indoor football team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Stampede participated in several different leagues over their history: the American Indoor Football Association in 2009 and 2010, the Southern Indoor Football League in 2011, American Indoor Football in 2012 and 2013, and the Professional Indoor Football League in what became their final season of play in 2014. The team suspended operations on December 30, 2014. In 2024, the team returned to play in the American Indoor Football league. [1] [2]

Contents

The Stampede play their home games at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center for their first five seasons from 2009 to 2013 and again in 2024. In 2014, they played in the Giant Center in nearby Hershey.

The "Stampede" name alludes to the team's home venue, which hosts the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, and the team's colors are blue, black and white.

On August 18, 2023, American Indoor Football announced the return of the Stampede to its revived league. The Team has been brought back by former owner Justin Coble, [3] local businessman and owner of Dazzle Sports Marketing. The team is owned by Dazzle Sports Group LLC DBA Harrisburg Stampede. They return to their original Bull Head logo and colors of Royal Blue and Gold. They played the 2024 season at the PA Farm Show Complex. They were to have joined the National Arena League for the 2025 season as a part of a merger with former AIF teams, but ceased operations on December 3, 2024.

History

Original logo HarrisburgStampede.jpg
Original logo

2009

The team was co-founded by John Morris and Fred Clark. In September 2008, the team announced that they would use the nickname "Stampede" after narrowing a list of entries down to 3. [4] In the Stampede's inaugural game, they beat an opposing team of American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) All-Stars, 46–26, in the 2009 AIFA Kickoff Classic. [5] In their first regular season game, the Stampede were defeated by the reigning AIFA champion, Florence Phantoms by a score of 19–13. [6] In their second ever regular season game, the Stampede defeated the Baltimore Mariners 37–34. [7] After a 2–4 start, Morris fired head coach Kelly Logan and replaced him with defensive coordinator, Mike McDonald. [8] Marques Colston, a New Orleans Saints wide receiver, held a share during the team's first season. Colston left the group after the inaugural season, citing philosophical differences.

2009 season schedule

DateOpponent Home/Away Result
March 14 Florence Phantoms AwayLost 13–19
March 28 Baltimore Mariners HomeWon 37–34
April 4 South Carolina Force HomeLost 37–40
April 11 Columbus Lions HomeLost 33–35
April 18 Erie RiverRats AwayWon 34–31
April 25 D.C. Armor AwayLost 26–44
May 2Baltimore MarinersHomeLost 27–37
May 9D.C. ArmorHomeWon 20–18
May 17 Reading Express AwayLost 6–44
May 23Erie RiverRatsAwayLost 44–54
May 30Erie RiverRatsHomeWon 53–29
June 6South Carolina ForceHomeLost 30–36
June 13Baltimore MarinersAwayLost 55–58
June 27Reading ExpressHomeLost 19–41

2010

For the 2010 season, the team hired Ramon Robinson as their head coach. [9] Robinson helped the Stampede turn their record around, leading them to an 11–3 regular season record, clinching a playoff spot. [10] The #2 seeded Stampede defeated the #3 Erie Storm by a score of 52–48 in the first Stampede playoff game ever. [11] The following week, the Stampede were defeated by the undefeated Mariners by a score of 65–13 in the Eastern Conference Championship Game. [12]

2011

The Stampede began the 2011 season by naming Bernie Nowotarski the team's head coach and general manager. [13] 2011 also brought a new league for the Stampede, as they moved into the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) after the merger of the AIFA's Eastern Conference with the SIFL [14] After an 0–6 start to the 2011 season, Nowotarski was removed as General Manager and Head Coach of the Stampede. He was replaced by Josh Resignalo. [15] The following season, the SIFL disbanded, leading the Stampede to re-join their former league, which is now going by American Indoor Football (AIF).

2012

In 2012, the team joined American Indoor Football (AIF), the league was run by previous AIFA owner/CEO John Morris. [16] In January 2012, Morris sold the team to local businessman Justin Coble, who made moves to broaden the fan base and re-energize the city of Harrisburg about the Stampede team; [17] Colston returned to the team's ownership group just prior to the start of the 2012 season. [18]

2013

As of August 2012 Marques Colston's Dynasty Group acquired full control of the team and had continued to grow the footprint of the Stampede with its primary mission of servicing the community in the Greater Harrisburg area. The Stampede advanced to the AIF Championship Game for the second straight year in 2013, this time defeating the Cape Fear Heroes 57-42 earning their first ever title. [19]

2014

In September 2013, the Stampede announced that they would be joining the Professional Indoor Football League for the 2014 season. [20]

After the 2014 season, on December 30, 2014, Colston shuttered the team due to financial problems and purchased a stake in the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. [21] [22]

2024

In August 2023 local businessman Justin Coble announced he was bringing back the Harrisburg Stampede to AIF for the 2024 season. With a revamped team, return to old logo and colors, and playing back in the original location the New Harrisburg Stampede returned.

On July 9, 2024, the Stampede had joined the Corpus Christi Tritons and Columbus Lions as these AIF teams moved to the National Arena League as part of a supposed "merger" between the two leagues. [23] It turned out only the Lions and Stampede joined the NAL, the Tritons went to Arena Football One and the AIF was relaunched with two other remaining teams. On December 3, 2024, the Stampede announced on their Facebook page that they were ceasing operations.

Season-by-season results

League ChampionsConference ChampionsDivision ChampionsPlayoff berthLeague Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
FinishWinsLosses
2009 2009 AIFA North3rd410Did not qualify
2010 2010 AIFAEastern2nd113Won Eastern Division Wild Card (Erie) 52–48
Lost Eastern Division Championship (Baltimore) 63–15
2011 2011 SIFL EasternNortheast3rd210Did not qualify
2012 2012 AIF Eastern2nd61Won Eastern Conference Wild Card (Carolina) 68–20
Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Cape Fear) 32–57
2013 2013 AIF2nd62Won Wild Card (York) 51–41
Won AIF Championship Bowl VI (Cape Fear) 57–42
2014 2014 PIFL National4th48Did not qualify
2015Dormant year
2016Dormant year
2017Dormant year
2018Dormant year
2019Dormant year
2020Dormant year
2021Dormant year
2022Dormant year
2023Dormant year
2024 2024 AIF00
Totals3334All-time regular season record
42All-time postseason record
3736All-time regular season and postseason record

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the 2024 American Indoor Football season.

NameTenureRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
WLWin%WL
Ramon Robinson2009–20101513.53611
Bernie Nowotarski2011–2014, 20241821.46231

All-league players

The following Stampede players were named to All-League Teams:

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References

  1. ↑ https://pafootballnews.com/news/on-the-arena-indoor-trail-harrisburg-stampede/
  2. ↑ https://www.abc27.com/sports/local-sports/the-harrisburg-stampede-are-back-after-a-10-year-hiatus/
  3. ↑ Williams, Amber (2023-09-14). "Indoor arena football is returning to Harrisburg Story". MSN. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  4. ↑ "Harrisburg Stampede To Hold Press Conference Next Tuesday". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 15, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  5. ↑ James Phillips (January 25, 2009). "STAMPEDE 46, ALL-STARS 26". www.pennlive.com. PA Media Group. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  6. ↑ Michael Sedor (March 13, 2009). "Harrisburg Stampede face defending AIFA champs tonight". www.pennlive.com. PA Media Group. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ Lisa Stinnett (March 28, 2009). "Harrisburg Stampede win home opener against Baltimore Mariners". www.pennlive.com. PA Media Group. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Stampede Changes Coaches". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 28, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Stampede signs former AFL Georgia Force Receiver". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 13, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ James Phillips (June 26, 2010). "Stampede ready for the playoffs after blasting New Jersey". www.pennlive.com. PA Media Group. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  11. ↑ James Phillips (July 2, 2010). "Stampede quiet Storm in first playoff game". www.pennlive.com. PA Media Group. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Indoor football: Mariners claim conference title with 65-13 win". www.baltimoresun.com. The Baltimore Sun. July 10, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Harrisburg Stampede Name Nowotarski Head Coach/GM". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 18, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Harrisburg Stampede Release 2011 Schedule, Announce Move to SIFL". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. November 18, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Stampede Remove Nowotarski; Resignalo Named Head Coach". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 26, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  16. ↑ "John Morris Introduces The AIF and Nowotarski to Lead Stampede". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 18, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Local Businessman Becomes Part of Stampede Ownership Group". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 2, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  18. ↑ Jason Bristol (March 14, 2012). "Marques Colston becomes part-owern of Harrisburg Stampede". Archived from the original on 15 June 2012.
  19. ↑ Shelly Stallsmith (June 9, 2013). "Harrisburg Stampede storms to championship with win over Heroes". www.pennlive.com. PA Media Group. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Harrisburg Stampedes into the PIFL". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  21. ↑ Johnson, Timothy (December 30, 2014). "Harrisburg Stampede suspending operations prior to 2015 season, team website confirms". PennLive. Retrieved October 8, 2015. Citing difficult economic conditions, Harrisburg Stampede President/GM Marques Colston announced that the team would be suspending all operations indefinitely on Tuesday [December 30]...
  22. ↑ Bristol, Jason (December 31, 2014). "Players, coaches stunned at Stampede's departure". WHP-TV . Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  23. ↑ "AMERICAN INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE JOINS THE NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE". NAL. July 9, 2024.
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