The Rochester Flyers would finish 20-34[1] (fifth place in the Western Division) in the 1987–88 season, failing to qualify for the CBA playoffs. In 1988–89 the Flyers finished last in the West with a 16-38 record. Despite averaging approximately 2,600 fans per home game,[2] the team moved to Omaha, Nebraska after the season.
Omaha Racers (1989–1997)
The first logo of the Omaha Racers used from 1989 to 1993.
Before the start of the Racers' inaugural season, the CBA ruled that the team's ownership was not financially solvent and the franchise would need to be put up for sale. Terren Peizer purchased the team on September 15, 1989, and announced he would keep the team in Omaha. Team president and general manager Mike Cole told Ray Waddell of Amusement Business, "We're very happy with how it has worked out ... We pulled off something many people said we couldn't do."[3] Under head coach Mike Thibault, the Racers went 29-27 in 1989–90 and made the CBA playoffs in the National Conference, where they lost to the San Jose Jammers in the first round. Peizer sold the team in 1990.
On February 4, 1990, Racers player Roland Gray set a franchise record for points scored in a game with 45 in a game against the San Jose Jammers.[4] The 1990–91 Racers had the best record in franchise history (39-17), but lost to the Quad City Thunder in the American Conference finals. Tim Legler was named the team's most valuable player following the season.[5]
Moving back to the National Conference in 1991–92, Omaha finished second in the Northern Division (37-19) to the Rapid City Thrillers. After defeating the Oklahoma City Cavalry in the second round of the playoffs, the Racers lost to the Thrillers in the conference finals, 3 games to 2.
Mike Thibault served as the Omaha Racers head coach for their entire eight year history.
The 1992–93 Racers made it to the top, after finishing second in the Northern Division (28-28) again to Rapid City. Omaha beat the Wichita Falls Texans in the first round, then slipped past Rapid City in a five-game conference final. In the CBA championship, Omaha defeated the Grand Rapids Hoops in six games. A 106-98 win on May 1, 1993 in Grand Rapids was the high-water mark of the franchise. In spite of their success, attendance dropped during the 1992–93 season, which led team officials to announce that if they failed to sell 3,500 season tickets before the start of the next season the Racers would relocate. Omaha averaged 3,062 attendees per game during the 1992–93 season, which was down from 3,875 per game the season before.[6]
Rapid City finished ahead of Omaha (30-26) in the Northern Division for the third straight year in 1993–94. Omaha made it back to the CBA finals, after defeating the Tri-City Chinook in round one and Rapid City in the conference finals. The Quad City Thunder defeated Omaha in five games to win the league title.
Omaha (26-30) moved to the Southern Division in 1994–95 and finished second to Oklahoma City. They beat the Sioux Falls SkyForce in the first round, but fell to Oklahoma City in the second round. Thibault missed seven games as head coach, being replaced by Eric Chapman, as he coached the US in the 1995 Pan American Games in Argentina.[7]
Omaha (28-28) moved back to the Northern Division of the National Conference in 1995–96, and finished second again, this time to Sioux Falls. The Florida Beachdogs swept the Racers out of the playoffs in round one.
With the CBA shrinking to 11 teams in 1996–97, Omaha was placed in the 5-team National Conference and finished in fourth place (22-34). In one of the biggest upsets in CBA playoff history, the Racers defeated Sioux Falls (47-9) in five games, winning the clincher in South Dakota, 98-92. Oklahoma City brought them back down to earth, winning the conference finals, 3 games to 1. During their final season, Kevin Kugler served as the Racers play-by-play announcer.[8]
With a record of 375-413, plus a 42-49 mark in the playoffs, and one CBA title (1992–93), the Wisconsin/Rochester/Omaha Racers franchise was declared inactive in the summer of 1997. At the time, there was some faint hope that the franchise may start up again in 1998–99. The two teams who had made the CBA finals in 1997, Oklahoma City and Florida, also folded.
In 2013, on the 20th anniversary of Omaha's 1993 CBA Championship win, 30 former Racers players, staff and executives gathered for a reunion event at Ralston Arena.[9][10]
↑ Waddell, Ray (March 26, 1990). "CBA overall attendance up, but per game average turnout down". Amusement Business. No.102.12. Nielsen Business Media. p.14.
↑ "Gray leaves Omaha for Spain". United Press International. Omaha, Nebraska. March 15, 1990.
↑ "Suns Lose Majerle With Shoulder Injury". United Press International. March 20, 1990.
↑ Waddell, Ray (May 31, 1993). "CBA's fury takes lead in league attendance". Amusement Business. No.105.22. Nielsen Business Media. p.20.
↑ Knisley, Michael (April 3, 1995). "Argentine passion is a lesson for the U.S.". The Sporting News. Sporting News Publishing Company. p.43.
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