History of the Arena Football League in New Orleans

Former football teams in New Orleans include the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (1984) (which became the Portland Breakers), the New Orleans Night of the Arena Football League (1991–1992), the New Orleans Thunder of the Regional Football League (1999), the Louisiana Jazz of the Women's Football Alliance (2002–2014), the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League (2004–2005, 2007–2008, and 2010–2015), the New Orleans Jazz football club of the Stars Football League (2011) and New Orleans Krewe of the US Women's Football League (2016).

New Orleans Night (1991–1992)

The Night played their home games inside the massive Louisiana Superdome, also home of the NFL New Orleans Saints, which obviously had to be modified considerably to cut the playing surface and fan seating down to a size appropriate to fit arena football. The Superdome used its basketball configuration, previously used for the New Orleans Jazz NBA team and for some special college basketball games and tournament play, for arena football. Using this setup, the dome still had a capacity of 30,000 for the Night. Also, during the 1992 season, the Night used a huge blue curtain to close off the rest of the unused dome, to give a smaller arena feel to it. Team colors were Midnight Blue, Sunset Orange, and Moonlight White. The Night wore Zubaz designed uniforms used during the 1991 season.[1]

The team was disbanded after a winless 1992 season.

New Orleans VooDoo (2004–2005, 2007–2008, 2011–2015)

In 1998, New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson committed to the purchase of an Arena Football League (AFL) team, making him the first National Football League (NFL) owner to do so.[2] On March 7, 2002, Benson announced that he would be fielding a franchise in 2003.[3] However, the VooDoo played their inaugural game on the road against the Philadelphia Soul on February 8, 2004. The game marked the return of the AFL to New Orleans, where the New Orleans Night franchise had played two seasons in 1991–1992. The VooDoo logo consists of a human skull wearing a top hat and sunglasses.

In their first year, they drew big crowds to their home games as they became the second team other than the Orlando Predators or Tampa Bay Storm to win the AFL's Southern Division. The team's average attendance of 15,240 ranked fifth in the league and was a major factor in the VooDoo's 7–1 regular season home record.

In 2005, the team started strong, but later found itself on the wrong end of some close, hard-fought games. At a sold-out TD Waterhouse Centre, the VooDoo ended their second regular season against Orlando with both needing a win to reach the playoffs. A second-half rally featuring a fumble return for a touchdown by Thabiti Davis brought the VooDoo back into the game briefly, but a Jay Taylor kickoff hit the iron surrounding the nets and was recovered by the Predators. After another touchdown to bring the lead up to 15, the game was effectively over. The final score was 51–40, ending the VooDoo's season at 9–7.

Despite the underachievement, the VooDoo had an average attendance of 15,338, good for third in the 17-team AFL, and again had the New Orleans market lead the nation in television ratings for Sunday AFL broadcasts on NBC.

The VooDoo's success and popularity led the AFL to consider placing the ArenaBowl in New Orleans. Although it had already signed a deal with Las Vegas to have the ArenaBowl there for 2005, 2006 and 2007, the league had considered terminating that deal. Had the bidding for ArenaBowl XX begun, New Orleans would have been an early favorite, along with Orlando and Arizona.

On August 28, 2005, it was announced that due to the extensive damage suffered by Hurricane Katrina to the New Orleans Arena, the VooDoo would suspend operations for the 2006 season. Fifteen of the players under contract with the VooDoo were moved to the expansion Kansas City Brigade for the 2006 season.

In 2007, the VooDoo returned with Mike Neu as the head coach. The team set an AFL season ticket record, selling over 13,000 season tickets. This led to the VooDoo leading in announced attendance as well, drawing 16,645 to their eight home games, 800 more than the second-place Philadelphia Soul.

On October 13, 2008, owner Tom Benson announced the New Orleans VooDoo would not be continuing operations in New Orleans. Reasons given were "circumstances affecting the league and the team."

The Arena Football League announced that they would revive the New Orleans VooDoo for the 2010 season. On September 14, 2010, Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that the Bossier-Shreveport franchise would move their operation to the city of New Orleans. Jason Coffel, who would serve as the vice president of operations for the VooDoo, said owner Dan Newman would cease operations of the Battle Wings in the Bossier-Shreveport City area and immediately become the New Orleans VooDoo.[4] "The reason this is happening is the Arena Football League recognizes how passionate the New Orleans market is about football", Coffel said. "Proof of that is the success of the Saints and the success of the VooDoo when they were around." The rebirth of the franchise and its renewal would not be affiliated with previous owner of the Voodoo, Tom Benson, or the New Orleans Saints.

On July 12, 2015, ArenaFan.com reported that the VooDoo and the Las Vegas Outlaws were to be taken over by the league due to poor attendance and financial issues. Both teams were expected to finish the season, then commissioner Scott Butera was to conduct a search for new owners.[5][6] An unnamed investment group reportedly sought to purchase the VooDoo and move the franchise to Texas and attended the VooDoo's final home game at Smoothie King Arena against the Tampa Bay Storm on July 18, 2015. That game was possibly the final home game for this franchise. The game with the Outlaws was cancelled and declared to be a tie, only the third such result in league history and the first resulting from a scheduled game having not actually been played.[7] Following a league takeover of the team on July 15, 2015, on August 9, 2015, the Arena Football League announced that the New Orleans VooDoo "have ceased operations effective immediately."[8] It was also reported that the VooDoo could come back for the 2016 season with a new ownership group.[9]

See also

References
  1. Image of 1991 uniform
  2. "Benson Brings AFL to New Orleans". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. May 13, 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  3. Jeff Walker (March 17, 2002). "NFL owners to vote on expanding arena football partnership". www.jacksonville.com. Jacksonville.com. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  4. Nakia Hogan (September 14, 2010). "The New Orleans VooDoo and the Arena Football League are returning". www.nola.com. NOLA Media Group. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  5. Adam Markowitz (July 12, 2015). "AFL assumes control of Outlaws, VooDoo, announcement expected this week". www.ArenaFan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  6. Will Guillory (July 14, 2015). "Arena Football League taking over VooDoo operations". www.theadvocate.com. The Advocate. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  7. Potential Texas-based investors eye VooDoo, move of franchise as AFL cancels game at Vegas, Ken Trahan, SportsNOLA.com, July 16, 2015
  8. Christopher Dabe (August 9, 2015). "With no ownership in place, New Orleans VooDoo cease operations, league announces". www.nola.com. NOLA.com. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  9. Christopher Dabe (August 10, 2015). "New Orleans VooDoo could continue with new ownership, league commissioner says". www.nola.com. NOLA.com. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
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