Arizona Sandsharks
| Founded | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Ground |
America West Arena Phoenix, Arizona |
| Capacity | 15,505 |
| League | Continental Indoor Soccer League |
Arizona Sandsharks was a U.S. indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL). It was founded in 1992 and folded in 1997, along with the CISL.
Arizona Sandsharks
The Sandsharks were founded on August 3, 1992 under the ownership of Jerry Colangelo. They were a founding member of the Continental Indoor Soccer League. In 1995, a brawl broke out between the Sandsharks and the visiting Portland Pride. Franklin McIntosh of the Sandsharks continued the fight into the parking lot. When Jerry Colangelo attempted to break up the fight, McIntosh broke Colangelo’s nose. This event proved the breaking point for Colangelo who had suffered through financial losses and a consistently losing team. During the off-season, he sought to sell the team. In 1996, Kerry Dunne and Brian Weymouth purchased the franchise from Colangelo. However, the sale was completed just before the 1996 season so Dunne and Weymouth chose to suspend operations that season. The Sandsharks withdrew from the CISL following the 1997 season. During their four seasons in the CISL, the Sandsharks consistently finished at the bottom of the standings. They were reorganized and renamed the Arizona Thunder, entering the Premier Soccer Alliance in 1998 season.[1][2]
Year-by-year
| Year | Record | Regular Season | Playoffs | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 6-22 | 6th | Did not qualify | 5,316 |
| 1994 | 11-17 | 7th Western | Did not qualify | 4,581 |
| 1995 | 11-17 | 4th Southern | Did not qualify | 5,673 |
| 1997 | 8-20 | 5th Western | Did not qualify | 6,153 |
| 4 | 36-76 | - | - | 5,331 |
Coaches
- Peter Duah 1993-1994
- Ron Newman 1995
- Luis Dabo & Petar Baralic 1997
Honors
First team All Star
- 1994: Terry Woodberry
Notable players
- Franklin McIntosh
- Mirko Castillo
- Mark Kerlin
- Bojan Vuckovic
- Wes Wade
- David Cameron
- Aaron Susi
- Erick Begazo