Lone Star Football League

Lone Star Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2014 Lone Star Football League season
Sport Indoor football
Founded 2011
Inaugural season 2012
Ceased 2014
CEO Darlene Jones
No. of teams 5
Country  United States
Last champion(s) San Angelo Bandits (1st title)
Most titles Amarillo Venom (2 titles)
Related competitions Indoor Football League
Southern Indoor Football League
Official website TexasLSFL.com

The Lone Star Football League (LSFL) was a regional professional indoor football league that began with its inaugural season in 2012. 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.

History

2012 season

The 2012 season began with the Houston Stallions, Amarillo Venom, Rio Grande Valley Magic, Laredo Rattlesnakes, West Texas Roughnecks, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, and Abilene Ruff Riders participating. While a number of the other teams scheduled to launch in 2012 did not make it to the start of the regular season, only the Mesquite Bandits had their franchise revoked rather than fold voluntarily.[1] The Houston team was 7–0 when it folded halfway through the season.[2] The Amarillo Venom finished the regular season 10–4 and went on to defeat the Rio Grande Valley Magic 62–40 in the LSFL championship game.[3]

2013 season

For 2013, the LSFL played with just five teams. Amarillo, Laredo, Corpus Christi, and Abilene (now known as the Bombers) returned from the 2012 season. The league added two new teams; the expansion San Angelo Bandits and the New Mexico Stars (formerly of the Indoor Football League and the LSFL's first and only team outside of Texas).[4] The league announced in October that the Corpus Christi Hammerheads had been removed from the league due to its ownership violating by-laws. The Amarillo Venom defeated the Laredo Rattlesnakes 70–69 to repeat as league champions.[5] After the season, in late September 2013, the Laredo franchise announced it was ceasing operations due to the financial and legal difficulties of its owner.[6]

2014 season

With the Laredo and Abilene franchises failing to return, the LSFL added the West Texas Wildcatters in Odessa[7] and the Rio Grande Valley Sol in Hidalgo to the league.

Merger with the CPIFL

On August 14, 2014, it was announced at the league website that they merged with the Champions Professional Indoor Football League to create what they say is the largest indoor football league in the country. [8]

Teams

Map of teams competing in the LSFL
Team Location Arena (Capacity)
Amarillo Venom Amarillo Amarillo Civic Center (4,912)
Rio Grande Valley Sol Hidalgo State Farm Arena (5,500)
San Angelo Bandits San Angelo, Texas Foster Communications Coliseum (5,260)
West Texas Wildcatters Odessa Ector County Coliseum (5,131)

Franchising

The LSFL required a $25,000 franchise fee to join, as well as a $25,000 letter of credit.[9]

Former teams

References

  1. 1 2 "Mesquite Bandits Membership Revoked". Our Sports Central. January 30, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "LSFL-leading Houston Stallions cease operations, affecting Ruff Riders' schedule". Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, TX). June 5, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  3. "Venom win inaugural LSFL title". San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, TX: E. W. Scripps Company). July 22, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  4. Christ, Bob (September 14, 2012). "Stars Shifting to Lone Star League". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  5. Mayer, Jacob (July 14, 2013). "Impressive legacy: Venom hang together to win another title". Amarillo Globe-News (Amarillo, TX: Morris Communications). Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  6. Mack, Jason (September 30, 2013). "Rattlesnakes cease operation". Laredo Morning Times (Laredo, TX: Hearst Corporation). Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  7. "FOOTBALL: Professional indoor team returns to Odessa". Odessa American. October 16, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  8. Merger Between CPIFL and LSFL is a Success, CPIFL website, August 14, 2014
  9. Christ, Bob (October 5, 2012). "Coach Has Ownership". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Dittman Membership Terminated". Lone Star Football League. September 27, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
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