Anaheim Piranhas
Encyclopedia
The Anaheim Piranhas were a professional arena football
team that played in the Arena Football League from 1994
- 1997
. They played their home games at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California
. The team was originally known as the Las Vegas Sting, prior to moving to Anaheim in 1996
. The team was owned by future Arena Football League commissioner C. David Baker
.
The Sting hosted the Cleveland Thunderbolts
in a nationally-televised game on June 17, 1994, the same day O.J. Simpson led Los Angeles police
on the most closely watched pursuit in American history.
and 1995
seasons. Their home games in 1994 were played in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and they were moved to the Thomas and Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
for the 1995 season. The team was relocated to Anaheim, California
prior to the start of the 1996
season, at which time it was renamed the Anaheim Piranhas.
of the National Hockey League
. The team was not an overwhelmingly successful draw in the high-overhead Southern California
market and folded after the conclusion of the 1997
season. The team's folding is partially because the team's owner, C. David Baker, became commissioner, and had to focus on running the league as a whole.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
team that played in the Arena Football League from 1994
1994 Arena Football League season
The 1994 Arena Football League season was the 8th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Arizona Rattlers, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl VIII.-Team Movement:...
- 1997
1997 Arena Football League season
The 1997 Arena Football League season was the 11th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Arizona Rattlers, who defeated the Iowa Barnstormers in ArenaBowl XI.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
. They played their home games at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. The team was originally known as the Las Vegas Sting, prior to moving to Anaheim in 1996
1996 Arena Football League season
The 1996 Arena Football League season was the 10th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Iowa Barnstormers in ArenaBowl X. The AFL finally stabilized its scheduled number of games. It expanded to a 14-game season, which would remain...
. The team was owned by future Arena Football League commissioner C. David Baker
C. David Baker
David Baker was the fourth commissioner of the Arena Football League. He started in the league as the owner of the Anaheim Piranhas, which folded after two seasons. One of his more imposing features is his size - 6 feet 9 and-a-half inches tall and 390 pounds. He was a power forward at UC-Irvine...
.
The Sting hosted the Cleveland Thunderbolts
Cleveland Thunderbolts
The Cleveland Thunderbolts were a professional American football team in the Arena Football League.-Columbus Thunderbolts:Established as the Columbus Thunderbolts and playing its home games at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum, the team relocated to Cleveland after a winless single season in the Arena...
in a nationally-televised game on June 17, 1994, the same day O.J. Simpson led Los Angeles police
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
on the most closely watched pursuit in American history.
Las Vegas Sting (1994 - 1995)
The Las Vegas Sting was a team which competed in the Arena Football League during the 19941994 in sports
1994 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* January 29 – death of Ulrike Maier , Austrian skier, who broke her neck when she crashed during a World Cup downhill race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
and 1995
1995 in sports
1995 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Alberto Tomba, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...
seasons. Their home games in 1994 were played in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and they were moved to the Thomas and Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
for the 1995 season. The team was relocated to Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
prior to the start of the 1996
1996 in sports
1996 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Lasse Kjus, Norway** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...
season, at which time it was renamed the Anaheim Piranhas.
Anaheim Piranhas (1996 - 1997)
The Piranhas played their home games at Arrowhead Pond, also the home of the Mighty Ducks of AnaheimAnaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. The team was not an overwhelmingly successful draw in the high-overhead Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
market and folded after the conclusion of the 1997
1997 in sports
1997 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Luc Alphand, France** Women's overall season champion: Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden-American football:...
season. The team's folding is partially because the team's owner, C. David Baker, became commissioner, and had to focus on running the league as a whole.