Rochester Brigade
Encyclopedia
The Rochester Brigade was a professional arena football
team based in Rochester, New York
. The team was a member of af2
, the minor league of the Arena Football League, and played their home games at the Blue Cross Arena
. The Brigade began play in 2001 and ceased operations following the 2003 season.
The city of Rochester would be without an arena football team until 2006, with the arrival of the GLIFL's Rochester Raiders
.
expansion teams established prior to the 2001 season. The team was owned by Mark Hamister, who also owned the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League, and played their home games at the Blue Cross Arena
in downtown Rochester, New York
. Rochester finished its inaugural season with a 4–12 record.
In 2002, the team was slightly more successful as they posted a 7–9 mark and made the playoffs despite having a losing record. The Brigade lost in the first round to the Albany Conquest
by a score of 31–26.
The team regressed in 2003 and finished the season 3–13. After the season, team owner Hamister unsuccessfully bid to purchase the Buffalo Sabres
, leading him to move the Destroyers to Columbus, Ohio
. With the Destroyers no longer in Western New York
, Hamister saw no need to continue the Brigade team and folded it.
|2001 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 7th AC Northeastern || --
|-
|2002 || 7 || 9 || 0 || 2nd AC Northeastern || Lost Week 1 || Albany
31, Rochester 26
|-
|2003 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 4th AC Northeastern || --
|-
!Totals || 14 || 35 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
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 based in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. The team was a member of af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, the minor league of the Arena Football League, and played their home games at the Blue Cross Arena
Blue Cross Arena
The Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial is a multi-purpose indoor arena, located in Rochester, New York. Its maximum seating capacity is 13,000...
. The Brigade began play in 2001 and ceased operations following the 2003 season.
The city of Rochester would be without an arena football team until 2006, with the arrival of the GLIFL's Rochester Raiders
Rochester Raiders
The Rochester Raiders are a professional indoor football team based in the Rochester, New York area. They are currently a member of the Indoor Football League and play their home games at the Dome Arena in the suburb of Henrietta...
.
History
The Rochester Brigade was one of 13 af2Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
expansion teams established prior to the 2001 season. The team was owned by Mark Hamister, who also owned the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League, and played their home games at the Blue Cross Arena
Blue Cross Arena
The Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial is a multi-purpose indoor arena, located in Rochester, New York. Its maximum seating capacity is 13,000...
in downtown Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Rochester finished its inaugural season with a 4–12 record.
In 2002, the team was slightly more successful as they posted a 7–9 mark and made the playoffs despite having a losing record. The Brigade lost in the first round to the Albany Conquest
Albany Conquest
The Albany Firebirds are a professional arena football team of the af2 based in Albany, New York. Albany was granted an expansion team in 2002 and began play as the Albany Conquest. The Firebirds play their home games at the Times Union Center...
by a score of 31–26.
The team regressed in 2003 and finished the season 3–13. After the season, team owner Hamister unsuccessfully bid to purchase the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, leading him to move the Destroyers to Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. With the Destroyers no longer in Western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
, Hamister saw no need to continue the Brigade team and folded it.
Season-by-season
|-|2001 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 7th AC Northeastern || --
|-
|2002 || 7 || 9 || 0 || 2nd AC Northeastern || Lost Week 1 || Albany
Albany Conquest
The Albany Firebirds are a professional arena football team of the af2 based in Albany, New York. Albany was granted an expansion team in 2002 and began play as the Albany Conquest. The Firebirds play their home games at the Times Union Center...
31, Rochester 26
|-
|2003 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 4th AC Northeastern || --
|-
!Totals || 14 || 35 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)