Peoria Pirates History
BY LEAGUE
Indoor Football League (IFL) - 1999-2000The Peoria Pirates were charter members of the IFL. They were the IFL runner-up in 1999 losing to the Green Bay Blizzard in the Gold Cup Championship. The Pirates won the Championship in 2000 beating the Bismark Blaze wih a perfect 17-0 record. The IFL ceased operations at the end of the 2000 season.
Arena Football 2 (AF2) - 2001-2004, 2008-2009
The Pirates joined the AF2 at the start of the 2001 season. They beat the Florida Firecats to with the 2002 Arena Cup Championship and lost to Firecats in the 2004 Championship. The Pirates left the AF2 during the 2005-2007 seasons, then rejoined the AF2 for the 2008-2009 seasons. The AF2 ceased operations at the end of the 2009 season.
United Indoor Football (UIF)The franchise moved to the UIF for the 2005-2006 seasons and became the Peoria Rough Riders. The short stint in the UIF was unsuccessful for the team posting a record of 6-9 in 2005 and 0-15 in 2006. The Rough Riders ceased operations in September 2006.
Peoria did not have a team for the 2007 season.
Peoria Pirates Franchise EndOn September 7, 2009, the Pirates announced that they were ceasing operations, ending the indoor / arena football era in Peoria. Overall Record = 80 wins and 83 losses Championships = 2 (2000, 2002) Runnerup = 2 (1999, 2004) Playoff Appearances = 4 (1999, 2000, 2002, 2004) BY YEAR
Peoria Pirates Franchise EndOn September 7, 2009, the Pirates announced that they were ceasing operations, ending the indoor / arena football era in Peoria. Overall Record = 80 wins and 83 losses Championships = 2 (2000, 2002) Runnerup = 2 (1999, 2004) Playoff Appearances = 4 (1999, 2000, 2002, 2004) BY YEAR
YEAR | LEAGUE | RECORD | POSTSEASON |
1999 | IFL
Coach: Bruce Cowdrey | 11-1
Avg. Attendance = 8,572 | Lost to Green Bay in the Championship (@ Peoria) |
2000 | IFL
Coach: Bruce Cowdrey | 17-0
Avg. Attendance = 9,126 | Beat Bismark in the
Championship (@ Peoria) |
2001 | AF2
Coach: Gary Porter | 5-11
Avg. Attendance = 7,559 | No Postseason Play |
2002 | AF2
Coach: Bruce Cowdrey | 15-5
Avg. Attenance = 6,751 | Beat Florida in the
Championship (@ Peoria) |
2003 | AF2
Coach: Bruce Cowdrey | 5-11
Avg. Attendance = 5,884 | No Postseason Play |
2004 | AF2
Coach: Bruce Cowdrey | 12-8
Avg. Atttendance = 4,552 | Lost to Florida in the
Championship (@ Florida) |
2005 | UIF
Coach: Bruce Cowdrey | 6-9
Avg. Attendance = 2,636 | No Post Season Play |
2006 | UIF
Coach: Chuck Goodwin | 0-15
Avg. Attendance = 1,402 | No Post Season Play |
2007 | Did Not Play | ||
2008 | AF2
Coach: Bruce Cowdrey | 4-12
Avg. Attendance = 3,025 | No Post Season Play |
2009
Summary credit to
Dave Eminian
Peoria Journal Star
"Cowdrey Timeline" 2009 | AF2
Coach: Bruce Cowdrey (1-5)
Coach: Mike Hohensee (4-6)
| 5-11
Avg. Attendance = 3,391 | No Post Season Play |
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