Spokane Empire

Spokane Empire
Established 2016
Folded 2017
Played in Spokane, Washington
at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
SpokaneEmpire.com
HelmetLogo
League/conference affiliations

Indoor Football League (2016–2017)

  • Intense Conference (2016–2017)
Team colors Coal Black, Silver Smoke, Engine Orange
              
Mascot J.J. the Engineer
Personnel
Owner(s) Nader Naini
General manager Ryan Eucker
Head coach Adam Shackleford
Team history
  • Spokane Empire (2016–2017)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (1)
2016
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
2016
Home arena(s)

The Spokane Empire were a professional indoor football team based in Spokane, Washington. They were members of the Indoor Football League and began play in the league starting in the 2016 season. Based in Spokane, Washington and owned by Spokane businessman Nader Naini, the Empire played their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. They replaced the arena football team, the Spokane Shock, after the ownership tried to move the franchise to the IFL.

On July 12, 2017, owner Nader Naini announced that the Empire would cease operations, citing financial issues.

History

The Empire was formed from the team known as the Spokane Shock that played in af2 from 2005 to 2009 and the Arena Football League from 2010 to 2015. Originally, the Empire was going to remain identified as the Shock as the ownership left the AFL on September 1, 2015, for the IFL. However, on October 12, 2015, the AFL released a statement saying that the ownership and the AFL could not come to terms over the purchase and use of the Shock identity (name, logos, colors, etc.) and that the AFL has retained the rights to the identity.[1] There is a dispute as to whether or not the franchise goes back to 2005 when they were the Shock with only the name belonging to the AFL.

A "name the team" contest occurred in late October; on December 9, 2015, the Empire name, logo and colors were revealed.[2][3]

2016 season

The Empire played their first season in the IFL in 2016 going 12–4 in their inaugural campaign. They tried to do what no other team had done, win the af2's ArenaCup, the AFL's ArenaBowl and the IFL's United Bowl in the their inaugural seasons in each league. They advanced to the championship game by winning the Intense Conference championship beating the Nebraska Danger 55–44 in close fashion, but fell to the Sioux Falls Storm 55–34 in the final.

2017 season

Notable players

Final roster

Spokane Empire roster
Quarterbacks
  •  3 Marcus McDade

Running backs

  • 18 Trevor Kennedy
  • 30 Andrew Pierce

Wide receivers

  • 10 Devonn Brown
  •  2 Orlandus Harris
  •  2 Bryan Pray
 Offensive linemen
  • 70 Jonah Austin
  • 66 Deveric Gallington
  • 57 Dante Moses
  • 74 Darren Pinnock
  • 55 Bill Vavau

Defensive linemen

  • 95 Terrance Woodard
 Linebackers
  • 47 Nick Haag
  •  7 Joseph Thornton
  • 13 Pasquale Vacchio

Defensive backs

  • 20 Qua Cox
  • 33 John Hardy-Tuliau
  • 21 Antoine Tharpe

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 79 Cassidy Curtis OL (Exempt.)
  • 72 Kyle Fischer IR
  • 80 J. J. Hayes WR (Did Not Report)
  • 22 Adrian James DB (Exempt.)
  • 48 Royce LaFrance DL (Exempt.)
  • 91 O. J. Mau DL (IR-DFR)
  •  5 Tyree Robinson DB (IR)
  • Rookies in italics
  • Roster updated June 14, 2017
  • 26 Active, 10 Inactive

→ More rosters

All-League selections

  • QB Charles Dowdell
  • RB Trevor Kennedy
  • OL Dave Lefotu
  • DL Benjamin Perry, J. D. Griggs
  • LB Nick Haag
  • DB Rob Brown, John Hardy-Tuliau

Individual awards

Staff

Spokane Empire staff
Front Office
  • Majority Owner – IFL Partners, LLC
  • General Manager – Ryan Eucker
  • Director of Sponsorship Sales – Suzie Dunn
  • Director of Game Operations – Karen Kiehl
  • Director of Community Relations – Crystal Medina
  • Director of Ticket Sales – Chris Combo
  • Group Tickets Coordinator – Hannah Holman
  • Corporate Account Executive – Jake Martin
  • Account Executive – Ryan Hagel
  • Sideline Reporter - Connor Harrison
  

Head Coach

  • Head Coach – Adam Shackleford
  • Assistant Head Coach - Cleveland Pratt

Assistant coaches

  • Cleveland Pratt
  • Anthony Payton
  • Marquise Liverpool
  • Marshall Hart

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Wild Card Berth League Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2016 2016 IFL Intense 1st 12 4 0 Won Intense Conference Championship 55-44 (Nebraska)
Lost 2016 United Bowl 34-55 (Sioux Falls)
2017 2017 IFL Intense 3rd 8 8 0
Totals 20 12 0 All-time regular season record (2016–2017)
1 1 - All-time postseason record (2016–2017)
21 13 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2016–2017)

Head coach records

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Adam Shackleford 2016–2017 20 12 0 .625 1 1

References

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