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Sioux City Bandits

The Sioux City Bandits are a professional indoor football team based in Sioux City, Iowa, and compete as a member of National Arena League (NAL). The team was founded in 1999 as the Sioux City Attack. In 2001, the team assumed their current name of the Bandits. The Bandits play their home games at the Tyson Events Center.

History

In 2000, the Sioux City Attack joined the original Indoor Football League (IFL). After this season concluded, the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League bought out all but two of the league's teams. Once they were founded, the Sioux City Bandits assumed identity of the Attack. The organization has played in eight different leagues including the original IFL (as the Attack), the National Indoor Football League (NIFL), United Indoor Football (UIF), the new Indoor Football League (IFL),[2] American Professional Football League (APFL),[3] the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL),[4] and then Champions Indoor Football (CIF).[5]

Notable early team accomplishments include former Sioux City running back Fred Jackson being signed by the Buffalo Bills of the NFL.[6] Jackson, out of Coe College, was the 2005 United Indoor Football's league leading rusher in which he set an indoor football record for most yards in a single season with more than 1,700. That year the Bandits hosted the championship game facing their rival Sioux Falls Storm. Sioux City had beaten Sioux Falls three times during the regular season but lost the championship game, 40–38.

After owning the team for 20 years, owner Bob Scott sold the Bandits to Missouri businessman J. R. Bond on 20 January 2021. After the 2021 season, Don Belson came on as the minority co-owner of the team. Belson had been associated with the team for nearly 20 years working in game day operations.[7]

In July 2023, the Bandits announced they were leaving the CIF for a new league along with the Omaha Beef and the Topeka Tropics, the last of which would ultimately fold before the 2024 season.[8] On August 8, 2023, the team announced they had joined the National Arena League (NAL) beginning with the 2024 season.[9]

Notable games

Players

Current roster

Bandits Ring of Honor

Staff

Season-by-season

Head coaches

References

  1. ^ a b Lantz, Shane (2021-11-04). "Jackson revisits Bandits roots". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 158, no. 42. Lee Enterprises. pp. B1–B2. ISSN 2689-5536. LCCN sn87058082. OCLC 15319768 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Journal Exclusive: Sioux City team leaving IFL". Sioux City Journal. 2010-10-19. ISSN 2689-5544. LCCN 2019271409. OCLC 1002001030. Archived from the original on 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  3. ^ Pautsch, Brad (2012-08-01). "Bandits leave APFL; looking to create new league". KTIV. Quincy Media. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  4. ^ "Bandits to join Champions Professional Indoor Football League". KTIV. Quincy Media. 2012-08-11. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  5. ^ Grant, Ethan (2014-12-03). "Revolutionary league: Shift from IFL to CIF opens up new rivalries, salary cap to franchise". Allen American. Star Media. OCLC 849657866. Archived from the original on 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  6. ^ Chadiha, Jeffri (2009-07-31). "Jackson's path leads to prime position". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  7. ^ "SPORTS BRIEFS: J.R. Bond becomes new Sioux City Bandits owner". Sioux City Journal. 2021-01-22. ISSN 2689-5544. LCCN 2019271409. OCLC 1002001030. Archived from the original on 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  8. ^ "Sioux City Bandits leaving the Champions Indoor Football League". KTIV. July 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "NAL ANNOUNCES SIOUX CITY BANDITS AS EXPANSION FRANCHISE". National Arena League. August 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "Quick Stats - Siouxland's Source for Local College and High School Stats on the Web". Quick Stats. 2021-07-10. Archived from the original on 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-09.

External links