Tag: McNichols Arena

Ralph Backstrom on the cover of a 1975-76 Denver Spurs program from the World Hockey Association

Denver Spurs

Western Hockey League (1968-1974) Central Hockey League (1974-1975) World Hockey Association (1975-1976) Born: 1968 Moved: January 2, 1976 (Ottawa Civics) First Game: October 9, 1968

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Denver Dynamite

Denver Dynamite

The Denver Dynamite own a (very) minor place in pro football history as the answer to a trivia question: What city claimed the first championship of Arena Football?  The Dynamite won Arena Bowl I on August 1, 1987, concluding a brief 6-game regular season with a 45-16 demolition of the Pittsburgh Gladiators before 13,000 fans at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena.

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1996-97 Colorado Xplosion Media Guide from the American Basketball League

Colorado Xplosion

The Colorado Xplosion were the Denver franchise in the women’s American Basketball League (ABL), which lasted for two-and-a-half seasons from 1996 to 1998. The team split its home games each season between the Denver Coliseum and McNichols Arena. Key players included top scorer Crystal Robinson and versatile 5′ 3″ guard Debbie Black. Competition from the NBA-backed Women’s National Basketball Association and the overall challenging marketplace for women’s professional sports ventures combined the drive the ABL out of business midway through its third season in December 1998.

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Denver Daredevils Roller Hockey International

Denver Daredevils

The Denver Daredevils were a professional Roller Hockey International team that played at McNichols Arena during the summer of 1996. The team finished in last place during its debut season and went out of business not long afterwards.

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