Continental Indoor Soccer League (1994-1997)
World Indoor Soccer League (1999-2000)
Tombstone
Born: September 24, 1993 – CISL expansion franchise11997 Continental Indoor Soccer League Official Guide
Folded: February 2001
First Game: June 11, 1994 (L 9-5 vs. Monterrey La Raza)
Last Game: November 20, 2000 (L 5-3 vs. St. Louis Steamers)
CISL Championships: None
Arenas
1994-1997: The Summit (14,848)21996 Dallas Sidekicks Media Guide
1999-2000: Reliant Arena
Marketing
Team Colors: Fiery Red & Aztec Gold31995 Houston Hotshots Media Guide
Television:
- 1995: Prime Sports Southwest (Partial schedule)
Television Broadcasters:
- 1995: Bill Land (play-by-play) & Glenn Davis (color)
Radio:
- 1995 (English): KNUZ (1230 AM)
- 1995 (Spanish): KLVL (1480 AM)
Radio Broadcasters
- 1995 (English): Matt Thomas (play-by-play) & Glenn Davis (color)
- 1995 (Spanish): Luis Bonilla (play-by-play) & Carlos Del Rio (color)
Mascot: Pico de Goalie
Ownership
Owners: Giorgio Borlenghi & Alfredo Brener
Trophy Case
CISL Most Valuable Player
- 1997: Paul Dougherty
Our Favorite Stuff
Houston Hotshots
Indoor Soccer Logo T-Shirt
Houston had a succesion of pro soccer teams during the 20th century, but none of them lasted long. The Stars, the Hurricane, the Summit and the Dynamos came and went quickly. The Houston Force played only one game before disbanding in 1994. The indoor soccer Hotshots were the hardiest of the bunch, surviving six seasons at the Summit and Reliant Arena between 1994 and 2000.
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Background
The Houston Hotshots were an expansion franchise in the Continental Indoor Soccer League for the league’s sophomore season in the summer of 1994. The CISL was a successor league to the Major Indoor Soccer League (1978-1992), which popularized the sport of indoor soccer, but failed to find a sustainably business model and folded in July 1992. Two MISL clubs – the Dallas Sidekicks and San Diego Sockers – joined the CISL. A key difference from previous indoor leagues was the the CISL played during the summertime. Many of the league’s investors were arena operators and/or NBA owners who were looking to fill empty summer dates in their buildings.
The Hotshots owner was Houston real estate developer Giorgio Borlenghi. He owned the club for all six seasons of its existence.
CISL Years at The Summit
During the CISL years (1994-1997) the Hotshots played in the old Houston Summit. Announced attendance hovered in the 6,000 – 7,000 per game range during all four seasons. The Hotshots appeared in the CISL Championship Series in back-to-back seasons, losing to Monterrey La Raza in 1996 and to the Seattle Seadogs in 1997.
Shortly after losing the 1997 CISL Championship Series, the Hotshots, the Dallas Sidekicks and the Portland Pride pulled out of the CISL in November 1997. This caused the league to fold on December 23, 1997, although several former CISL members quickly regrouped to form the Premier Soccer Alliance, which played a short, low-profile season in the summer of 1998.
Move To Reliant Arena and the WISL
Borlenghi and the Hotshots sat out 1998, but returned in 1999 as members of the World Indoor Soccer League, which was the new name of the Premier Soccer Alliance. As part of the relaunch, the Hotshots moved across town to the smaller Reliant Arena (formerly known as Astroarena). The fans didn’t follow and the Hotshots drew poorly for two seasons of play in the WISL in 1999 and 2000. Houston’s average draw of 2,887 per match in 2000 was the worst figure in the seven-team league.
In February 2001, Borlenghi folded the club, citing lack of fan, sponsor and media interest.
Trivia
A young midfielder named Diego Maradona played for the Hotshots for a few seasons in the mid-90’s. He was the nephew of the Argentinean legend of the same name.
The Hotshots mascot was named Pico de Goalie.
Houston Hotshots Video
Hotshots vs. the Pittsburgh Stingers at the Summit. September 17, 1995.
1996 Hotshots highlights video excerpt
Links
Former Houston Dynamos player and veteran American soccer broadcaster Glenn Davis, who provided color commentary of Hotshots radio & TV broadcasts during the 1990’s, has a tribute to the Hotshots on his personal website.
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One Response
I played a couple of exhibition games with the Hotshots in 1994 and was wondering if there are any archive pictures around! 🙂