Continental Indoor Soccer League (1994)
Tombstone
Born: 1993 – CISL expansion franchise
Folded: Postseason 1994
First Game: June 11, 1994 (L 8-5 vs. Portland Pride)
Last Game: September 3, 1994 (L 9-7 @ Pittsburgh Stingers)
CISL Championships: None
Arena
Independence Arena (9,475)
Opened: 1955
Marketing
Team Colors: Blue, Yellow & Red
Ownership
Owners: Felix Sabates & Carl Scheer, et al.
Attendance
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Source: 1997 Continental Indoor Soccer League Official Guide
Background
The Carolina Vipers soccer team was a founding member of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (1993-1997) but didn’t begin play until the league’s second season in the summer of 1994.
More than 50% of the CISL’s original franchise owners were investors in NBA or NHL franchises. Vipers majority Felix Sabates was an original investor in the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and co-owner Carl Scheer was a long-time ABA and NBA exec and the former President of the Hornets. NASCAR legends Richard & Kyle Petty were also limited partners in the group.
The Sabates-Scheer group also owned the popular Charlotte Checkers minor league hockey team, which debuted nine months before the Vipers in the fall of 1993. Like the Checkers, the Vipers played in the 9,500 Independence Arena in Charlotte. After several ownership changes – including a second term for Sabates in the early 2000’s, – the Checkers continue to play in Charlotte today.
Demise
The Carolina Vipers, by contrast, were a major misfire in the summer of 1994. Under Head Coach David Irving, Carolina was one of the worst clubs in the history of the CISL with a 3-25 record. Fans stayed away in droves. The Vipers ranked 12th out of 14 clubs with announced attendance of 3,034 per game. The club quietly folded after the 1994 season ended that September. The CISL folded three years later in December 1997.
In Memoriam
Vipers co-owner Carl Scheer passed away on December 13, 2019 at age 82. Denver Post obituary.
Carolina Vipers Shop
Our Favorite Stuff
Continental Indoor Soccer League Collection coming soon to Royal Retros
Links
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One Response
Yup. I was a goalkeeper for the hot mess in Carolina. Best summer of my life. Crazy stories from the road, but crazier stories from our home games. I literally have a million of them. Would love to share…and i have plenty of photos as well. ugh.