National Professional Soccer League (1995-1998)
Tombstone
Born: March 1995 – The Dayton Dynamo relocate to Cincinnati, OH
Folded: August 5, 1998
NPSL Championships: None
Arenas
1995-1997: Cincinnati Gardens
Opened: 1949
Demolished: 2018
1997-1998: The Crown
Opened: 1975
Branding
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: Doug Kirchhofer, et al.
FWIL FAVORITE
Cincinnati Silverbacks NPSL
Logo T-Shirt
Where else but Cincinnati’s own Old School Shirts would we turn for a Silverbacks throwback tee?
This is just one of their awesome line of shirts honoring the Queen City’s sporting past, from Crosley Field and Cincinnati Gardens tees to defunct team shirts for the Mohawks, Stingers, Comets, Swords, Kids, Rockers, and many more!
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Background
The Cincinnati Silverbacks of the mid-1990’s marked the second attempt to establish professional indoor soccer in the Queen City. The Silverbacks followed the short-lived Cincinnati Kids, a club partially owned by Pete Rose(!). The Kids played a single season at Riverfront Coliseum back in the winter of 1978-79.
The Silverbacks were owned by Knoxville, Tennessee sports executive Doug Kirchhofer, who put together a small empire of Cincinnati sports and entertainment interests during the 1990’s. Kirchhofer’s Cincinnati Entertainment Associates owned the Silverbacks, the Cincinnati Cyclones of the International Hockey League and the Cincinnati Stuff of the International Basketball League. Kirchhofer and his partners also engineered the $35 million purchase and renovation of the Riverfront Coliseum in 1997.
On The Carpet
The Silverbacks brought in a handful of top indoor veterans, including Franklin McIntosh, Bernie Lilavois and Gino DiFlorio. DiFlorio finished 3rd in the NPSL in scoring in 1997-98. Carlos Pena held down starting goalkeeper duties for all three seasons. The results were mediocre. The club managed a lone winning season (21-19) in 1996-97. The Silverbacks finished in last place (15-25) in their final campaign in 1997-98.
Demise
The Silverbacks never got much traction in Cincinnati. Announced attendance languished at the ancient 10,000-seat Cincinnati Gardens during the club’s first two seasons. The club moved to the Riverfront Coliseum (re-named “The Crown”) in 1997 after Kirchhofer’s purchase of the bigger arena. Crowds ticket up modestly at the Crown. But it wasn’t enough to save the Silverbacks. The team claimed only 100 season ticket holders and less than $200,000 in corporate sponsorship in 1997-98.1Heller, Dave. “Silverbacks may not return”. The Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH). May 21, 1998 Silverbacks officials shuttered the team in the summer of 1998, finding it increasingly difficult to justify weekend dates for indoor soccer at The Crown at the expense of more profitable concerts and hockey games.
Cincinnati Silverbacks Shop
STADIUM STORE
Cincinnati Gardens Logo T-Shirt
The Cincinnati Gardens opened in 1949 and was the home arena for multiple hockey, soccer, basketball, football and roller derby teams. The Gardens was also a top venue for wrestling, boxing, monster truck jams, motorcycle racing, and concerts. The Gardens were demolished in March 2018
This tee is also available as a women’s scoop neck from our partners at Old School Shirts!
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Cincinnati Silverbacks Video
Silverbacks vs. Cleveland Crunch in a near-empty Cincinnati Gardens. 1996-97 season.
Links
National Professional Soccer League Media Guides
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