Las Vegas Gladiators

Arena Football League (2003-2007)

Tombstone

Born: December 20, 2002 – The New Jersey Gladiators relocate to Las Vegas¹
Moved: October 16, 2007 (Cleveland Gladiators)

First Game: February 2, 2003 (L 60-48 @ Los Angeles Avengers)
Last Game: June 25, 2007 (L 73-46 @ San Jose SaberCats)

Arena Bowl Championships: None

Arenas

2003-2006: Thomas & Mack Center (16,606)
Opened: 1983

2007: Orleans Arena
Opened: 2003

Branding

Team Colors: Red and Black

Dance Teams:

The Gladiator Girls
2005-2007: The Goddesses

Mascots:

Gladius (the Gladiator)
2005-?: Thrax (the Lion)

Ownership

Owner: Jim Ferraro

Background

The Las Vegas Gladiators were the second of three Arena Football League franchises to try to set up shop in Sin City. The Glads followed the Las Vegas Sting (1994-1995) and preceded the Las Vegas Outlaws debacle (2015) fronted by Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil.

The Gladiators traced their lineage back to the New Jersey Red Dogs franchise, founded in 1997. The team was originally named after Red Dog beer, then became the New Jersey Gladiators in 2001 after Miami attorney Jim Ferraro purchased the franchise. Ferraro, who made his fortune in asbestos litigation, moved the franchise to Vegas in late 2002.

During the Glads’ final season in Las Vegas in 2007, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Shaun King handled most of the duties under center. King was the most famous football player to suit up for the Gladiators during their five season run in Nevada.

Move To Cleveland & Aftermath

In Vegas, the Gladiators played their first four seasons at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. Announced attendance held steady around 10,000 per game at the Thomas & Mack from 2003 through 2006. In 2007, the team made an ill-fated move to the Orleans Arena at the Orleans Hotel and Casino. Attendance cratered to 5,383 per game, which was by far the lowest figure in the 19-team Arena Football League that season.

Ferraro moved the team to Cleveland in October 2007. Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert purchase the team in 2012. The Gladiators suspended operations following the 2017 season. The Arena Football League granted the team a two-year hiatus, but the Glads never returned to play. The AFL itself declared bankruptcy and folded in November 2019.