Major League Volleyball (1988)
Tombstone
Born: 1988 – The Dallas Belles relocate to Phoenix, AZ
Moved: October 1988 (Portland Spikers)
First Game:
Last Game:
MLV Championships: None
Arena
Branding
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: Major League Volleyball (Robert Batinovich, et al.)
Operator: GBA Sportsworld (Bruce Allen)
Background
The Arizona Blaze was a One-Year Wonder in the all-female Major League Volleyball for one season in the winter/spring of 1988. Major League Volleyball debuted a year earlier with six teams in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York and San Jose. The Dallas Belles club shifted to Phoenix shortly before MLV’s second season got underway in February 1988. The team played at the 2,000-seat Pride Pavilion.
The Blaze was operated by GBA Sportsworld, a sports management company run by Bruce Allen, the son of Pro Football Hall-of-Fame coach George Allen. The Allens were previously involved locally with the Arizona Wranglers pro football team in the USFL in 1984.
Key players included sisters Wendy Stammer and Gayle Stammer out of Louisiana State University, Tracy Clark and Anna Maria Lopez of NCAA powerhouse University of Southern California, and Teri DeBusk of San Jose State. Head coach Jim Smoot was a former assistant at LSU where he coached the Stammler sisters.
Move To Portland & Aftermath
The Blaze finished last place (5-16) in the six-team league in 1988 and lost an estimated $50,000 – $100,000 (Arizona Republic 10/12/1988). The team was sold and moved to Portland, Oregon shortly after the 1988 season. Major League Volleyball disbanded midway through its third season in March 1989.
Bruce Allen later became an NFL front office executive, serving in senior positions with the Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins.
Voices
“[Major League Volleyball} was reasonably organized at best and underfunded for sure. There was never an owner in Phoenix and I don’t recall if other teams had owners but I believe so. I was General Manager of the Blaze not by choice, but by appointment. We had a sports representation and marketing company in Phoenix at the time. Both companies were head by Bruce Allen, now President of the Washington Redskins. They offered our company (I was a VP) a management contract to operate the franchise. Bruce named me General Manager.
“The passion and dedication of the players and coach Jim Smoot were memorable. I hired a PR intern (no pay) from ASU (now a big shot PR person with Disney) and a volunteer marketing director (no pay) Both had a passion for what they were doing and generated outstanding publicity and interest in our team. I believe we led the league in attendance and sponsorships. Our facility was small so crowd noise was loud and noticeable. It gave us a home court advantage.”
– Merle Makings, General Manager 1988 (2019 FWiL Interview)
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