Premier Soccer Alliance (1998)
World Indoor Soccer League (1999-2000)
Tombstone
Born: 1998 – PSA founding franchise
Folded: Postseason 2000
First Game: August 29, 1998 (L 10-4 @ Dallas Sidekicks)
Last Game: November 25, 2000 (L 9-3 @ Utah Freezz)
WISL Championships: None
Arena
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Opened: 1965
Branding
Team Colors: Blue, Black & Gold11999 World Indoor Soccer League Media Guide
Ownership
Owners: John Ogden
Background
In December 1997 the Continental Indoor Soccer League fell apart after five seasons of play. The CISL was built on the notion that the sport of indoor soccer was best played during the summer, when NBA and NHL owners needed events to fill their arenas. Prior to the CISL’s debut in 1993, the three other leagues that took a shot at indoor soccer had all played fall-to-spring seasons that placed them into direct competition with hockey and basketball.
The Arizona Sandsharks were Phoenix’s franchise in the CISL. The Sandsharks were part of a burgeoning sports empire controlled by Phoenix Suns (NBA) owner Jerry Colangelo and based out of the 16,000-seat America West Arena that opened in 1992. The Colangelo family also started an Arena Football team (the Rattlers) and a World Team Tennis franchise (the Smash) that played out of the new building in the early 1990’s.
Colangelo pulled out after three seasons in 1995. The Sandsharks went dark in 1996 and then returned under new owners for the CISL’s final season in 1997.
As the CISL imploded later that year, teams from Dallas, Portland and Sacramento split off to form a new league. The Sandsharks folded, but local real estate developer John Ogden signed on to form a Phoenix entry in the new league.
Ogden’s Arizona Thunder club joined the three aforementioned cities in a loosely organized test season that ran from July to November 1998 under the “Premier Soccer Alliance” name. The Thunder set up shop at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix’s old NBA Arena that had been rendered obsolete by America West Arena in 1992.
In 1999 the Premier Soccer Alliance changed its name the World Indoor Soccer League and played its first full-fledged season. Houston and Monterrey, Mexico (both former CISL clubs) joined the league along with Salt Lake City to bring the WISL up to seven teams for the 1999 season.
On The Carpet
The Thunder roster featured most local Southwest players. Many played previously for the Sandsharks in the CISL or for the outdoor Arizona Sahuaros of the USISL. The Thunder’s oldest player, 35-year old Mark Kerlin, played for the city’s original indoor soccer club, the Phoenix Inferno of the MISL, back in the early 1980’s.
Original head coach Petar Baralic was a former Phoenix Pride (MISL) player during the 1980’s. He also coached the Sandsharks through part of that club’s final season in 1997. Baralic was dismissed midway through the 1999 season with the Thunder mired in a losing streak.
The Thunder were unsuccessful on the field during the two seasons in the WISL. Arizona finished 7-15 in 1999 and 8-16 in 2000, ranking 6th in a 7-team table both seasons.
The club folded following the 2000 season.
Links
###
