Arena Football League (2000-2001)
Tombstone
Born: November 17, 1999 – The Portland Forest Dragons relocate to Oklahoma City, OK12001 Oklahoma Wranglers Media Guide
Folded: November 20, 2001
First Game: April 15, 2000 (W 62-51 vs. Buffalo Destroyers)
Last Game: July 22, 2001 (W 60-42 vs. Los Angeles Avengers)
Arena Bowl Championships: None
Arena
Myriad Convention Center (13,000)22000 Oklahoma Wranglers Media Guide
Opened: 1972
Closed: 2020 (converted to film studio)
Marketing
Team Colors: Maroon, Silver, Black & White32000 Oklahoma Wranglers Media Guide
Mascot: Roundup (the Horse)
Ownership
Owners: J.T. Davis, Ed Gatlin & Jon K. Thompson
Background
The Oklahoma Wranglers were a well-traveled Arena Football League franchise that settled in Oklahoma City in the spring of 2000 following brief runs in Memphis (1995-1996) and Portland, Oregon (1997-1999).
Bob Cortese, a long-time NCAA Division II and NAIA college coach guided the Wranglers to a 13-17 overall mark in two seasons of play. Former Utah State quarterback Ron Lopez took most of the snaps under center in both the 2000 and 2001 campaigns.
Demise
The Wranglers played their two seasons at the 28-year old Myriad Convention Center downtown. The team intended to move into the $89 million Ford Center upon its opening in the spring of 2002. But owner Ed Gatlin removed his financial support of the money-losing franchise during the summer of 2001. The AFL dissolved the franchise in November 2001 as part of a four-team contraction of the league’s weakest members.
Arena Football returned three years later with the arrival of the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, who played at both the Ford Center and the Cox Convention Center (the former Myriad) from 2004 until 2010.
Oklahoma Wranglers Shop
Oklahoma Wranglers Video
The Wranglershost the San Jose SaberCats at the Myriad Convention Center. June 23, 2001
Links
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