Mahoning Valley Thunder

The Mahoning Valley Thunder was a professional af2 arena football team from 2007-2009.

Mahoning Valley Thunder
Established 2006
Folded 2009
Played in Covelli Centre
in Youngstown, Ohio
Mahoning Valley Thunder logo
League/conference affiliations
af2 (2007–2009)
  • American Conference (2007–2009)
    • East Division (2007–2009)
Team colorsBlue, silver, black, white
       
Personnel
Owner(s)Insight Entertainment, LLC
Head coachMike Hold (2007–2009)
Brennan Booth (2009)
Chris MacKeown (2009)
Team history
  • Mahoning Valley Thunder (2007–2009)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)

Having entered af2 as an expansion team in 2007, the Thunder played its home games at Cortland Banks Field at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown, Ohio.

The team's colors were a combination of Black and Navy Blue, with the minor color of Gray.

Single-game tickets ranged from $5.00 to $50.00.[1]

The team sold out their inaugural home game, on March 31, 2007, to a crowd of over 5,900 fans, while their 2nd home game entertained almost 4,800 fans, on April 21, 2007.

The Thunder's first head coach, Mike Hold, went 11-26 in his two-plus years at the helm. Hold was fired on April 28, 2009.[2]

After going 0-3 under interim head coach, Brennan Booth, the Thunder named the franchise's second head coach, Chris MacKeown, on May 26, 2009.[3] The team ended with a 2-14 record in 2009.

Attendance declined steadily over the three years, and the owners were unable to find investors to keep the team afloat.[4] This led to an announcement on September 9, 2009 that the team will suspend operations indefinitely. It is assumed that the team will not return, as the af2 league disbanded the same day.[5]

Season-by-season
Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
20077903rd AC East--
200831304th AC East--
200921404th AC East
Totals12360

References
  1. Shilling, Don and Joe Scalzo. "Mahoning Valley's least expensive seats are the most costly in its league." Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine Vindy.com. March 29, 2007.
  2. "Thunder Fire Head Coach Mike Hold"
  3. "Thunder G.M. hopes for quick turnaround with new coach"
  4. "Mahoning Valley Thunder Faces Defeat" Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine WKBN. Sept. 9, 2009
  5. "Youngstown Thunder af2 Team Folds" Archived 2011-08-13 at the Wayback Machine Youngstown Vindicator. Sept. 9, 2009


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