Years of Existence: 2001-2004
Venues: Conseco Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
Accomplishments
2001 – Arena Bowl appearance
2002 – Playoff appearance
2003 –
2004 –
Lifetime Record: 32-32
Home: 18-13
Away: 14-19
Playoffs: 2-2
Average Attendance: 10,833
The Indiana Firebirds moved from Albany after eleven seasons in New York. In 2001, the team made a bid for the Championship in just their first year. The Firebirds were 9-5, losing two overtime games and the rest by eight points or less. Indiana beat Carolina by seventeen and then destroyed Tampa Bay in Florida, 68-31. At Grand Rapids, the Rampage would take the Championship by a final score of 83-70, one of the highest scoring Arena Bowls in AFL history. The Firebirds tried to continue in the previous year’s footsteps, but came up short. After a 7-7 record and losing several close games, the team lost a 47-46 playoff game at Dallas. After winning the first three games of the 2003, the train derailed for good in Indiana. 2003 ended with the Firebirds putting up a 6-10 record. The team went 8-8 in the franchise’s final year and missed the playoffs once more.
