Alabama Vipers
| Alabama Vipers / Tennessee Valley Vipers / Tennessee Valley Raptors 
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| City: | Tennessee Valley Vipers ( af2 : 2000–2004) Tennessee Valley Raptors ( UIF : 2005) Tennessee Valley Vipers ( af2 : 2006–2009) Alabama Vipers ( AFL : 2010) |
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| Founded: | 2000 | ||
| Resolved: | 2010 | ||
| Team colors: | Green, black, white |
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| League (): |
af2 (2000-2004, 2006-2009) UIF (2005) AFL (2010) |
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| Greatest successes | |||
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af2 : 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009 UIF : 2005 |
Playoff participations | ||
| af2 : 2008 | League champions | ||
| Stadion | |||
| Surname: |
Von Braun Center (2000-2010) |
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| Address: | 700 Monroe St 35801-5579, City of Huntsville, Alabama | ||
| Capacity: | 10,000 | ||
| Data status | |||
| 29th July 2017 | |||
The Alabama Vipers were an arena football team from Huntsville, Alabama that played in the Arena Football League (AFL). The franchise was founded in 2000 as the Tennessee Valley Vipers and played in the af2 . Only after various name and league changes was the franchise renamed Vipers
history
Tennessee Valley Vipers (2000-2004)
The franchise was founded in 2000 as Tennessee Valley Vipers and started in the newly founded af2 in the same year.
The Valley Vipers were able to reach the playoffs every year up to their participation in United Indoor Football (UIF) in 2005 and even made it into the ArenaCup in their first year , but lost the final 59:68 against the Quad City Steamwheelers .
Tennessee Valley Raptors (2005)
For the 2005 season, the owners decided to let the team compete in United Indoor Football (UIF). According to the owner, this was due to the poor financial concept of af2 and the resulting financial difficulties.
After just one season with 6 wins and 9 losses, the franchise was finally sold. The new owners renamed the Raptors Rock River Raptors and relocated the franchise to Rockford, Illinois .
Tennessee Valley Vipers (2006-2009)
In 2006 the af2 announced that they wanted to bring a new team to Huntsville . In addition to the franchise, the new owners also acquired its old name and logo rights. So the franchise could come up again with its old name Valley Vipers.
Although the Valley Vipers missed the postseason in their second term in af2 in the first two seasons, the long-awaited ArenaCup win was achieved in 2008. Despite the mediocre main round with 10 wins and 6 losses, the Valley Vipers were able to move into the final and only won 56:55 against the Spokane Shocks in extra time .
Alabama Vipers (2010)
After the 2009 season, the af2 stopped playing, so that the Valley Vipers, as Alabama Vipers, could participate in the Arena Football League (AFL). Due to persistently poor audience numbers, although you could keep up surprisingly well in the AFL, the franchise was sold after the 2010 season. She then moved to Duluth, Georgia and played as Georgia Force for two more years in the AFL. The Vipers, however, were finally dissolved.
Season statistics
| year | team | league | S. | N | Playoffs reached | Playoff round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 10 | 6th | Yes | S quarter-finals vs. Tulsa Talons 49:28 S semi-finals vs. Augusta Stallions 47:40 N ArenaCup vs. Quad City Steamwheelers 59:68 |
| 2001 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 14th | 2 | Yes | S quarter-finals vs. Tallahassee Thunder 70:52 N semi-finals vs. Richmond Speed 50:51 |
| 2002 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 13 | 3 | Yes | N Round of 16 vs. Birmingham Steeldogs 51:65 |
| 2003 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 14th | 2 | Yes | S quarterfinals vs. Mohegan Wolves 47:30 N semifinals vs. Macon Knights 48:51 |
| 2004 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 12 | 4th | Yes | N quarterfinals vs. Florida Firecats 58:62 |
| 2005 | Tennessee Valley Raptors | UIF | 6th | 9 | Yes | S quarterfinals vs. Fort Wayne Freedom 57:22 N semifinals vs. Sioux City Bandits 37:42 |
| 2006 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 3 | 13 | No | |
| 2007 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 7th | 9 | No | |
| 2008 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 10 | 6th | Yes | S Round of 16 vs. Florida Firecats 48:33 S Quarter-finals vs. Wilkes-Barre / Cranton Pioneers 34:30 S Semi-finals vs. Manchester Wolves 45:35 S ArenaCup IX vs. Spokane Shock 56:55 (afterwards) |
| 2009 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | af2 | 11 | 5 | Yes | N Round of 16 vs. Green Bay Blizzard 56:60 |
| 2010 | Alabama Vipers | AFL | 7th | 9 | No |
Audience development
| year | team | Audience average |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 6.237 |
| 2001 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 5,822 |
| 2002 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 5,424 |
| 2003 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 5,549 |
| 2004 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 5,067 |
| 2005 | Tennessee Valley Raptors | n / A |
| 2006 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 3,979 |
| 2007 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 4,405 |
| 2008 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 4.136 |
| 2009 | Tennessee Valley Vipers | 4.101 |
| 2010 | Alabama Vipers | 4,696 |
Individual evidence
- ^ Tennessee Valley Football renamed Raptors - OurSports Central. Retrieved July 29, 2017 .
- ↑ af2 expansion taps Indoor Leagues - OurSports Central. Retrieved July 29, 2017 .
- ^ Tennessee Valley Vipers - 2008 AF2 Arena Cup Champions. Retrieved July 29, 2017 .
- ↑ Michael Casagrande Sports Writer: Small-market Vipers surviving with big boys . In: Decatur Daily . ( decaturdaily.com [accessed July 29, 2017]).
- ^ It's official: Vipers have left the building . In: AL.com . ( al.com [accessed July 29, 2017]).
- ^ Tennessee Valley Vipers Team History - 2000 | ArenaFan.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017 .
- ↑ AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 2000 | ArenaFan.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017 .