Massachusetts Marauders
Detroit Drive / Massachusetts Marauders 
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|---|---|---|---|
| City: | Detroit, Michigan (1988-1993)
Worcester, Massachusetts (1994) |
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| Founded: | 1988 | ||
| League (): | AFL (1988-1994) | ||
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| Greatest successes | |||
| AFL : 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 | Playoff participations | ||
| AFL : 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 | League champions | ||
| Stadion | |||
| Surname: |
Joe Louis Arena (1988-1993) Worcester Centrum (1994) |
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| Data status | |||
| July 21, 2017 | |||
The Massachusetts Marauders were an arena football team from Worcester, Massachusetts that played in the Arena Football League (AFL). The franchise was founded as Detroit Drive in 1988 and moved to Worcester in 1994.
history
Detroit Drive (1988-1993)
The franchise was founded as Detroit Drive in 1988 and competed in the AFL that same year. In the five years that took part, the Drive not only reached the playoffs every year, but also won the ArenaBowl four times .
The owner of the Drive, Mike Ilitch , was also the one who founded the Detroit Tigers MLB baseball team in 1993. Since baseball is the non plus ultra in America, the current Ilitch decided to sell the franchise. The reason for this was that Ilitch did not want to compete with the Tigers for spectators. So the Drive was sold in 1993, although the franchise hit the ArenaBowl in each of its seasons.
Massachusetts Marauders
Ilitch sold the team to Joseph O'Hara . This moved the franchise from Detroit to Worcester, Massachusetts and renamed it in Massachusetts Marauders . These only played one season in the AFL, which failed in the semi-finals of the playoffs against the Orlando Predators . After the 1994 season, the Marauders were dissolved.
Season statistics
| year | team | league | S. | N | Playoffs reached | Playoff round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Detroit Drive | AFL | 9 | 3 | Yes | S semifinals vs. Pittsburgh Gladiators 34:25
S ArenaBowl vs. Chicago Bruisers 24:13 |
| 1989 | Detroit Drive | AFL | 3 | 1 | Yes | S semifinals vs. Chicago Bruisers 43:10
S ArenaBowl vs. Pittsburgh Gladiators 39:26 |
| 1990 | Detroit Drive | AFL | 6th | 2 | Yes | S semifinals vs. Pittsburgh Gladiators 61:30
S ArenaBowl vs. Dallas Texans 51:27 |
| 1991 | Detroit Drive | AFL | 9 | 1 | Yes | S semifinals vs. Albany Firebirds 37:35
N ArenaBowl vs. Tampa Bay Storm 42:48 |
| 1992 | Detroit Drive | AFL | 8th | 2 | Yes | S quarterfinals vs. Sacramento Attack 48:23
S semifinals vs. Dallas Texans 57:14 S ArenaBowl vs. Orlando Predators 56:38 |
| 1993 | Detroit Drive | AFL | 11 | 1 | Yes | S quarter-finals vs. Dallas Texans 51: 6
S semifinals vs. Arizona Rattlers 38:34 N ArenaBowl vs. Tampa Bay Storm 31:51 |
| 1994 | Massachusetts Marauders | AFL | 8th | 4th | Yes | S quarterfinals vs. Tampa Bay Storm 58:51
N semifinals vs. Orlando Predators 42:51 |
Audience development
| year | team | Audience average |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Detroit Drive | 14,095 |
| 1989 | Detroit Drive | 6,834 (season not played in home team stadium) |
| 1990 | Detroit Drive | 9,078 (season not played in home team stadium) |
| 1991 | Detroit Drive | 15,555 |
| 1992 | Detroit Drive | 14,686 |
| 1993 | Detroit Drive | 14,760 |
| 1994 | Massachusetts Marauders | 7,474 |
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Michigan Daily - Google News archive search. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
- ↑ Arena Football League wants rematch with Detroit . In: Crain's Detroit Business . January 20, 2012 ( crainsdetroit.com [accessed July 21, 2017]).
- ^ Detroit Drive, Arena Football League. In: Fun While It Lasted. April 26, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
- ^ Massachusetts Marauders, Arena Football League. In: Fun While It Lasted. March 8, 2012, accessed July 21, 2017 .
- ↑ Detroit Drive Team History - 1988 | ArenaFan.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
- ↑ AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 1988 | ArenaFan.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .