Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze / Utah Valley Thunder 
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| City: | Utah Blaze (2006-2008, 2010-2013) Utah Valley Thunder (2009) | ||
| Founded: | 1997 | ||
| League (): | AFL : (2006–2008, 2010–2013) AIF: 2009 | ||
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| Greatest successes | |||
| AFL : 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012 AIF: 2009 | Playoff participations | ||
| AFL : - | League champions | ||
| Stadion | |||
| Surname: |
EnergySolutions Arena (2006–2008, 2010–2013) Maverik Center (2010) |
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| Data status | |||
| July 21, 2017 | |||
The Utah Blaze were an arena football team from Salt Lake City, Utah that played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Their home games carried the blaze mainly in the Energy Solutions Arena from . Because the AFL paused for a season in 2009, the franchise took part in the American Indoor Football Association (AIF) as Utah Valley Thunder for one season .
history
The Blaze were founded in 2006 and began playing for the 2006 season in the AFL. They reached the playoffs four times, but they were denied participation in the ArenaBowl.
When the AFL resumed its league operations in 2010, the Blaze also participated in the league again. Until 2009 they had an excellent average of over 14,000 viewers per game. After the Blaze took part in the AFL again in 2010, the average attendance collapsed rapidly until it was dissolved in 2013. The attendance record was set on May 12, 2006 when the final game of the main round showed 16,855 viewers against Kansas City.
After the 2013 season, the Blaze were disbanded.
Season statistics
| year | team | league | S. | N | Playoffs reached | Playoff round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Utah Blaze | AFL | 7th | 9 | Yes | N Wild Card Round vs. Arizona Rattlers 34:57 |
| 2007 | Utah Blaze | AFL | 8th | 8th | Yes | N Wild Card Round vs. Los Angeles Avengers 42:64 |
| 2008 | Utah Blaze | AFL | 6th | 10 | Yes | N Wild Card Round vs. Colorado Crush 44:49 |
| 2009 | Utah Valley Thunder | AIF | 11 | 3 | Yes | N semifinals vs. Wyoming Cavalry 31:43 |
| 2010 | Utah Blaze | AFL | 2 | 12 | No | |
| 2011 | Utah Blaze | AFL | 9 | 9 | No | |
| 2012 | Utah Blaze | AFL | 12 | 6th | Yes | S quarter-finals vs. San Antonio Talons 35:34
N semifinals vs. Arizona Rattlers 69:75 |
| 2013 | Utah Blaze | AFL | 7th | 11 | No |
Audience development
| year | Audience average |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 15,498 |
| 2007 | 14,289 |
| 2008 | 14,513 |
| 2009 | n / A |
| 2010 | 5,018 |
| 2011 | 8,707 |
| 2012 | 8,840 |
| 2013 | 6,409 |
Individual evidence
- ↑ Deseret News: Arena football: Blaze sign local talent, plan tryouts, announce schedule for inaugural season . In: DeseretNews.com . January 26, 2010 ( deseretnews.com [accessed July 21, 2017]).
- ↑ Loren Jorgensen: Utah Blaze boss not ready to give up . In: DeseretNews.com . August 5, 2009 ( deseretnews.com [accessed July 21, 2017]).
- ↑ Utah Blaze Team History - 2006 | ArenaFan.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
- ↑ Christopher Kamrani The Salt Lake Tribune: Utah Blaze not part of AFL - for now . In: The Salt Lake Tribune . ( sltrib.com [accessed July 21, 2017]).
- ↑ Utah Blaze Team History - 2006 | ArenaFan.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
- ↑ AFL Arena Football History - Year By Year - 2006 | ArenaFan.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .