Tampa Bay Storm
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The Tampa Bay Storm are a member franchise of the Arena Football League. Along with their traditional rivals, the Orlando Predators, they share the Arena record for the longest tenure by a franchise in a single market area. They are also the only one of the original four franchises to have operated in continuous existence from the formation of the league in 1987 until the present.
The franchise was originally known as the Pittsburgh Gladiators, and were one of the original four AFL teams formed in 1987. The Gladiators participated in Arena Bowls I and III, losing both.
The team moved from Pittsburgh to Tampa in 1991, with the team taking on the "Storm" nickname. The Las Vegas franchise has since taken up the "Gladiators" nickname (see Las Vegas Gladiators), but with no link to the Pittsburgh franchise's history or records.
The Storm won the ArenaBowl in its first Tampa Bay season (1991) and have won four subsequent championships (1993, 1995, 1996, and 2003). As of 2005, the Storm has qualified for the playoffs in every season of their Tampa Bay existence.
The team played in the former Florida Suncoast Dome in St. Petersburg (now called Tropicana Field) from 1991-1996, becoming its first regular team sports tenant. Since 1997, the team has played its home games in the St. Pete Times Forum (previously the Ice Palace) which is located in Tampa. (The St. Petersburg Times newspaper currently owns the naming rights to the facility, which can cause some confusion as to its actual location.)
The Storm compete in the Southern Division of the National Conference. They are coached by Tim Marcum, who is widely regarded as the greatest coach in Arena history.
Head coaches
- 1987-1990: Joe Haering, 15-13
- 1989: Darrel Jackson, 1-1
- 1991: Fran Curci, 8-2
- 1992-1994: Lary Kuharich, 25-9
- 1995-?: Tim Marcum, 98-44