(Press Release)
For the second time in two weeks, the X-League Indoor Football League has announced league expansion. The Corpus Christi Fury and the Florida Tarpons, who incidentally played for the UIFL League Championship last Saturday, August 2 – a game the Fury won, 60-23 – are the the newest members of the league.
This announcement comes just days after the league announced that the Cape Fear Heroes were joining the X-League, joining the Alabama Outlawz, Florida Marine Raiders, Georgia Rampage, Savannah Steam and St. Louis Attack. “We are sincerely excited to add two teams of their caliber,” said X-League Commissioner Michael Mink. “We will continue to build our league upon a solid foundation of success and increase our footprint throughout the United States.”
The Hammerheads were founded in 2003 and became known as the Fury in 2013. The Fury home games are played at the American Bank Center and are coached by LaDaniel Marshall. “We are excited to join forces with established teams we have played against in the past and reignite some previous rivalries. We are focused on the 2015 season and continuing to build on the momentum from our championship win,” said Fury General Manager Robert Wehling.
The Florida Tarpons are based in Estero, FL and play at the Germain Arena. The team was founded in 2011 the Tarpons have played in their league championship game in 2012, 2013 (champions), and 2014. “We are pleased to renew our rivalry with in-state opponents the Florida Marine Raiders. Our fans will be excited to see the cross state battles,” said Florida Tarpons Head Coach Michael Taylor.
With these most recent additions, the X-League is set up to be ultra-competitive, with five of its eight teams having played in its League’s Championship Game in 2014. In addition to the contest between Corpus Christi Fury and the Florida Tarpons in the UIFL, the St. Louis Attack played the Florida Marine Raiders in the X-League Championship, and the Cape Fear Heroes played in the AIF Championship.
The Heroes, last week’s X-League addition, are owned by Barbara Spigner. The team was founded in 2011 in Fayetteville, North Carolina and will be entering their fourth season of indoor football. In their previous three seasons in another indoor football league they have been played made the League Finals in all three years and won the League Championship in 2012. Spigner has also won another League Championship with her 2008 Florence Phantoms.
The Heroes will continue to play their home games at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum that seats over 8,500 fans.
“We believe that Cape Fear is a strong contender with a winning culture and will increase the level of competition throughout the league,” said Mink.
This addition will increase the X-League’s presence in the Southeast Region and increase the intensity of rivalries. Cape Fear sees the X-League as a growing league with stable yet ambitious leadership and a home for their future. “I am elated to be joining such a well-structured league that shares our vision, open to team owners’ opinions, and is looking out for the best interests of the players, fans, and league owners,” said Spigner. Many leagues were attempting to court the Cape Fear Heroes, but it was ultimately the past working relationship between Spigner and Mink that led to the decision to move to the X-League.
The X-League is still reviewing expansion applications as well as communicating with additional established teams about joining the existing seven teams that make up the X-league. The current line-up of teams is expected to grow further as we get closer to the 2015 X-League Season.
For more information on the X-League go to www.xleaguefootball.com. The X-League is entering its second season in 2015 after being founded by Michael Mink and Kacee Smith. The current X-League National Champions are the Florida Marine Raiders.
