| Detroit Neon / Safari | |
 | |
| Team history | 1994-1997 |
| Arena | The Palace of Auburn Hills 1994-1997 |
| Based in | Auburn Hills, Michigan |
| Colors | |
| Leagues | Continental Indoor Soccer League |
TheDetroit Safari (founded as theDetroit Neon) was a member of theContinental Indoor Soccer League that played atThe Palace of Auburn Hills.[1] Their owners, the Palace Sports Group, were awarded a franchise on November 4, 1993.
The Detroit Neon got their name from theDodge Neon automobile, via a sponsorship from theChrysler Corporation. (TheInternational Hockey League'sDetroit Vipers were also owned by Palace Sports and named for a Chrysler product.) In 1997, thenaming rights were sold toGeneral Motors and they became the Detroit Safari, after theGMC Safari minivan.[2]
The club did well at the box office (they led the CISL in attendance in their first season in 1994 and drew well above league average in all four years they played), but not on the turf. Despite having experienced indoor playerAndy Chapman (who also served as Detroit's coach -- unofficially, as the league prohibited player-coaches),[3] the club finished next-to-last in the Eastern Division in both 1994 and 1995 and out of the playoffs. The Neon improved to 13-15 in 1996 and snuck into the post-season, only to be beaten two games to one by theMonterrey La Raza in the first round (the sole playoff contest at the Palace drew 4,477 fans.) Finally, the re-named Safari finished with a 3-25 mark in 1997, tying the 1994Carolina Vipers for the worst in league history. The team folded along with the rest of the CISL after the 1997 season.[4]
During the team's existence, some games (including all 1997 home contests) were televised onPASS Sports.
| Year | Record | Regular season | Playoffs | Avg. attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 11–17 | 5th Eastern | Did not qualify | 9,379 |
| 1995 | 5–23 | 5th Eastern | Did not qualify | 7,833 |
| 1996 | 13–15 | 5th Eastern | First round | 7,032 |
| 1997 | 3–25 | 6th Eastern | Did not qualify | 6,917 |
| Overall | 32–80 | – | – | 7,790 |
Ron Campbell – General Manager (1994–97) Chris Keenan (1994)David B. Baker (1994)
Paul Child (1995–97)Ian Fairbrother (1997)