| Houston ThunderBears | |
|---|---|
| Established 1996 Folded 2001 Played inCompaq Center inHouston,Texas | |
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| League/conference affiliations | |
Arena Football League (1996–2001)
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Current uniform | |
| Team colors | Navy, orange, teal |
| Personnel | |
| Head coach | Steve Thonn |
| Team history | |
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| Championships | |
| League championships (0) | |
| Conference championships (0) Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games | |
| Division championships (1) Prior to 1992, the AFL did not have division | |
| Playoff appearances (1) | |
| Home arena(s) | |
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TheHouston ThunderBears were a professionalarena football team based inHouston, Texas. The team finished the 2001 season as a member of theWestern Division of the American Conference of theArena Football League (AFL). The team joined the AFL in 1996 as theexpansionTexas Terror. After their first two years of existence, the franchise changed their name to theHouston ThunderBears. Plagued with attendance problems through the majority of their existence, the team folded in 2001. Home games were played at theCompaq Center.
The six seasons in which the team played coincided with the absence of theNational Football League from the Houston market; theHouston Oilers had announced their departure from the city after the 1996 season, and theHouston Texans began play in 2002. Many of the same issues that led to the Oilers' departure, including poor attendance and a decline in theprice of oil that drove Houston's economy, also affected the Thunderbears.
TheTexas Terror was a franchise in theArena Football League (AFL). The Terror played in the1996 and1997 Arena seasons. Their home games were played at theSummit also at that time home to theHouston Rockets of theNBA. The Terror'slogo appeared to be a stylized representation ofFrankenstein's monster holding a football.
The 1996 season was an unmitigated disaster, with the Terror notching only one win, coming against another first-year team, the ill-fatedMinnesota Fighting Pike. The 1997 season was considerably better with a record of 6-8, but the attendance was abysmal, especially given the size of the Houston market. After the season, the decision was made to remake the franchise and scrap both the existing logo and team name, and the team was renamed the Houston ThunderBears.
TheHouston ThunderBears were a continuation of the Texas Terror franchise (1996–1997) of the AFL under a new name,logo, and color scheme. The team still played its home games at theCompaq Center.1998, the first year as the ThunderBears, was the high-water mark in team history, in which they recorded their only winning season and sole playoff appearance (a loss toArizona). The two subsequent seasons saw a decline in both on-field performance and attendance. For the2001 season, then ownerLeslie Alexander (owner of the NBA'sHouston Rockets), sold the franchise back to the AFL. Although still called theHouston ThunderBears, the team played none of its home games in Houston. The league decided to use them as a showcase team to stimulate interest in new markets, playing in cities such asBismarck, North Dakota,Madison, Wisconsin, andCharleston, West Virginia. Four AFL/af2 franchises (theUtah Blaze,Fresno Frenzy,Central Valley Coyotes, andLubbock Renegades) emerged from some of the markets that the ThunderBears played in.[1] The team was ultimately contracted along with three other AFL franchises in the 2001–2002 offseason.
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Terror | |||||
| 1996 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 4th NC Southern | -- |
| 1997 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 3rd AC Central | -- |
| Houston Thunderbears | |||||
| 1998 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1st AC Central | Lost 1st Round (Arizona 36-50) |
| 1999 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 4th AC Central | -- |
| 2000 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 4th AC Central | -- |
| 2001 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 4th AC Western | -- |
| Totals | 25 | 60 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
| Houston ThunderBears Hall of Famers | ||||
| No. | Name | Year Inducted | Position(s) | Years w/ ThunderBears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Clint Dolezel[2] | 2012 | QB | 1997–1999 |
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The following ThunderBears players were named toAll-Arena Teams:
The following ThunderBears players were named to All-Ironman Teams:
The following ThunderBears players were named to All-Rookie Teams: