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Columbus Destroyers

The Columbus Destroyers are an Arena Football League team. The Destroyers franchise was founded in Buffalo, New York in 1999, and have played in Columbus, Ohio since 2004.

History

Buffalo Destroyers (1999-2003)

The Buffalo Destroyers began play during the 1999 AFL season, playing their home games at HSBC Arena, and were owned by Buffalo-area businessman Mark Hamister. The team was founded, in part, because of fears that a lease expiration could have led to the demise or relocation of the NFL's Buffalo Bills, the city's largest sports franchise. Those fears were unfounded as a multiyear lease deal to keep the Bills in Western New York was signed shortly thereafter and is still in effect. The name "Destroyers" came from a naming contest and alluded to the naval ship of the same name, one of which sits outside the HSBC Arena in the nearby Buffalo Naval and Serviceman's Park.

The Destroyers initially attracted high attendance levels, but a lack of winning early on caused attendance to decline, something the team never recovered from. The first head coach, Dave Whinham, was fired in the middle of the Destroyers' second season after an abysmal 1-17 record. Former Buffalo Bills player Ray Bentley was selected as his replacement; however, he couldn't lead the Destroyers to a winning season. The closest he came was in 2001, when his team started 6-3 but would end the season on an 0-5 skid to just barely miss the playoffs. The team had another 6-8 season, this time enough to make the playoffs but lost in the first round, in 2002. Bentley abruptly resigned after that season to take a job in broadcasting, and Ron Selesky, a respected personnel man was hired to replace him. Selesky's record in 2003 was a lackluster 5-11. Jerry Crafts, former Bills offensive lineman, played for the Destroyers in 2001 and served most notably as nose tackle, anchoring one of the league's better defenses.

After the 2003 season concluded, talks of a re-location began, as the Destroyers had lost $5 million over five years, went nearly unnoticed by the media (NBC had blacked out all of their games in 2003), and suffered from a lack of local support reflected in low attendance levels. At the time, Destroyers owner Hamister was also in the running, along with partner Todd Berman, to buy the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, but a deal for a state incentive package fell through and the team was instead sold to Rochester-area entrepreneur and politician B. Thomas Golisano. Shortly after the Sabres deal fell through, in September 2003, Hamister announced that he was relocating the Destroyers to Columbus, Ohio for the 2004 season.

On May 24, 2008 the Arena Football League announced that it was returning to Buffalo with a new franchise to be owned by Bills alumni Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas along with Rochester Raiders owner Bob Bartosiewicz. That team will play in the AFL's minor league system, af2.

Columbus Destroyers (2004 - Present)

The Buffalo Destroyers moved to Columbus after the 2003 Arena Football League season. They play their home games in the downtown Nationwide Arena, which they share with the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Destroyers were sold to John H. McConnell, founder of Worthington Industries and majority owner of the Blue Jackets, and accountant Jim Renacci. Also owning a stake in the team is NFL wide receiver and former Ohio State football standout Joey Galloway. Mark Hamister, who owned the team during the Buffalo tenure, initially stayed on as a minority owner, but would eventually sell his share.

The Columbus Destroyers, over their first two years, would often market people with the team who are also associated with The Ohio State University football program, rather than the team itself. In the 2004 season, it relied heavily on head coach, former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, and front office worker Chris Spielman. In the 2005 season, Spielman became head coach of the team and much of the Destroyers merchandise bore his name. However, as the 2006 season approached, the team appeared to have dropped marketing Ohio State personalities, instead promoting the Destroyers playing "Fast-forward football". Since then, the Destroyers have enjoyed relatively more success, finishing 8-8 in 2006 and making a run all the way to ArenaBowl XXI in 2007.

Despite high hopes the 2008 Destroyers weren't able to capitalize on the previous two years success and finished with a 3-13 record. It was announced at the end of the season that Destroyers ownership and Doug Kay had reached a decision that he would not return as head coach.

The Destroyers mascot's name is Bruiser.

The Destroyers have been better received in Columbus then they were in Buffalo, as their attendance levels are some of the highest in the AFL, and they are regularly covered in the media. Home games are televised locally on Columbus Sports Network. All games can be heard on their radio partner Wink 107.1 FM.

Memorable Destroyers Moments

First Game

On April 30, 1999 the Buffalo Destroyers played their first game. They lost to the New England Sea Wolves 59-26 in HSBC Arena in front of 13,214 fans.

Move to Columbus

The team moved to Columbus after the 2003 season. They played their first home game against the Carolina Cobras they lost 54-53 in front of a team record 17,171 fans.

Road to Arena Bowl XXI

On July 7, 2007 they upset the heavily favored Dallas Desperados who had a regular season record of 15-1. ESPN ranked it as one of histories top upsets alongside the likes of the Miracle on Ice

One week later on July 14th, 2007 The Destroyers reached their first Arena Bowl after defeating the heavily favored 14-2 Georgia Force 66-56.
The playoff run ended on July 29 when they played the San Jose Sabercats in ArenaBowl XXI. After the Destroyers played great football during the first half, they seemed to lose some momentum during the second half. In the end they lost to the Cats 55-33 in front of a sellout New Orleans Arena crowd.

Season-by-season

|- | colspan="6" align="center" | Buffalo Destroyers |- |1999 || 1 || 13 || 0 || 4th NC Eastern || -- |- |2000 || 5|| 9 || 0 || 3rd NC Eastern || Lost Week 1 (Arizona) |- |2001 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 3rd NC Eastern || -- |- |2002 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 2nd NC Eastern || Lost Week 1 (Orlando) |- |2003 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 4th NC Eastern || -- |- | colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Destroyers |- |2004 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 4th NC Eastern || -- |- |2005 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 4th NC Eastern || -- |- |2006 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 4th NC Eastern || -- |- |2007 || 7 || 9 || 0 || 3rd NC Eastern ||Won Wild Card (Tampa Bay)
Won Divisional (Dallas)
Won NC Championship (Georgia)
Lost ArenaBowl XXI (San Jose) |- |2008 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 5th NC Eastern || -- |- !Totals || 52 || 106 || 0 |colspan="2"| (including playoffs) |}