Muskegon IFL team moves to Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The Indoor Football League team from Muskegon is moving to Grand Rapids, the team announced Wednesday morning.

The Muskegon Thunder will now be called the West Michigan ThunderHawks and play its games at the DeltaPlex Arena. The team and arena officials confirmed they have agreed on a multi-year deal.

The organization spent its first two campaigns in the Continental Indoor Football League and last season in the IFL, finishing with a 1-13 record and last in the United Conference's Atlantic Division.

"We are certainly grateful to the people of Muskegon and the surrounding communities for their support over the past three years," Bob Eacker, director of media relations for the ThunderHawks, said in a news release. "We hope those fans will understand that there were many factors that went into this difficult decision. The good news is that there is still professional indoor football for all the fans in West Michigan to enjoy."

The ThunderHawks will kick off its 2010 season in March, and will play 14 regular season games, seven of which will be at home. There are 19 teams in the IFL, with Saginaw being the only other Michigan team.

"We are extremely excited about the future of our organization in light of today's announcement," said Eacker. "The DeltaPlex Arena is a first-class facility where fans will get an up-close and personal view of all the hard-hitting action on the field."

The IFL features 8-on-8 arena-style football. There are no nets in the end zones and any balls that leave the field of play are take-home souvenirs for the fans. Bone-jarring hits and plenty of scoring make this incredibly fast-paced sport a favorite for spectators of all ages, the news release stated.

"There is truly no other sport that allows for such intimacy between the fans in the stands and the athletes on the field," Eacker said. "The arena setup will make this building an imposing place for visiting teams to play in when the fans get rocking."

"I am so excited about the DeltaPlex Arena's newest anchor tenant (similar to arena racing), the West Michigan ThunderHawks," said Rich Baylie, the building's executive director and president of Stage Light Entertainment, the building's manager and operator. "Although we have numerous sports-related events during the year, like arena racing, cage fighting and cheerleading, I've really been looking for a sports team, like football, to help offer more variety in our events for our guests and spectators.

"I have met with the team's ownership many times these past few months discussing bringing the team to Grand Rapids and the DeltaPlex Arena. I have been able to get to know them, as well as learn what their goals, visions and aspirations are of having a winning team for West Michigan. I believe in this team and I am proud that they'll be calling the DeltaPlex Arena their home."

Season tickets are on sale now. Individual game tickets are estimated to go on sale at around December 15.

On the Net:

West Michigan ThunderHawks

The DeltaPlex

Indoor Football League