Phoenix Inferno

The Phoenix Inferno was an American indoor soccer team in Phoenix, Arizona, that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 new ownership renamed the team the Phoenix Pride. The Pride folded at the end of the 1983–1984 season. Both teams played their home games at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

For the annual LGBT pride parade celebration in Phoenix, see Phoenix Pride.

The Phoenix Inferno, owned by Richard Ragone and later Irv Berger, entered the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1980. The Phoenix Inferno bumper stickers read "Our Balls Are Off The Wall." Original owner Ragone was killed in a December 1981 car crash. In January 1983, Berger filed for bankruptcy. The league approved the sale of the team to Bruce Merrill, chairman of American Cable Television, for $175,000.[1]

Year-by-year
YearRecordRegular SeasonPlayoffsAvg. Attendance
1980–198117–232nd Western DivisionFirst Round7,180
1981–198217–275th Western DivisionDid not qualify7,118
1982–198324–245th Western DivisionDid not qualify6,302

Phoenix Pride

When Bruce Merrill purchased the Phoenix Inferno, he brought in Ted Podleski as general manager. A devout Christian, Podleski objected to the use of the word Inferno and Merrill renamed the team the Pride.[2] On March 3, 1984, Podleski fired the head coach and installed himself as head coach despite never playing or coaching soccer before.[3] The team finished the season at 18–30 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Merrill put the team up for sale in June 1984. When he received no offers, he folded the team in July.

Year-by-year
YearRecordRegular SeasonPlayoffsAvg. Attendance
1983–198418–306th Western DivisionDid Not Qualify5,923

References
  1. Sale of Phoenix Inferno Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) – Saturday, January 15, 1983
  2. You can go home again: Fired by Clippers, Podleski returns with Pride to Phoenix Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) – Tuesday, March 6, 1984
  3. Coach Podleski smiling on hot seat Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) – Friday, March 9, 1984


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