The "Stampede" name alludes to the team's home venue, which hosts the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, and the team's colors are blue, black and white.
On August 18, 2023, American Indoor Football announced the return of the Stampede to its revived league. The Team has been brought back by former owner Justin Coble,[3] local businessman and owner of Dazzle Sports Marketing. The team is owned by Dazzle Sports Group LLC DBA Harrisburg Stampede. They return to their original Bull Head logo and colors of Royal Blue and Gold. They played the 2024 season at the PA Farm Show Complex. They were to have joined the National Arena League for the 2025 season as a part of a merger with former AIF teams, but ceased operations on December 3, 2024.
History
Original logo
2009
The team was co-founded by John Morris and Fred Clark. In September 2008, the team announced that they would use the nickname "Stampede" after narrowing a list of entries down to 3.[4] In the Stampede's inaugural game, they beat an opposing team of American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) All-Stars, 46–26, in the 2009 AIFA Kickoff Classic.[5] In their first regular season game, the Stampede were defeated by the reigning AIFA champion, Florence Phantoms by a score of 19–13.[6] In their second ever regular season game, the Stampede defeated the Baltimore Mariners 37–34.[7] After a 2–4 start, Morris fired head coach Kelly Logan and replaced him with defensive coordinator, Mike McDonald.[8]Marques Colston, a New Orleans Saints wide receiver, held a share during the team's first season. Colston left the group after the inaugural season, citing philosophical differences.
For the 2010 season, the team hired Ramon Robinson as their head coach.[9] Robinson helped the Stampede turn their record around, leading them to an 11–3 regular season record, clinching a playoff spot.[10] The #2 seeded Stampede defeated the #3 Erie Storm by a score of 52–48 in the first Stampede playoff game ever.[11] The following week, the Stampede were defeated by the undefeated Mariners by a score of 65–13 in the Eastern Conference Championship Game.[12]
2011
The Stampede began the 2011 season by naming Bernie Nowotarski the team's head coach and general manager.[13] 2011 also brought a new league for the Stampede, as they moved into the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) after the merger of the AIFA's Eastern Conference with the SIFL[14] After an 0–6 start to the 2011 season, Nowotarski was removed as General Manager and Head Coach of the Stampede. He was replaced by Josh Resignalo.[15] The following season, the SIFL disbanded, leading the Stampede to re-join their former league, which is now going by American Indoor Football (AIF).
2012
In 2012, the team joined American Indoor Football (AIF), the league was run by previous AIFA owner/CEO John Morris.[16] In January 2012, Morris sold the team to local businessman Justin Coble, who made moves to broaden the fan base and re-energize the city of Harrisburg about the Stampede team;[17] Colston returned to the team's ownership group just prior to the start of the 2012 season.[18]
2013
As of August 2012 Marques Colston's Dynasty Group acquired full control of the team and had continued to grow the footprint of the Stampede with its primary mission of servicing the community in the Greater Harrisburg area. The Stampede advanced to the AIF Championship Game for the second straight year in 2013, this time defeating the Cape Fear Heroes 57-42 earning their first ever title.[19]
In August 2023 local businessman Justin Coble announced he was bringing back the Harrisburg Stampede to AIF for the 2024 season. With a revamped team, return to old logo and colors, and playing back in the original location the New Harrisburg Stampede returned.
On July 9, 2024, the Stampede had joined the Corpus Christi Tritons and Columbus Lions as these AIF teams moved to the National Arena League as part of a supposed "merger" between the two leagues. [23] It turned out only the Lions and Stampede joined the NAL, the Tritons went to Arena Football One and the AIF was relaunched with two other remaining teams. On December 3, 2024, the Stampede announced on their Facebook page that they were ceasing operations.
^James Phillips (January 25, 2009). "STAMPEDE 46, ALL-STARS 26". www.pennlive.com. PA Media Group. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
