Ten Tampa Bay Storm Seasons
(March 20, 2000)

The Tampa Bay Storm have opened training camp for the 2000 season and the goal is to end the team's tenth season the way the first season ended. The franchise's fifth Arena Bowl title would be the best way to celebrate ten Tampa Bay Storm seasons.

It was ten seasons ago the Storm brought the fifty yard indoor war to the Tampa Bay area. The franchise, formerly playing as the Pittsburgh Gladiators, was relocated to St. Petersburg by then owner Bob Gries. On Saturday, June 1, 1991, the "War on I-4" was initiated when the Orlando Predators defeated the Fran Cruci coached Storm 51-38 in the first game for both teams. A crowd of 10,354 came out to the Florida Suncoast Dome, which is now known as Tropicana Field. A winning tradition would commence with a 53-12 victory at Columbus the following week. The Storm would go on to win the Arena Bowl 48-42 in Detroit and post a 10-2 record.

For the second season, Fran Cruci stepped down as head coach and Lary Kuharich was promoted to fill the position. The Storm again had a 10-2 record, but this time lost in the playoff semifinals at Orlando. The 1993 season saw the Storm finish the regular season 9-3, but win out through the Arena Bowl to finish 12-3. This time they won a playoff semifinal at Orlando and won another Arena Bowl title at Detroit 51-31. The 1994 season saw the Florida Suncoast Dome renamed the Thunderdome. It was a tough year, as the Storm finished with a 7-5 regular season record and a loss in the first round of the playoffs.

Changes were in store for the 1995 season. Bob Gries sold the team to Peter "Woody" Kern and league legend Tim Marcum took over at head coach. The Storm would go on to win back-to-back Arena Bowls. After going 10-2 in 1995, they made it 13-2 with a 48-35 victory over Orlando in the Arena Bowl. A huge crowd of 25,087 came to the Thunderdome for the first all Florida league title game. In 1996, the Storm finished the regular season 12-2 and again swept the playoffs. A 42-38 win in Iowa, over Kurt Warner and the Barnstormers, gave the team a 15-2 record.

With baseball coming to St. Petersburg, the team would move across the bay to the Ice Palace in Tampa for the 1997 season. After a disappointing 8-6 regular season, the dream of a three-peat ended in overtime at Arizona. The playoff semifinal loss gave the Storm a 9-7 overall record.

The 1998 campaign saw the Storm return to the Arena Bowl. After a 12-2 regular season, Tampa Bay hosted Orlando before 17,222 fans for the league championship. The Predators routed the home team 62-31 and the Storm finished at 14-3. Last season, after a 11-3 regular season, Orlando knocked the Storm out in the first round of the playoffs.

Now the Tampa Bay Storm begin their tenth season. This is a franchise which has won a total of 101 games, while losing 31, over nine seasons. That is an average record of 11-3. They have won four league championships in five Arena Bowl trips and have won division titles four times. After becoming the only coach to win 100 games in the Arena Football League, Tim Marcum said "All that matters around here is if you a championship." The Storm have a winning legacy and with that comes expectations.