The Carolina Speed were a professional indoor football team that operated from 2007 to 2011 in Concord and Charlotte, North Carolina, at Bojangles' Coliseum in 2009 and 2011. From 2007 to 2009, the Speed were members of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). For the 2011 season, the Speed joined the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) and the team ceased operations after the season. The owner was Eddie Littlefield.
History The Speed began in the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) and first played the 2007 and 2008 seasons in Concord, North Carolina, at Cabarrus Arena. In 2009, they moved home games to Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte. The team had decided not to participate in the 2010 AIFA season, but announced its intentions to return to the league in 2011. The team had also announced that it would play its future games at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord, North Carolina, marking a return to the facility where the Speed began in 2007.Carolina Speed Downshifts for 2010
Due to the merger of the AIFA and Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL), the Speed returned in 2011 play in the SIFL. In addition, the Speed's website stated that they were not returning to Cabarrus and announced their 2011 season would once again have home games at Bojangles' Coliseum.
The franchise was to return in 2013 as the Charlotte Speed and play in the Professional Indoor Football League, after originally deciding to play in the Indoor Football League. However, their charter was revoked prior to the season opener and they have not been heard from since 2012.
Logos The name "Carolina Speed" comes from the winning name of a contest held at the Cabarrus County fair, as well as paying tribute to North Carolina's NASCAR heritage.
Season-by-season
| colspan="6" align="center" | Carolina Speed (AIFA) |- |2007 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 4th Southern || Lost SC Week 1 (Lakeland) |- |2008 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 3rd EC Eastern || -- |- |2009 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 4th Southern || -- |- |2010 || rowspan="1" colspan="5" align="center" valign="middle" |Did not play |- | colspan="6" align="center" | Carolina Speed (SIFL) |- |2011 || 3 || 9 || 0 || 2nd EC Mid-Atlantic || -- |- !Totals || 23 || 32 || 0 |colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
2007 season schedule DateOpponentHome/AwayResultFebruary 3Huntington HeroesAwayWon 61–57February 12Tallahassee TitansHomeLost 44–62February 17Florence PhantomsAwayLost 36–64February 26Montgomery BearsHomeWon 48–16March 24Erie FreezeHomeWon 40–29March 31Baltimore BlackbirdsAwayWon 48–25April 7Mississippi MudcatsHomeWon 64–52April 14Lakeland ThunderboltsAwayLost 19–57April 21Montgomery BearsAwayLost 34–63April 28Mississippi MudcatsAwayLost 28–70May 5Baltimore BlackbirdsHomeWon 52–32May 12Florence PhantomsHomeWon 32–22May 18Tallahassee TitansAwayLost 48–68May 25Lakeland ThunderboltsHomeLost 21–39June 11Lakeland Thunderbolts (Playoffs)AwayLost 32–55
2008 season schedule DateOpponentHome/AwayResultMarch 9Erie RiverRatsAwayLost 21–42March 15Reading ExpressHomeWon 49–17March 22Canton LegendsAwayWon 38–35March 29Huntington HeroesHomeLost 35–40April 5Columbus LionsHomeWon 59–44April 19Mississippi MudcatsAwayLost 33–37April 26Fayetteville GuardHomeLost 18–19May 3Florida StingraysHomeWon 56–23May 10Baltimore MarinersAwayLost 23–48May 17Baltimore MarinersHomeWon 72–36May 31Mississippi MudcatsAwayLost 18–59June 6Augusta ColtsAwayLost 42–53June 21Florence PhantomsHomeLost 35–53June 28Florida StingraysHomeWon 63–57
2009 season schedule DateOpponentHome/AwayResultMarch 7Florence PhantomsAwayWon 37–29March 14Columbus LionsHomeLost 49–50March 22Columbus LionsAwayLost 37–68March 28Fayetteville GuardAwayLost 32–57April 4Erie RiverRatsHomeWon 38–12April 18Florence PhantomsHomeLost 31–37April 25South Carolina ForceAwayLost 27–37May 2D.C. ArmorHomeWon 28–20May 18Florence PhantomsAwayWon 51–21May 30South Carolina ForceHomeLost 36–50June 6Erie RiverRatsAwayWon 51–21June 13D.C. ArmorAwayLost 44–50June 20Fayetteville GuardHomeWon 45–40June 29South Carolina ForceHomeWon 38–35
2011 season schedule DateOpponentHome/AwayResultMarch 18Fayetteville ForceAwayLost 39–44March 25Albany PanthersHomeLost 45–58April 1Erie ExplosionHomeLost 36–39April 8Harrisburg StampedeHomeWon 51–36April 15Trenton SteelAwayLost 42–86May 1Columbus LionsHomeLost 60–74May 6Alabama HammersAwayLost 44–52May 14Harrisburg StampedeAwayLost 30–59May 20Richmond RaidersHomeWon 50–48May 29Fayetteville ForceHomeWon 84–22June 4Richmond RaidersAwayLost 36–37June 11Columbus LionsAwayLost 40–55
References
External links Official website Speed's 2007 stats Speed's 2008 stats Speed's 2009 stats Speed's 2011 stats