Calgary Boomers

Founded as the Memphis Rogues in 1978, the team was purchased for $1.2 million by Nelson Skalbania, during the 1980 North American Soccer League season with the intention of moving the team to Calgary, as Skalbania did the Atlanta Flames which he purchased five months previously.{{cite news|title=Rouges Wallop Hurricanes 6–1 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=August 24, 1980 |page=6c |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xpwcAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 16, 2021}}{{cite news|title=Boomer Saga Continues |last=Konotopetz |first=Gyle |work=The Calgary Herald |date=October 6, 1981 |page=A16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W3dkAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 16, 2021}} The team debuted in the 1980–81 NASL Indoor season finishing its initial campaign with a record of 10 win and 8 losses with an average attendance of 4,672 and only missing out of a playoff berth base on goals scored.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/nasl.html|title=North American Soccer League|website=RSSSF|access-date=December 17, 2021}} The Boomers finished the 1981 outdoor in second place in Northwest Division with 17 wins and 15 losses and a season average attendance of 10,501. The number 8 seed in the playoffs, the Boomers lost to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in best of three games first round 3–1 on August 23 and 2–0 on August 26.{{cite news|title=Whitecaps thumped by Rowdies |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=August 24, 1981 |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K1wxAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}}{{cite news|title=Bye-Bye, Boomers |last=Thuma |first=Cindy |work=Boca Raton News |date=August 27, 1981 |page=B1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AcYxAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}}

At a press conference on September 16, 1981, owner Nelson Skalbania announced that unless the team could sell 6,500 indoor season tickets and a local ownership group found to purchase the team, the organization would cease operations the following Monday.{{cite news|title=Calgary too expensive for Skalbania|last=Rauw |first=Murray |work=The Calgary Herald |date=September 17, 1981 |page=C15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-XNkAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}} The next day, the league announced the Boomers were one of five teams that failed to post the required $150,000 bond to participate in the 1981–82 NASL Indoor season.{{cite news|title=Five NASL teams out |work=The Leader-Post |date=September 17, 1981| page=B4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LHVYAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}} The following week, it was reported that GM Rudi Schiffer had delivered the $150,000 performance bond nine days after the deadline while attending the NASL meetings in Toronto{{cite news|title=Boomer's day of judgement arrives |last=Konotopetz |first=Gyle |work=The Calgary Herald |date=September 25, 1981 |page=B11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1nNkAAAAIBAJ}} and that a group of local businessmen had conditionally purchased the team in an effort to keep it Calgary.{{cite news|title=Boomer sale has cautious elements |last=Rauw |first=Murray |work=The Calgary Herald |date=September 21, 1981 |page=C1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0nNkAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}} A few days later on September 28, 1981, it was announced that the Boomers would merge with the Edmonton Drillers with Skalbania selling his interest in the team to Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington.{{cite news|title=Bommer to merge with Drillers |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=September 28, 1981| page=41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=44AxAAAAIBAJ|access-date=December 17, 2021}}{{cite news|title=Mergers Reported |work=The New York Times |date=September 28, 1981|page=C6 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/28/sports/mergers-reported.html |access-date=December 17, 2021}} The following day, however, the team which recorded loses over $2 million, was placed into receivership, the deal fell through and the Boomer players were released to other team via a dispersal draft.{{cite news|title=A padlock slapped on a coffin |last=Rauw |first=Murry |work=The Calgary Herald |date=September 30, 1981 |page=D1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2nNkAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}}{{cite news|title=Nelson Skalbania |last1=Francis |last2=Parrish |first1=Diane |first2=Wayne|work=The Leader-Post |date= May 12, 1982 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MY9VAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}}{{cite news|title=Skalbania's full Nelson has slipped |last=Beamish |first=Mike |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=May 20, 1982 |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q5tlAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}} Skalbania was later order by the Supreme Court of British Columbia to pay Memphis Rogues owner Avron Fogelman the $1.1 million balance of the team's original purchase price, having only paid the initial $125,000 down payment.{{cite news|title=Skalbania Loses Court Battle|work=Youngstown Vindicator |date=March 3, 1982 |page=24 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8xhcAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}}

• {{Flagicon|USA}} Al Miller; Head coach 1980–1981{{cite news|title=Rowdies have found new mover and shaker |last=Scheiber |first=Dave |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=April 16, 1982| page=9C |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zvoNAAAAIBAJ |access-date=December 17, 2021}}
• {{Flagicon|Canada}} David Davies (Coach)

All-Star Second Team Selections

• 1981 Franz Gerber

Indoor All-Star Selections

• 1980–81 Juan Carlos Molina{{cite news|last=Henderson|first=Jim |title=For Keith Bailey, The Long Wait Is Finally Over|date=April 21, 1981|newspaper= The Tampa Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/335321009|page=5-C|access-date=January 6, 2021}}

Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame

• 2011 Victor Kodelja

U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame

• 2024 Francisco Marcos

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.nasljerseys.com/Rosters/Boomers_Rosters.htm Calgary Boomers roster/stats]

{{North American Soccer League (1966–85)}}

{{Soccer in Calgary}}

Category:Association football clubs established in 1980

Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1981

Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Canada

Boo

Category:Canadian indoor soccer teams

Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) teams

Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) teams based in Canada

Category:1980 establishments in Alberta

Category:1981 disestablishments in Alberta

Calgary

it:Memphis Rogues