Reno Express
{{Short description|American indoor football team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Reno Express
| current =
| logo = Reno Express.png
| helmet =
| founded = 2019
| folded = 2020
| city = Reno, Nevada
at Reno Events Center
| misc = [https://web.archive.org/web/20181023120854/https://www.gorenoexpress.com/ GoRenoExpress.com]
| uniform =
| colors = Black, red, silver, white
{{Color box|black}} {{Color box|red}} {{Color box|silver}} {{Color box|white}}
| coach = Troy Hansen
| owner = Platinum Events & Security LLC
| chairman =
| president = Chris Reynolds
| general manager =
| mascot =
| nicknames =
| league = American West Football Conference (2019)
| team_history =
- Reno Express (2019)
| no_league_champs = 0
| league_champs =
| no_conf_champs = 0
| conf_champs =
| no_div_champs = 0
| div_champs =
| no_playoff_appearances = 1
| playoff_appearances =
- 2019
| arena_years = Reno Events Center (2019)
}}
The Reno Express were a professional indoor football team in Reno, Nevada. They play their home games at the Reno Events Center during the 2019 American West Football Conference (AFC) season.{{cite web |url=https://www.arenafootballtalk.com |title=Western US based indoor football league forming for 2019 |work=Arena Football Talk |date=October 21, 2018}} They were the first professional football team to play in Reno since the Reno Barons played part of a season in 2011.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ktvn.com/story/14960219/reno-barons-inaugural-season-over-personnel-not-paid |title=Reno Barons Inaugural Season Over, Personnel Not Paid |website=KTVN |date=June 22, 2011}} The team withdrew from the AWFC 2020 season about a month prior to the start of the season,{{Cite web |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/sports_watch/yakima-canines-set-for-arena-football-at-the-sundome/article_43a17b5b-c8bd-5240-84aa-021820bbb8e8.html |title=Yakima Canines set for arena football at the SunDome |website=Yakima Herald |date=February 26, 2020}} but stated they had plans to return in 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.americanwestfootballconference.com/news/the-tri-cities-fire-un-expectantly-closes-up-shop |title=THE TRI-CITIES FIRE UN-EXPECTANTLY CLOSES UP SHOP! |website=AWFC |date=February 28, 2020}}
History
On October 15, 2018, the American West Football Conference (AWFC) was founded by the Idaho Horsemen and announced the Express, Tri-Cities Fire, and Wenatchee Valley Skyhawks as the inaugural members.{{cite web |url=http://www.americanwestfootballconference.com/news/a-decision-has-been-made |title=A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE |work=AWFC Insider |date=October 15, 2018}} The Express are owned by Platinum Events & Security LLC, the organization that also own the Idaho Horsemen and operates the AWFC.
Anthony Bartley was the team's first head coach, but left the team after five games and a 2–3 record. He was replaced by assistant Troy Hansen to finish the season with a 6–6 record and the third seed in the playoffs. The Express traveled to Wenatchee, Washington and defeated the Skyhawks 28–27 to advance to the first championship game against the undefeated Idaho Horsemen. Prior the championship game, the team started a GoFundMe fundraiser in order to pay for their trip to Idaho claiming a former associate had been stealing money from the organization.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/renoexpressprofootball/posts/473932486489748?__xts__[0]=68.ARBIAUTmrHamvXymu2tFzaHhCdN2KojU8BT2rDwi7VvhQwoVhtG5EY-eYBXxuJoXXMVoqyxQqTVw5uWK1oefdqvNuyms9dGF9r0p7S5gkGHYMVjH1vYdEnqbN9X23V2lKxDiisECF0PVIoVDnXW7J8o7dOtbPp5Awe5YPFunmDerg0YsL7FNNrC7-xtFWKbIFglMWBRevid-dJr1oJ6oM1z3rCJEALBgrQIQy3KHbVNW86aPANU4PoET_12KoeorqosFhAKqTA8Y9s8nKYw6DIRdGI3-GFZ61eB-QGxa79vRVK1vbQ5oPA7MGAz1qKaLyFNIMZzKT5HQDDUdonukK6M&__tn__=-R |title=Championship Game Go Fund Me |website=Facebook |date=July 23, 2019}} They made it to Boise, and lost 40–20. The Express folded months later and the league would fold in 2024 following the departure of their founding franchise, the Horsemen, to the National Arena League.
Logo change and controversy
The team's original announced logo bore a resemblance to the logo of the Round Rock Express, a Minor League Baseball team. Because the Round Rock team owned the trademarks to the logo, the Reno team was forced to change their primary logo. The team's Facebook page was updated with a temporary logo on October 15, 2018,{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/renoexpressprofootball/photos/a.326966857852979/335274313688900/?type=3&theaterc |title=Reno Express Indoor Football - Posts |work=Facebook |date=October 15, 2018}} which was ultimately scrapped in favor of their another logo in late October 2018.
2019 standings
{{#section:American West Football Conference|2019standings}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20181023120854/https://www.gorenoexpress.com/ Official website] (web archive)
- [http://www.americanwestfootballconference.com American West Football Conference website]
Category:American football teams in Nevada
Category:American football teams established in 2018