Spokane Shock

For many years, there were proposals to bring an arena football team to Spokane. In summer 2005, owner Brady Nelson teamed up with two additional partners to bring a team to Spokane.{{cite web |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/aug/10/spokane-closing-in-on-arenafootball2-team/ |title=Spokane closing in on arenafootball2 team |author=Jim Meehan |date=August 10, 2005 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |work=www.spokesman.com |access-date=August 20, 2013}} On August 26, 2005, during af2 league meetings in Bossier City, Louisiana, league commissioner Jerry Kurz accepted Nelson's proposal for a Spokane af2 team.{{cite web |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/aug/27/spokane-awarded-arenafootball2-franchise/ |title=Spokane awarded arenafootball2 franchise |author=Dave Trimmer |date=August 27, 2005 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |work=www.spokesman.com |access-date=August 20, 2013}} The Shock was one of three expansion teams to begin playing in 2006. The other two were the Everett Hawks, and the Stockton Lightning.

On October 12, 2005, the Shock announced that Chris Siegfried would be the franchise's inaugural coach.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3230518 |title=Spokane Shock Name Siegfried Head Coach |date=October 12, 2005 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |access-date=August 20, 2013}} By the end of 2005, 13 players had been signed. On February 28, 2006, the Spokane Shock sold their 2,000th season ticket. On March 22, 2006, 3,000 season tickets had been sold. On March 30, 2006, the Spokane Shock played their inaugural game against the Stockton Lightning and won 41–40.

The Shock put together a significant inaugural season, posting a 14–2 regular-season record and a first-place finish in the National Conference Western Division. During the af2 playoffs, the Shock defeated the Bakersfield Blitz and the Arkansas Twisters en route to winning the af2 National Conference championship and a berth in ArenaCup VII against the Green Bay Blizzard in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On August 26, the Shock defeated the Blizzard by a score of 57–34 to win ArenaCup VII. The Spokane Shock became the first expansion team in af2 history to advance to, and win, the ArenaCup. The Shock led the league in attendance with an average of 10,313 fans per home game.

As a result of the team's excellent play, head coach Chris Siegfried was named the af2 Head Coach of the Year for the 2006 season. Four Shock players also earned All-af2 National Conference honors as well. WR/LB Charles Frederick, OLS Ed Ta'amu and DS Rob Keefe earned first-team honors while OL/DL Jerome Stevens earned second-team accolades.

On September 4, 2006, Spokane head coach Chris Siegfried accepted the offensive coordinator position for the AFL's Kansas City Brigade.{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=6307 |title=Siegfried accepts AFL position |date=September 4, 2006 |publisher=ArenaFan |work=www.arenafan.com |access-date=August 20, 2013}} On September 20, 2006, the Spokane Shock announced that former Louisville Fire offensive coordinator Adam Shackleford would become their new head coach.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3378944 |title=Shock Name New Head Coach |date=September 20, 2006 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |access-date=August 20, 2013}} The 2007 Shock won their second consecutive division title with a 12–4 record. The Shock then fell in the first round of the af2 playoffs to the Louisville Fire.

In 2008, the Shock fielded another talented team, opening the season with eleven straight wins before losing to the South Georgia Wildcats on a last second field goal. It was the only Shock loss during the regular season, qualifying for the playoffs and clinching home field advantage until the ArenaCup. The Shock faced the Tennessee Valley Vipers on August 25, 2008, in ArenaCup IX. Tennessee Valley was forced to play with its backup quarterback for most of the game after their starter was injured during the first drive. The game was close throughout and regulation ended with a tie to send the ArenaCup into its first ever overtime. After the Shock scored a touchdown and a successful extra point, Tennessee Valley matched them with a touchdown, but went for a two-point conversion and succeeded, to capture their first ArenaCup championship.

The Shock put together another 15–1 regular season in 2009. The Shock again advanced to the ArenaCup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 74–27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.{{cite web |url=http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/aug/23/af2-spokane-shock-rout-wilkes-barrescranton-win-ar/?print=1| title=af2: Spokane Shock rout Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to win ArenaCup |date=August 23, 2009 |publisher=Scripps Newspaper Group — Online |work=www.naplesnews.com |access-date=August 20, 2013}}

File:Spokane Shock and Utah Blaze.jpg on April 9, 2010]]

On September 27, 2009, the Spokane Shock became part of the Arena Football 1, an entity founded by multiple af2 organizations along with several of the recently defunct Arena Football League (AFL) teams, that was created to replace AFL. In November 2009, Arena Football 1 purchased the assets from the AFL's bankruptcy auction and rebranded as a continuation of the Arena Football League.

The Shock promoted defensive backs' coach Rob Keefe to the head coaching position. The team continued their success in the relaunched league, finishing the regular season with a 16–3 record claiming the first seed in the playoffs. The Shock advanced to ArenaBowl XXIII against the 13–6 Tampa Bay Storm. In front of a franchise record crowd of 11,017, the Shock defeated the Storm 69–57 behind nine touchdown passes from Kyle Rowley.{{cite web |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/aug/20/spokane-shock-win-arenabowl/ |title=Spokane Shock are AFL champions |author=Jim Meehan |date=August 20, 2010 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |work=www.spokesman.com |access-date=January 17, 2014}}

On July 9, 2011, the Shock hosted an outdoor game at Spokane's Joe Albi Stadium. The Shock went 9–9 for the season, lost in the first round of the playoffs, and fired head coach Rob Keefe following the season. The Shock promoted offensive coordinator, Andy Olson to head coach for 2012 and improved to 10–8, but failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in the team's existence. Prior to the 2013 season, the Shock lost quarterback Kyle Rowley in free agency but quarterback Erik Meyer put together an MVP 2013 season, also winning Offensive Player of the Year. Wide receiver Adron Tennell won Receiver of the Year. The Shock went 14–4 and lost in the conference championship.

In January 2014, it was announced that Brady Nelson had sold the Shock to Arena Football Partners, LLC., an ownership group led by Nader Naini.{{cite web |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/jan/15/nelson-sells-spokane-shock-football-team/ |title=Brady Nelson sells Spokane Shock football team |author=Jim Meehan |date=January 15, 2014 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |work=www.spokesman.com |access-date=January 17, 2014}}

In 2015, after losing former MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, Erik Meyer, and former Wide Receiver of the Year Adron Tennell to division rival, San Jose. The Shock made the playoffs, but lost to the Arizona Rattlers 72–41. Following the season, Olson announced that he would not be returning to coach the Shock in 2016 and the Shock re-hired Adam Shackleford away from the Tri-Cities Fever.{{cite web |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/aug/18/shock-olson-going-different-directions/ |title=Shock: Andy Olson out, Adam Shackleford in |author=Jim Meehan |date=August 18, 2015 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |work=www.spokesman.com |access-date=August 19, 2015}}

Beginning on August 10, 2015, talk began surfacing about a possible move to the Indoor Football League by Shock owner Nader Naini, who was heavily involved with bringing Scott Butera to the AFL as its new commissioner. He accused the AFL and some of its teams of cheating, favoring the more established franchises and not fulfilling obligations to improve the product, forcing him to weigh options for the team's future which includes dropping to the IFL, a move that some players expressed unhappiness and disappointment about.[http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/aug/10/shock-weighing-options-future-league-affiliation Shock weighing options for future league affiliation], Jim Meehan, The Spokesman-Review, August 10, 2015[http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/aug/17/shock-moves-closer-ifl-players-not-happy-potential Shock moves closer to IFL, but players not happy with potential move], Jim Meehan, The Spokesman-Review, August 17, 2015 However, IFL commissioner Mike Allshouse was quick to point out, "At this point, it would be improper to comment about any team that is associated with another league."[http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/aug/18/shock-players-go-to-social-media-to-lament Shock players go to social media to lament possible move to the IFL], Jim Meehan, The Spokesman-Review, August 18, 2015

The move was officially confirmed on September 1, 2015.{{cite web | url=http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20150901oku66u | title=IFL Announces Addition of Spokane Shock | publisher=Indoor Football League | date=September 1, 2015 | access-date=September 1, 2015}} This made 2016 the second straight year that an established AFL franchise moved to the IFL following the Iowa Barnstormers. However, the Spokane franchise had to operate under a different identity, as the Arena Football League announced on October 12 that the team and league could not reach an agreement for the team's trademark and logos, which are owned by the AFL. A press release from the AFL indicated that the league would retain the rights to the Shock name and logos.{{Cite web |url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/101215aag.html |title=AFL Issues Statement on Spokane Shock |access-date=2015-10-13 |archive-date=2015-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217152916/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/101215aag.html |url-status=usurped }} However, the team retained the Shock's history and went by a new name for the 2016 season, and a name-the-team contest had the franchise become known as the Spokane Empire.

The 2016 Spokane Empire went 12–4 in their inaugural IFL campaign. They advanced to the championship game by winning the Intense Conference championship beating the Nebraska Danger 55–44, but fell to the Sioux Falls Storm 55–34 in the final. They came close to an achievement that had not been done before; winning three different league championships in their first season in the league with the af2's ArenaCup, the AFL's ArenaBowl and the IFL's United Bowl.

The following 2017 season, the team went 8–8 and missed the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history. On July 12, 2017, owner Nader Naini announced that the Empire had ceased operations, citing financial issues. About a year after the Empire folded, Naini claims to have traded the Empire branding to the AFL, which became the Albany Empire, for the original Shock trademarks.{{cite web |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/nov/01/spokane-shock-officially-announce-return-beginning/ |title=Spokane Shock officially announce return beginning in March 2020 |website=The Spokesman-Review |date=November 1, 2019 |quote=Naini acquired the Shock trademark about a year after the franchise folded, trading the Empire name to the AFL in exchange for the Shock trademark. Adams “worked it out” with Naini to acquire the Shock brand}}

In 2019, Naini sold the Shock trademark and remaining assets to former Seattle Seahawks' player Sam Adams with the intention of relaunching the Shock in the IFL for the 2020 season. The IFL announced the return of the Shock on November 1, 2019. Adams brought in the head coach of the Carolina Cobras as the new head coach of the Shock. However, before the Shock could play a game, the 2020 season was postponed and eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down most venues due to social distancing measures.{{Cite web |url=https://goifl.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20200413r1357p |title=IFL Cancels Remaining 2020 Games |website=IFL |date=April 13, 2020}} Adams stated the Shock would still play games in 2020 against any other team regardless of schedule once the government allowed venues to re-open,{{Cite web |url=https://thespokaneshock.com/ifl-cancels-remainder-of-2020-season/ |title=Shock Plans to Play Games as the IFL Cancels Remainder of 2020 Season |website=Spokane Shock |date=April 13, 2020}} which did not come to fruition.

The Shock played their first game since relaunching on May 15, 2021, in a 36–33 loss to the Frisco Fighters to start their 2021 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/may/18/spokane-shock-rewind-after-losing-sloppy-opener-sh/ |title=Spokane Shock rewind: After losing 'sloppy' opener, Shock hope to learn from their miscues in preparation for the Massachusetts Pirates |website=The Spokesman-Review |date=May 18, 2021}} Spokane advanced to the 2021 IFL playoffs, but were eliminated on August 28 in a quarterfinal game against Frisco.{{cite news |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/aug/28/spokane-shock-eliminated-from-ifl-playoffs/ |title=Spokane Shock eliminated from IFL Playoffs |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |date=August 28, 2021 |accessdate=September 13, 2021}}

On February 15, 2022, it was reported that Adams and the Shock had not signed lease with the arena for the 2022 season set to start in March. Adams was required to pay the arena by December 31, 2021, but the wired payment did not clear the bank.{{Cite web |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/investigations/shock-spokane-arena-no-contract-season/293-6efcb13e-c86d-4a53-8f45-6cba1659010f |title=No contract for Spokane Shock as Public Facilities District waits for $128,000 security bond |website=KREM |date=February 15, 2022}} He signed the lease later that day, but the arena had yet to be issued the $128,000 security bond and Adams had until February 23 or the lease would be terminated.{{Cite web |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/investigations/spokane-shock-misses-payment-deadline/293-db445119-b6ef-45e2-a00a-fbeb663c9aa4 |title=Spokane Shock misses deadline to supply $128,000 credit line |website=KREM |date=February 15, 2022}} It was extended to February 24, but Adams still did not make the payment in time and the Shock lost their lease for the 2022 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/investigations/spokane-shock-owner-misses-payment-deadline/293-b936a56b-2099-489a-8574-7a8646069fa9 |title=After 24-hour extension, Spokane Shock owner misses final deadline to supply security bond to play at Spokane Arena |website=KREM |date=February 24, 2022}} The Shock were subsequently removed from the IFL later that evening.{{cite web |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/investigations/spokane-shock-kicked-out-of-the-indoor-football-league/293-162b2695-23c1-4362-9ce3-31044c2c4e71 |title=Spokane Shock kicked out of the Indoor Football League |website=KREM |date=February 24, 2022}} On February 24, 2022, Adams was ordered to pay two former employees of his Shock franchise $9,342.18 in unpaid wages as well as former assistant general manager (and former AFL Shock player) Patrick Afif in two separate Washington State Department of Labor and Industries legal cases against him.{{Cite web |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/investigations/judge-rules-adams-didnt-pay-workers/293-e3d6e2b2-76dc-4d83-bb02-363ea7860967 |title=Judge ruled Spokane Shock owner Sam Adams didn't pay workers thousands in wages |website=KREM |date=February 24, 2022}} The next day, Adams stated he was applying to join the National Arena League (NAL), which is mostly based on the east coast, but the NAL quickly dismissed the idea.{{Cite web |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/investigations/nal-not-allow-shock-spokane/293-ea770420-92aa-4a6f-a27a-6eb000c1ce0a |title=NAL 'will not entertain' application to join league from Spokane Shock |website=KREM |date=February 25, 2022}}

On July 22, 2022, all assets of the Shock and Empire past were auctioned off in a liquidation sale where fans took home merchandise, trophies (including af2 and IFL trophies) and other assets left behind by Adams leaving town without warning. {{Cite web |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/jul/19/spokane-shock-equipment-memorabilia-trophies-aband |title=Spokane Shock equipment, memorabilia, trophies abandoned by former owner to be auctioned off |website=The Spokesman |date=July 19, 2022}} Adams has also stated that he has no plans to sell the Shock name and identity despite various lawsuits against him that are still in litigation.

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Spokane Shock arena football attendance records show the largest crowds: 10,662 vs. Tennessee Valley (Arena Cup 9 - August 25, 2008); 10,659 twice during 2008 regular season, and smallest crowds: 7,267 vs. Stockton 2009 playoffs (August 1, 2009); 9,387 vs. Stockton on March 30, 2006 (inaugural game).

Total all-time attendance, including playoff games while part of the af2 (2006–2009): 422,584
Total all-time sellouts including playoff games: 27

The Spokane Shock sold out the Spokane Arena for 19 consecutive regular season games starting with the regular season finale in 2006, and continuing to the second game in 2009. The last non-sellout regular season game was on June 26, 2009.

• 2006: (20,242) 1st round bye, 2nd round 9,692 vs Bakersfield, 3rd round 10,550 vs Arkansas, Arena Cup VII in Puerto Rico
• 2007: (8,272) 1st round 8,272 vs. Louisville
• 2008: (37,735) 1st round 8,872 vs. Austin, 2nd round 8,923 vs. Central Valley, 3rd round 9,278 vs. Amarillo, Arena Cup VIII at Spokane Arena 10,662 vs. Tennessee Valley.
• 2009: (24,555) 1st round 7,267 vs. Stockton, 2nd round 8,041 vs. Boise, 3rd round 9,247 vs. Tulsa, Arena Cup X in Las Vegas

• 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th highest total regular season attendance in af2 history: 83,306 (2009), 84,705 (2008), 84,556 (2007), 79,213 (2006).
• Largest crowd in Arena Cup History (10,662 – Arena Cup IX) Spokane vs. Tennessee Valley on August 25, 2008.
• Longest regular season sell-out streak in af2 history, 19 games.
• af2 season ticket sales record – 2007, almost 8,000.

• Largest crowd (outdoor): 16,233 vs. Utah Blaze (July 9, 2011 Joe Albi Outdoor Classic)
• Largest crowd (indoor): 10,775 vs. Chicago Rush (July 23, 2010)
• Smallest crowd: 7,497 vs. Las Vegas Outlaws (June 13, 2015)

• Largest crowd: 11,017 vs. Tampa Bay Storm ArenaBowl XXIII (August 20, 2010)
• Smallest crowd: 6,916 vs. Chicago Rush 1st Round (August 1, 2013)

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• 2010: (8,236) 1st round 8,236 vs. Arizona Rattlers August 6, 2010
• 2010: (8,151) Conference Championship 8,151 vs. Milwaukee Iron August 12, 2010
• 2010: (11,017) ArenaBowl XXIII 11,017 vs. Tampa Bay Storm August 20, 2010
• 2013: (6,916) 1st round 6,916 vs. Chicago Rush August 1, 2013

The Spokane Shock played the first outdoor arena football game on July 9, 2011, at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane. A Spokane Shock record crowd of 16,233 watched the Shock beat the Utah Blaze 76–49. Joe Albi Stadium holds between 20,000 and 24,000 for football. The shaded side of the stadium was filled to capacity, while the sunny side was about half full. Daytime temperatures reached over {{convert|90|F-change|0}} that day, and game time was pushed back to 6:00 PM PDT as a result.

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The following Shock players were named to All-Arena Teams:

• QB Erik Meyer
• WR Huey Whittaker, Adron Tennell
• OL Ed Ta'amu, Patrick Afif
• DL James Ruffin (2)
• DB Terrance Sanders
• K Kenny Spencer
• KR Terrance Sanders (3)

The following Shock players were named to All-Ironman Teams:

• WR/KR Terrance Sanders

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• QB Charles Dowdell
• RB Trevor Kennedy
• OL Dave Lefotu
• DL Benjamin Perry, J. D. Griggs
• LB Nick Haag
• DB Rob Brown, John Hardy-Tuliau

{{Main|List of Spokane Shock seasons}}

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• [http://www.thespokaneshock.com Team website]

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Category:2005 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:2015 disestablishments in Washington (state)

Category:2020 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:American football teams established in 2006

Category:American football teams disestablished in 2015

Category:American football teams established in 2020