Pittsburgh Power

 ( 2010 Establishments In Pennsylvania ) 

The Pittsburgh Power were a professional arena football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team belonged to the East Division of the American Conference in the Arena Football League. Founded in 2010, the Power was the youngest franchise in the American Conference. The team played its home games at Consol Energy Center, which they shared with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. The Power shared the same color scheme (black and gold) as Pittsburgh's other professional sports teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL, and the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.

Pittsburgh was the fourth city added for the 2011 AFL season, joining the San Jose SaberCats, Kansas City Command and their new in-state rivals the Philadelphia Soul – who were all returning to the Arena Football League after a two-year absence.

The franchise competed through the 2014 season, where they finished a franchise best 15–3, but ownership decided to cease operations on November 17, 2014. AFL Commissioner Scott Butera said, "We are trying to affect a transaction that will allow the Power to continue to play in Pittsburgh." The team did not play as part of the AFL for the 2015 season, nor has it subsequently.

The following season was the Gladiators' fourth and last in Pittsburgh after co-owner Bob Greis decided to move the franchise to Tampa, Florida. The team was renamed the Tampa Bay Storm. Greis, who had several business interests in Florida, sold the franchise a few years later. During the Storms' first year in Tampa, the team defeated the Detroit Drive, 48–42, to win ArenaBowl V. The Storm remained in Tampa and reached the playoffs in each of their next 15 seasons, winning four more AFL titles.

In 2011, Jerry Kurz, the commissioner of the Arena Football League, stated to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the Gladiators move to Tampa had nothing to do with the attendance for the games. He instead stated that the issues that prompted the team to relocate had more to do with the lack of additional accouterments at the Civic Arena, such as updated luxury suites.

The team was originally rumored to be called the Pittsburgh River Wizards, according to sports blog Inside Pittsburgh Sports and by Pittsburgh-area radio host Mark Madden. The team name was changed to the Power before the official announcement by the team.

The Power played their first game in franchise history on March 11, 2011 at Consol Energy Center in front of 13,904 fans. They lost to the Philadelphia Soul in overtime by a score of 58–52. Despite this loss, the Power led the East Division with a 7–4 record at the end of week 13. However, they lost five of their final seven games, falling to 9–9 at the end of the season and finishing second in the division.

On April 14, the Power orchestrated the largest comeback in Arena Football League history. Down 48–17 in the third quarter to the Orlando Predators, backup quarterback Derek Cassidy led the team on a 34–3 run, taking the game into overtime. After the Predators kicked a field goal to make it 54–51, P. J. Berry returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to the Predators' 19-yard line. On the very next play, Cassidy connected with Christian Wise for a touchdown to win the game 57–54.

On June 8, the Power were scheduled to face the Cleveland Gladiators at Quicken Loans Arena. However, due to yet another labor dispute, the Gladiators failed to field enough players and forfeited, making the Power the first team in Arena Football League history to win in this manner.

On June 16, Power kicker Geoff Boyer successfully converted a two-point drop kick against the Milwaukee Mustangs. It was the first successful drop kick in the Arena Football League since 1997.

With a 5–13 record, the Power failed to qualify for the playoffs with a last place finish in the division.

With a 4–14 record, the Power failed to qualify for the playoffs with a last place finish in the division.

On March 15, the Power opened the season against the Cleveland Gladiators. After a net recovery touchdown by Arvell Nelson in the third quarter, the Power took a 45–28 lead. However, the Gladiators outscored the Power 35–8 the rest of the way to pull out a comeback victory. Head coach Derek Stingley was fired six days later and replaced by former Utah Blaze head coach Ron James.

James's first move was to acquire center Antonio Narcisse from the Portland Thunder. Narcisse had played with quarterback Tommy Grady (and under James) with the Utah Blaze from 2011 to 2013. Narcisse was the first of several players that James brought to the Power from his coaching tenures with the Blaze and Las Vegas Gladiators.

James led the Power to three consecutive wins in his first three games, during which the Power outscored opponents by a combined score of 174–78. However, back-to-back road trips to undefeated Arizona Rattlers and Cleveland brought consecutive losses.

At 3–3, the Power returned home to face the Philadelphia Soul, whom they had never defeated at Consol Energy Center. The Power set a new record against the Soul for points scored at home (65) in what would become their first of 12 consecutive wins to conclude the regular season. During this streak, the Power set new team records for wins in a season (15), consecutive wins (12), consecutive home wins (8) and consecutive road wins (6). The Power clinched their first winning season on June 14 against the Soul and their first playoff berth on June 20 against the Iowa Barnstormers.

On February 7, 2014, Trib Total Media purchased a multimillion-dollar stake in the Power, joining Shaner and Swann. The team will be run with a board of directors that will be chaired by Shaner, with Ralph Martin and Swann also on the board.

The franchise enjoyed the best season in 2014, posting a 15-3 record and earning their first playoff berth, but on November 17, 2014, the Power ownership group decided to cease operations.

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• OL Antonio Narcisse, Colin Madison
• K Julian Rauch
• KR P. J. Berry

• WR/KR P. J. Berry, 2012

• Official website