Tombstone
Born: 2001 – AF2 expansion franchise
Moved: October 29, 2003 (Manchester Wolves)
First Game: April 5, 2002 (L 29-14 vs. Albany Conquest)
Last Game: August 8, 2003 (L 47-30 @ Tennessee Valley Vipers)
ArenaCup Championships: None
Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena (7,500)
Opened: 2001
Branding
Team Colors: Metallic Blue, Silver & Gold
Ownership
Owner: Dr. Eric Margenau
Background
The Mohegan Wolves were a short-lived team in Arena Football 2, the small market, lower-budget developmental league formed in 2000 as a brand extension of the original Arena Football League (1987-2008).
At the time the Wolves joined up in 2002, AF2 was a sprawling 34-team league with franchises stretched from upstate New York to southern California. To keep costs down, the Wolves played primarily against regional opponents in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states.
The Wolves played at the newly built 7,500-seat arena inside the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. Veteran minor league baseball and hockey investor Dr. Eric Margenau was the owner of the team. Margenau had previous experience with indoor football, as Chairman of the Orlando Predators, one of the most popular clubs in the original Arena Football League.
Move To New Hampshire
The Wolves lasted two seasons at the casino, drawing modest crowds along the way. The team averaged 4,162 fans in 2002 as the expansion team finished 3-13. The next season was a big improvement on the carpet, with a 10-6 record and a trip to the playoffs. But it was a downbeat year at the box office. Attendance dipped to 3,699 per game.
In October 2003, new owners purchased the Wolves and moved the team to Manchester, New Hampshire. As the Manchester Wolves, the club played six more seasons (2004-2009). The franchise went out of business along with the rest of Arena Football 2 in 2009.
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