The Short-Lived Toronto Phantoms Era

Part of

collection

This franchise began in New York State and moved to Connecticut before relocating and renaming themselves The Phantoms for the 2001 Arena Football League season.

They never stood a chance. Torontonians love big-league sports, but the Arena Football League was a third-tier circuit. The Phantoms posted tepid results: in 2001, they won 8 and lost 6 games. In 2002, they managed 5 wins and 9 losses. Audiences never warmed to them and attendance at most games hovered just below 7,000. The team suspended operations in 2002, and never returned.

 

An article excerpt from The Toronto Star with the headline, "Going, going...gone," published on January 2, 2003. The article details the end of the Toronto Phantoms arena football team due to an underwhelming audience in the city.
An article excerpt from The Toronto Star with the headline, “Going, going…gone,” published on January 2, 2003. The article details the end of the Toronto Phantoms arena football team due to an underwhelming audience in the city.

More by Winners and Losers

A Journey in Feminism, Sports and Footwear

Video

• 10:59

Lacrosse Introduction

Video

Winfield Wants Noise

Article

Toronto’s Paralympic Games

Article

Marilyn Bell Crosses the Lake

Video

Cheering for the Red Handers

Article

More by Football

The Argonauts Turn 150 and Don’t Give Up

Article

The NFL That Never Was in Toronto

Article

The Ricky Williams Experiment

Article

The Vanier Cup

Article

“Rocket” Ismail Signs with the Argos

Article

Michael “Pinball” Clemons Debuts for the Argos

Article