Denver Avalanche
The Denver Avalanche, based in Denver, Colorado, played two seasons, 1980-81 and 1981-82, in the top indoor soccer league in the US. The league awarded the franchise to Ron Maierhofer in February 1980. Home games were at McNichols Sports Arena, where the team competed with the city's pro basketball and hockey clubs for fans and winter dates. Dave Clements coached.
The first game was a 10-4 loss at Buffalo on November 14, 1980. The first home game, five days later, drew 10,656 for an overtime win over San Francisco. The team finished 16-24 and missed the playoffs, but its average crowd of 7,699 ranked fourth in the league. Adrian Brooks was MVP of the league's All-Star Game.
In 1981-82 the Avalanche went 19-25 and reached the playoffs, and Clements was named Coach of the Year despite the losing record. Brooks's contract ran out before the playoffs and he sat out. St. Louis swept the first round. The last game was a 7-6 home loss to St. Louis on April 30, 1982.
The money ran out that spring. The ownership group was short of capital. The league kept the franchise alive on paper but left it off the 1982-83 schedule, and a bankruptcy case ended plans for a 1983 return. In June 1983 the team's assets went to investors in Tacoma, Washington, who started a new club with much of the roster.
