Topeka Tropics

American indoor football team

Topeka Tropics

Established 2021
Folded 2024
Played in Stormont Vail Events Center
in Topeka, Kansas
TopekaTropics.com
League/conference affiliations

* Champions Indoor Football (2022–2023)

Current uniform

Team colors| Teal, orange, and tan

Personnel
Owner(s)| TCB Consulting LLC - Trevor Burdett, Chad Logan, Josh Barr
Team history

* Topeka Tropics (2022–2023)

Championships
League championships (0)

Conference championships (0)

Division championships (0)

Home arena(s)

* Stormont Vail Events Center (2022–2023)

The Topeka Tropics were a professional indoor football based in Topeka, Kansas, and played their home games at the Stormont Vail Events Center. The team originally folded after its inaugural 2022 season, but was renewed under new ownership before the 2023 season. The Tropics a were the third indoor football team to be based in Topeka following the Topeka Knights/Kings (1999–2000) and the Kansas Koyotes (2003–2014).

## History

[edit]

On August 9, 2021, Champions Indoor Football (CIF) announced an expansion team to be based in Topeka for the 2022 season with Sioux City Bandits' owner J. R. Bond serving as the team's owner and Brett Kell as the Assistant General Manager of Game Day Operations.[1] After a name-the-team contest was held, the Tropics name, logo, and color scheme were unveiled on September 8. Although Topeka does not have a tropical climate and is roughly 790 miles from the closest sea (the Gulf of Mexico), Bond chose the unusual name to symbolize how unconventional the Tropics organization would be both on and off the field.[2] On October 5, the Tropics announced former Arena Football League player Tyus Jackson as its inaugural head coach.[3] The team did not win a regular season game, posting a record of 0–10 in their first season. On August 25, 2022, the Tropics announced that they would cease operations and not return for a second season;[4] however, this decision was reversed later that same year after new local ownership was found.[5][6]

In July 2023, the Tropics announced they were leaving the CIF for a new league along with the Omaha Beef and Sioux City Bandits.[7] They joined the National Arena League (NAL) for the 2024 season on September 14.[8] They also announced Kerry Locklin as their new head coach.[9] By February 2024, the NAL revoked the Tropics' franchise for failure to pay league dues and the team's prospective owner for the 2024 season backed out of an agreement to buy the team, prompting management to release an open letter begging the Topeka business community to buy the team.[10] This was ultimately unsuccessful, and on February 28, 2024, the league terminated the Tropics membership.[11] Co-owner Trevor Burdett and coach Tyus Jackson joined the Iowa Rampage of the Arena Football League, a league that absorbed the remnants of CIF.[12]

## Season-by-season results

[edit]

League champions | Playoff berth | League leader

|
|

Season | League | Regular season | Postseason results

|
|
|

Finish | Wins | Losses
2022  | CIF | 8th  | 0  | 10  | Did not qualify
2023  | CIF  | 7th  | 1  | 9  | Did not qualify
Totals  | 1 | 19 | All-time regular season record
0 | 0 | All-time postseason record
1 | 19 | All-time regular season and postseason record

## Head coaches

[edit]

Name  | Tenure  | Regular season  | Playoffs  | Awards

|
|
|
|

W  | L  | Win%  | W  | L
Tyus Jackson | 2022–2023  | 1  | 19  | .050  | 0  | 0  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Champions Indoor Football League Adds New Team for 2022". August 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
2. ^ Campbell, Marleah (September 8, 2021). "Topeka's new indoor football team reveals name". WIBW-TV. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
3. ^ "Topeka Tropics Owner J.R. Bond has announced the hiring of Tyus Jackson as the team's inaugural head coach". Topeka Tropics Facebook. October 5, 2021.
4. ^ "Tropics not returning to Topeka for 2023 season". August 25, 2022.
5. ^ Lovergine, Vince (September 28, 2022). "Topeka Tropics to return in 2023". www.wibw.com. WIBW-TV. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
6. ^ "TROPICS STAY IN TOPEKA". Topeka Tropics. February 2, 2023.
7. ^ "Sioux City Bandits leaving the Champions Indoor Football League". KTIV. July 26, 2023.
8. ^ "NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE EXPANSION CONTINUES IN KANSAS". NAL. September 14, 2023.
9. ^ "Former NFL coach joins Topeka Tropics". KSNT. September 15, 2023.
10. ^ Self, Matthew (February 22, 2024). "Topeka Tropics put out 'heartfelt call' for investors after owner backs out". KSNT via Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
11. ^ "NAL BOARD TERMINATES TOPEKA TROPICS MEMBERSHIP". National Arena League. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
12. ^ Iowa Rampage (January 23, 2024). "Jackon Takes The Helm As Head Coach For The Iowa Rampage". Retrieved March 1, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

National Arena League

Teams|

* Beaumont Renegades
* Carolina Cobras
* Colorado Spartans
* Columbus Lions
* Idaho Horsemen
* Omaha Beef
* Shreveport Rouxgaroux
* Sioux City Bandits
* Wheeling Miners

Venues|

* Columbus Civic Center (Columbus)
* Denver Coliseum (Colorado)
* Ford Arena (Beaumont)
* Ford Idaho Center (Idaho)
* Greensboro Coliseum Complex (Carolina)
* Hirsch Memorial Coliseum (Shreveport)
* Liberty First Credit Union Arena (Omaha)
* Tyson Events Center (Sioux City)
* WesBanco Arena (Wheeling)

Former teams|

* Albany Empire (2021–2023)
* Corpus Christi Rage (2017)
* Dayton Wolfpack (2017)
* Fayetteville Mustangs (2023)
* Georgia Firebirds (2017)
* High Country Grizzlies (2017)
* Jacksonville Sharks (2017–2023)
* Jersey Flight (2020–2021)
* Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (2017–2018)
* Maine Mammoths (2018)
* Massachusetts Pirates (2018–2020)
* Monterrey Steel (2017)
* New York Streets (2019)
* Oklahoma Flying Aces (2024)
* Orlando Predators (2019–2023)
* San Antonio Gunslingers (2022–2023)
* West Texas Warbirds (2023)
* West Virginia Roughriders (2020)

Former venues|

* Albany Civic Center (Georgia)
* Amway Center (Orlando)
* Arena Monterrey (Monterrey)
* Chisholm Trail Coliseum (Oklahoma)
* Cross Insurance Arena (Maine)
* Crown Coliseum (Fayetteville)
* CURE Insurance Arena (Jersey)
* DCU Center (Massachusetts)
* Ector County Coliseum (West Texas)
* Freeman Coliseum (San Antonio)
* Holmes Center (High Country)
* MVP Arena (Albany)
* PPL Center (Lehigh Valley)
* VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville)
* Westchester County Center (New York)

Seasons|

* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Champions Indoor Football

Teams|

* Billings Outlaws
* Gillette Mustangs
* ICT Regulators
* Rapid City Marshals
* Salina Liberty
* Southwest Kansas Storm

Venues|

* CAM-PLEX Wyoming Center
* First Interstate Arena
* Hartman Arena
* Summit Arena at The Monument
* Tony's Pizza Events Center
* United Wireless Arena

Former teams|

* Amarillo Venom (2015–2020)
* Bismarck Bucks (2017–2018)
* Bloomington Edge (2016–2017)
* CenTex Cavalry (2017)
* Chicago Eagles (2016)
* Dodge City Law (2014–2017, 2021)
* Duke City Gladiators (2015–2019)
* Kansas City Phantoms (2017–2018)
* Mesquite/Dallas Marshals (2016–2018)
* Oklahoma Flying Aces (2019–2020)
* Omaha Beef (2015–2023)
* Quad City Steamwheelers (2018)
* Salina Bombers (2015)
* San Angelo Bandits (2015–2016)
* Sioux City Bandits (2015–2023)
* Texas Revolution (2015–2019)
* Topeka Tropics (2022–2023)
* West Michigan Ironmen (2017)
* West Texas Warbirds (2020)
* Wichita Force (2015–2021)

Former venues|

* Allen Event Center
* Amarillo Civic Center
* Bell County Expo Center
* Bismarck Event Center
* Comerica Center
* Ector County Coliseum
* Fair Park Coliseum
* Ford Center at The Star
* Foster Communications Coliseum
* Grossinger Motors Arena
* Intrust Bank Arena
* Kansas Star Arena
* L. C. Walker Arena
* Liberty First Credit Union Arena
* Mesquite Arena
* Silverstein Eye Centers Arena
* Stormont Vail Events Center
* Stride Bank Center
* TaxSlayer Center
* Tingley Coliseum
* Tyson Events Center
* UIC Pavilion

Seasons|

* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Champions Bowl|

* I
* II
* III
* IV
* V
* VI
* VII
* VIII

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Kansas

Baseball|

Wichita Wind Surge

Kansas City Monarchs

Garden City Wind
JCL
Bethany Bulls
Derby Twins
Dodge City A's
El Dorado Broncos
Hays Larks
Haysville Aviators
Liberal Bee-Jays
Wellington Heat
MPL
Baldwin City Blues
Junction City Brigade
Rossville Rattlers
Sabetha Lobos
Topeka Golden Giants

Football|

AF1
Salina Liberty
Southwest Kansas Storm
Wichita Regulators

Hockey|

ECHL
Wichita Thunder
FPHL
Topeka Scarecrows

Roller derby|

WFTDA
ICT Roller Girls
Kansas City Roller Warriors

Soccer|

MLS
Sporting Kansas City
MLS Next Pro
Sporting Kansas City II
USL2
Kaw Valley FC
FC Wichita
NPSL
Sunflower State FC

College
athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

* Kansas Jayhawks
* Kansas State Wildcats
* Wichita State Shockers

|

NCAA
Division II|

* Emporia State Hornets and Lady Hornets
* Fort Hays State Tigers
* Newman Jets
* Pittsburg State Gorillas
* Washburn Ichabods

NAIA|

* Baker Wildcats
* Benedictine Ravens
* Bethany Swedes
* Bethel Threshers
* Central Christian Tigers
* Friends Falcons
* Haskell Indian Nations Fighting Indians
* Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes
* McPherson Bulldogs
* MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers
* Ottawa Braves
* Saint Mary Spires
* Southwestern Moundbuilders
* Sterling Warriors
* Tabor Bluejays

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