Columbus joins the Arena Football League as the Columbus Destroyers are set to take the field at Nationwide Arena when the 2004 season begins in February. Recent College Football Hall of Fame inductee Earle Bruce was named the first head coach and general manager of the Destroyers.

BUFFALO BUSINESS LEADER Mark Hamister has partnered with Ohio businessman James Renacci and majority owner of the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets, John H. McConnell, to form a local ownership group for the franchise.

While the Destroyers will celebrate their inaugural season in Columbus, the franchise has a five-year history in the AFL having played previously in Buffalo at HSBC Arena under the ownership of Hamister.

“Arena Football is one of the fastest growing and exciting professional sports leagues in the country,”

Hamister said.

“The Destroyers have a rich history of community involvement and team interaction with our fans. I am excited to have the opportunity to partner with Mr. McConnell and Mr. Renacci in bringing this team and this sport to Columbus.

“It’s fast, it’s affordable, it’s exciting football. Nationwide Arena is a premier venue with a staff that has a proven track record of providing a total entertainment experience for fans. We look forward to all of these new relationships in Columbus.”

Added Renacci, “I’m tremendously excited to be a part of bringing this action-packed professional football league to Central Ohio. The football fans in this city are the greatest in the world. The timing of the AFL season which begins in February and concludes with the ArenaBowl in June, will provide a year-round football fix for these passionate fans in Ohio.”

The Destroyers will play a 16-week schedule with eight home games played at Nationwide Arena, sharing the venue with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of introducing another exciting new sport to Central Ohio and specifically, to share Nationwide Arena with our Columbus Blue Jackets,” said McConnell.

“As Blue Jackets fans have discovered, coming to Nationwide Arena is about more than just watching a game, it is about an experience. The Columbus Destroyers promise to deliver an equally exciting, first-rate experience attached to professional football.”

By being named the Destroyers first head coach and general manager, Bruce marks his return to the Arena game after a two-year absence.

After an illustrious college coaching career that began more than five decades ago, Bruce began his AFL coaching career during the 1994 season with the Cleveland Thunderbolts.

He then spent the 1995-96 season with the St. Louis Stampede, leading them to an expansion team record of 9-4 capped off with a trip to the playoffs.

In 2001, Bruce coached the Iowa Barnstormers in the AF2 League.

His numerous accomplishments during his years coaching at Ohio State University, the University of Tampa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa and Colorado State University, earned him a spot among the 2003 inductees of the College Football Hall of Fame.