History
In January of 2008, the Premier Arena Soccer League announced plans to form a new professional league. The first official meeting of owners occurred on May 18, 2008. The ratification of the By Laws made it official. The Professional Arena Soccer League was in business with the Stockton Cougars, who had played the previous three seasons as the California Cougars in the Major Indoor Soccer League, as the first official team. The Wenatchee Fire, Colorado Lightning, 1790 Cincinnati, Denver Dynamite, Detroit Waza, St. Louis Illusion, and the Texas Outlaws made up the inaugural 2008/2009 season franchises in the United States. Pre-season agreements made with Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League (CMISL) and the Liga Mexicana de Futbol Rapido (LMFR) meant that the inaugural season would see a truly North American league.
The Texas Outlaws 2008/2009 season had a rocky start. Plans to use the Reunion Arena turf and goals at the NYTEX Sports Centre had to be scrapped on several occasions. Despite having the most talented team in the league, lack of funding and sponsorship made it impossible for the ownership to continue operation. The league took ownership of the team on December 19, 2008 with management of the team handled by potential investors locally. Frustrated with the changes, many of the original players opted not to continue playing. Coach Kevin Leonard, Defender John Andrews, Midfielder Anthony Jama, Forward Chuck Salas, Midfielder John Martinez, Goalie Adam Jochelson, Defender Anthony Lewis, Forward Adrian Puscas, Defender David Warner, Defender Jared Lee, and Forward Jason Gotcher were the first to step forward for the new management. They were later joined by veteran players Jon Waters and Jamie Harrigan. Coach Leonard worked to rebuild the team from scratch.
The new management team immediately went to work trying to solve financial and logistical issues the team faced in the first part of the season. Home games were moved to Arena Athletics for the remainder of the 2008/2009 season as a first step. The players contributed to the entire effort by agreeing to play with severely reduced pay. Despite the challenges, the team was able to finish the season with three wins and six losses after the change in management. This was a phenomenal accomplishment considering that the average age of the team was below 23 years.
Following the end of the season, The Capstan Group (TCG) purchased the franchise from the league. TCG is a small niche consulting firm based in San Rafael, California. Marco Juarez, one of the partners in the firm, was named General Manager of the Texas Outlaws. TCG simultaneously struck a deal with NYTEX Sports Centre to convert the west ice rink to a full time indoor soccer arena. The arena inaugurated recreational youth and adult league play on April 13, 2009. The first goal in recreational league play was scored by none other than Texas Outlaw Anthony Lewis. The Texas Outlaws will start the 2009/2010 season with most of the 2008/2009 player roster returning to pre-seasoning training and a new home at TCG Arena at NYTEX Sports Centre.
