Almost a decade after the team disbanded and the league closed down, professional indoor football has returned to the Quad Cities. Tuesday, one day after practice began, the Quad City Steamwheelers held a ceremonial ribbon cutting to open their new office in downtown Moline.
Team owner Doug Bland hopes the Steamwheelers will bring excitement back to the Quad Cities.
"It seems like yesterday in August we had our press conference announcing the team was coming back to the TaxSlayer Center, and we've just been on a whirlwind tour since then trying to get everything in place. Bringing a team back to the community is something we were really excited about doing knowing the great history the team had in this community."
The first Steamwheelers team won two AF2 league championships, in 2000 and 2001, before the league and team disbanded in 2009. AF2 was the developmental league for the Arena Football League.
The new team will play in the Champions Indoor Football league.
Steamwheelers head coach Cory Ross played football for the University of Nebraska and then for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL.
The Steamwheelers play their first game on Sunday, Feb. 25th, hosting the Chicago Marauders at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline.
