The Houston ThunderBears were a professional arena football team based in Houston, Texas. The franchise competed in the Arena Football League (AFL) from 1996 until 2001.
Origins and name changes
The team entered the AFL in 1996 as the Texas Terror, playing its home games at the Summit (the arena then shared with the NBA’s Houston Rockets). After two seasons marked by poor attendance, the franchise was rebranded as the Houston ThunderBears in 1998, adopting a new logo and color scheme of navy, orange, and teal.
Home venue
From 1996 through 2000 the ThunderBears played at the Compaq Center in Houston. In the 2001 season the team operated as a traveling showcase squad, playing games in various markets rather than in Houston.
Competitive record
- Division championship: 1998 (the only division title in franchise history).
- Playoff appearance: 1998, losing in the first round to the Arizona Rattlers.
- Overall performance: The ThunderBears posted a single winning season (1998) and struggled on the field and at the box office in subsequent years.
Personnel
Steve Thonn served as head coach during the ThunderBears era.
Ownership and demise
Leslie Alexander, owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, acquired the team and, after the 2000 season, sold the franchise back to the AFL. Although the team retained the Houston ThunderBears name, it ceased playing home games in Houston in 2001 and was ultimately folded after that season.
Context
The ThunderBears operated during a period when Houston lacked an NFL franchise; the city’s previous NFL team, the Houston Oilers, relocated in 1996, and the new NFL expansion team, the Houston Texans, would not begin play until 2002. The loss of a major football market, combined with economic factors such as declining oil prices, contributed to the ThunderBears’ attendance challenges and eventual dissolution.