MLQ is always looking for opportunities to expand the reach of its franchise, as well as optimize the franchises’ opportunities for success. Every offseason, the league does a full evaluation of all existing franchises as well as opportunities for future growth. This year, we have identified two such opportunities, and are excited to welcome two new franchises to our slate of teams: Charlotte and Chicago.
Charlotte will become a full-fledged MLQ franchise after two successful years as an expansion team. The Indianapolis franchise will be moved to Chicago, with an entirely new brand.
Charlotte has been a model expansion franchise over the past two seasons. The team demonstrated not only competitive play and effective organization, but also the ability to create channels for long-term growth and development. This made the decision to promote the franchise incredibly easy. Hanna Reese and Lee Hodge will return as manager and head coach, respectively. The team will retain its current branding.
“This has been our goal since we began the Southeast Summer Quidditch League,” Reese said. “The Carolinas have so many talented players and now we are thrilled to be able to continually show them off in MLQ. The East Division has a lot of tough competition, and I am so proud of our Aviators for always working hard and playing their hearts out. Thank you to all of our players, supporters, those that participated in the Southeast Summer Quidditch League, and the MLQ staff for helping us make this dream a reality!”
The Indianapolis Intensity franchise has been relocated to Chicago and rebranded as the Chicago Prowl.
Chicago is home to an active and growing community of quadball players. Columbia College recently qualified for the college division at the US Quadball national championship for the first time in program history. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign also qualified for the tournament.
Beyond the college level, Chicago currently has two USQ club teams: Chicago United Quadball Club and Boom Train Quadball Club. Players from both teams have historically traveled to Indiana to play for the Intensity during the MLQ season. However, the number of players from the Chicago area have significantly outnumbered players from greater Indianapolis in recent seasons.
MLQ is working with members of the existing Intensity staff to determine leadership for the relocated franchise. The team underwent a full rebrand to better accommodate its new home.
The name and logo draw inspiration from the iconic pair of lion statues outside the Art Institute of Chicago, one of which the sculptor positioned "on the prowl." The Art Institute's permanent home was constructed for the World's Columbian Exposition, which the Chicago flag represents as one of its four stars, also found on the back of the Prowl's mascot. Another star symbolizes the Great Chicago Fire, present in the mascot's orange fur and contrasting with the blues representing Lake Michigan. The retention of the orange also pays homage to the franchise’s original Intensity branding.
Updates to each franchise’s social media and the MLQ website will take place in the coming weeks. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these franchises, contact us at partnerships@mlquadball.com.
Follow Charlotte on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Chicago on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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