Colorado Crush owner puts team up for sale

[David]

3.8.16 - 

Colorado Crush owner Tom Wigley announced on Monday that he is putting the team up for sale, citing health reasons.

Wigley, a retiree and a Northern Colorado resident for the last 20 years, posted a press release on the Crush's Facebook page. He revealed that he had been diagnosed as terminally ill in January 2016 and was given between 3-5 years left to live. He then announced the Crush were up for sale, assuring fans with a guarantee the team would finish out the 2016 season and continue to pay all current contracts and bills in full up until sometime after the season ends.

Here is the complete announcement by Wigley:

An important message from the Owner of the Colorado Crush:

Dear fans, sponsors, staff and players,

I have always attempted to run the Colorado Crush openly and honestly the last five plus years. Therefore, I write to you all the following:

In January of this year, I was diagnosed as terminally ill. At best, I have been given about three to five years to live. Because of this, my life priorities have changed and I will retire from professional football at the conclusion of this season.

Rest assured that the Crush will finish this season, all current year season contracts will be honored, and all current year season bills will be paid in full sometime after the season is over.

I announce today that the Colorado Crush Indoor Football Team is for sale. I am working closely with the Indoor Football League and others in our community with the hopes a new owner or owners can be found to continue indoor professional football in Northern Colorado. Those interested in acquiring the Colorado Crush organization can call Mike McCoy of the Indoor Football League office at 308-258-4429 or Aaron Ontiveros of the Colorado Crush at 970-472-0128.

I extend my personal thanks to all fans and sponsors of the Colorado Ice/Colorado Crush. I consider you all part of my extended family. I hope you feel the same and understand that given my time left on the planet, my life and my family's lives must take a new and different direction in the future.

A huge thank you to my general manager, head coach and more importantly good friend Heron O'Neal for all his hard work in building one of the most respected franchises in the Indoor Football League. My thanks also extend to my loyal staff, the IFL and all my playing partners/teams as well.

It has been a pleasure to be at the helm all these years and it saddens me, my wife Patty, and our daughters to inform you of this news.

Please continue to support the Crush and our sponsors this season as we make a final push to bring the IFL championship home to Colorado this year.

Go Crush!

All the best,

Thomas Wigley

Owner

Colorado Crush Indoor Football

Wigley and his wife Patty have been the majority owners of the Colorado Crush since April 2010. The team began play in 2007 as the Colorado Ice, an expansion team in the United Indoor Football league. In July 2008, the UIF merged with the Intense Football League and formed the current Indoor Football League. Last July, the team was re-branded as the Crush, one year after the trademark of the Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League team expired.

Although the statement has the feel that 2016 could be the Crush's final season, there's reason to be optimistic that the Crush will find a new ownership that's committed to staying in the Northern Colorado area. 

- DKH


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[DiamondThief]

This is pretty sad. It is so unfortunate that illness is making him shift his priorities, but I commend him for making the right decision. I would hate to see the team fold at the end of the season. I hope they can find a new owner.

[David]

Mar 8, 2016 18:54:10 GMT -8 DiamondThief said:

This is pretty sad. It is so unfortunate that illness is making him shift his priorities, but I commend him for making the right decision. I would hate to see the team fold at the end of the season. I hope they can find a new owner.

Agreed, Angi. I can't imagine how it'd feel to be told you're only given x-number of years to live. But I agree, I feel like he made the right decision in announcing now that he was selling the team and that he would honor all contracts & pay the team's bills. I can't imagine that going well in the AFL right now.

I'm hoping the team does get a new owner and goes on. I guess I have a bit of an admiration for the team based on the fact I really like their logo and they're based in where my Great Uncle Charles lived. Hopefully the new owner will be found soon and they'll stay active for the 2017 season. 

[Kasey]

Mar 8, 2016 18:54:10 GMT -8 DiamondThief said:

This is pretty sad. It is so unfortunate that illness is making him shift his priorities, but I commend him for making the right decision. I would hate to see the team fold at the end of the season. I hope they can find a new owner.

i agree. it's sad, but it's a strong prioritizing decision.

[Nevadanut]

This is old news by now, but I commend Mr. Wigley for his prioritization. Bless him. It's so fitting that an owner who obviously cares so much about the fans sold the team to Project FANchise, where decisions will be made by the same fans.