Rapid City Marshals Introduced as CIF’s Newest Team
New Team Becomes League’s 4th Expansion Team for 2022
By Tim G./CIF Staff Writer
At a press conference held Friday morning at Main Street Square in Rapid City, South Dakota, with interim CIF commissioner Tommy Benizio, Rapid City team co-owner Tel Koan and Rapid City general manager Nick Tomlinson, the Rapid City Marshals were introduced as the league’s newest expansion franchise for 2022.
The Marshals are owned by Buffalo, South Dakota-based Pick-Six Entertainment LLC, which is a company co-owned by Koan and his business partner, Keith Russ. Pick-Six also owns the CIF’s Wyoming Mustangs, a team that began play in 2021, and the CIF’s Billings Outlaws, another expansion team that will debut in 2022.
“We are very proud of our teams in Gillette (Wyoming) and Billings and how they fit into their respected communities,” said Russ, “However, Rapid City was always our first choice when considering launching a team. We are so pleased that the timing is finally right and we look forward to providing the people of South Dakota with a team that they can take great pride in.”
The Marshals will play their home games at Rapid City’s brand new Summit Arena, which is located at The Monument (previously known as Rushmore Plaza Civic Center).
“Rapid City is a remarkable city with passionate sports fans who I believe will embrace all that the CIF has to offer,” added Benizio. “The league and its directors are all very proud to have the Marshals and its fans as part of our growing family.”
Rapid City joins the Billings Outlaws and the yet to be named Topeka and Denver franchises as the four CIF expansion teams that will debut in 2022.
This brings the total amount of teams for the 2022 season to 10, which includes the six teams that participated in the 2021 season.
As of this writing, the status of the Amarillo Venom, West Texas Warbirds and Oklahoma Flying Aces for 2022 was not immediately known, as rumors continue to swirl regarding the immediate future of those three franchises.
More information regarding those three teams is expected to be announced in the near future.
