Memphis Hound Dogs
Encyclopedia
For the professional basketball team, click on Memphis Houn'Dawgs
The Memphis Hound Dogs were a proposed NFL team in the mid-1990s. William Dunavant
, Paul Tudor Jones
, Fred Smith
and Elvis Presley
Enterprises were the members of the potential ownership group.
In 1993, the NFL invited potential owners from four finalists to make a presentation; after which two teams would be selected as expansion teams. Along with representatives from the Jacksonville Jaguars
, Carolina Panthers
, Baltimore Bombers
and St. Louis Stallions
, the potential franchise owners gave a presentation to NFL owners in hopes of attracting an NFL Team. Carolina and Jacksonville were chosen to become expansion teams and started in 1995.
After the NFL bid failed, Smith continued his desire to form a football team and contacted the Canadian Football League
, then expanding into the United States
, who gave him an expansion franchise that would be known as the similarly named Memphis Mad Dogs
(the name change is presumably due to Presley's estate not being involved in the franchise). The Mad Dogs played one year in the CFL, but after weeks of declining attendance, the Mad Dogs folded (along with the rest of the American CFL franchises).
All five of the proposed expansion cities would get NFL teams by 1997 through expansion or moved franchises; however, Memphis's was only temporary, as they hosted the Tennessee Oilers
for only one year while Nashville
worked out stadium issues. Yet Memphis would not be without a professional sports team for long, as the Vancouver Grizzles of the NBA would relocate there to become the Memphis Grizzlies
in 2001, who have remained there since.
Memphis Houn'Dawgs
The Memphis Houn'Dawgs was an American Basketball Association team based in Memphis, Tennessee.The team began play in the fall of 2000. The team played in the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi, and only played the 2000-2001 ABA season before disbanding.They finished second place in the...
The Memphis Hound Dogs were a proposed NFL team in the mid-1990s. William Dunavant
William Dunavant
William Dunavant, better known as Billy Dunavant is one of the leaders in the cotton industry. -Early life:Billy Dunavant was born on December 19, 1932 to William and Dorothy Dunavant. He was educated first at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, then at Vanderbilt University, and finally received...
, Paul Tudor Jones
Paul Tudor Jones
Paul Tudor Jones II , is the founder of Tudor Investment Corporation, which is the management company for his various private investment partnerships, also referred to as hedge funds. As of March 2011, he was estimated to have a net worth of USD 3.3 billion by Forbes Magazine and ranked as 336th...
, Fred Smith
Frederick W. Smith
Fred Sidney Smith III , or Fred Smith, is the founder, chairman, president, and CEO of FedEx, originally known as Federal Express, the first overnight express delivery company in the world, and the largest in the United States...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
Enterprises were the members of the potential ownership group.
In 1993, the NFL invited potential owners from four finalists to make a presentation; after which two teams would be selected as expansion teams. Along with representatives from the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, Baltimore Bombers
Baltimore Bombers
The Baltimore Bombers were a proposed National Football League expansion team located in Baltimore, Maryland. When the NFL was awarding expansion teams to two cities in 1993, Baltimore was among the cities vying for a team...
and St. Louis Stallions
St. Louis Stallions
The St. Louis Stallions were a proposed National Football League expansion team to be located in St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis had lost the Cardinals franchise, which moved to Phoenix and became the Arizona Cardinals. The city entered the race to get a team for the 1995 NFL season.The team would...
, the potential franchise owners gave a presentation to NFL owners in hopes of attracting an NFL Team. Carolina and Jacksonville were chosen to become expansion teams and started in 1995.
After the NFL bid failed, Smith continued his desire to form a football team and contacted the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, then expanding into the United States
CFL USA
The term CFL USA refers to the abortive expansion of the Canadian Football League into the United States in the early-to-mid 1990s. The 1993 CFL season saw the addition of the first American team to the league, the Sacramento Gold Miners...
, who gave him an expansion franchise that would be known as the similarly named Memphis Mad Dogs
Memphis Mad Dogs
The Memphis Mad Dogs were a Canadian football team that played the 1995 season in the Canadian Football League. The Mad Dogs were part of a failed attempt to expand the CFL into the United States....
(the name change is presumably due to Presley's estate not being involved in the franchise). The Mad Dogs played one year in the CFL, but after weeks of declining attendance, the Mad Dogs folded (along with the rest of the American CFL franchises).
All five of the proposed expansion cities would get NFL teams by 1997 through expansion or moved franchises; however, Memphis's was only temporary, as they hosted the Tennessee Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
for only one year while Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
worked out stadium issues. Yet Memphis would not be without a professional sports team for long, as the Vancouver Grizzles of the NBA would relocate there to become the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
in 2001, who have remained there since.