A comeback for indoor football? It was being discussed 18 years ago

In the fall of 2001, the president of the National Indoor Football League met with possible investors who could support an arena football team at the La Crosse Center. The visit by Carolyn Shiver came about a year after the La Crosse River Rats played a single season inside the arena. Shiver said a new team would need to average 2700 fans a game to break even. A new franchise did come to town, called the Night Train. It lasted a couple of seasons.

The La Crosse park board was asked to consider leasing the parking lot north of Piggy’s restaurant to new Piggy’s owner Chris Roderique, who used to be the executive chef at the Radisson. Piggy’s was still directly on the riverfront, where Logistics Health buildings are located now.

The La Crosse Community Theatre was preparing to open the 2001 fall season with the musical ‘The Fantasticks.’ LCT was invited to represent the U.S. at an international theatre festival in Japan that November. ‘The Fantasticks’ won the people’s choice award at the festival 18 years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.