Duluth Harbor Monsters

The Duluth Harbor Monsters are a professional Arena football team based in Duluth, Minnesota. They were announced as one of the four inaugural teams of The Arena League (TAL) on April 5, 2023. This is the second professional arena/indoor football team to the Duluth area, the first being the Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks of the IFL. The Harbor Monsters play their games at the DECC Arena.

History

Duluth was announced as the second team on April 5, 2023, to be a part of the inaugural season of The Arena League. The announcement was made at a press conference at the Garden Event Center in Duluth and included notable figures including the city mayor, Emily Larson, and the league commissioner, Tim Brown.

The DECC Arena agreed to a 3-year lease to be the home field for the team.

The Duluth Harbor Monsters had an extraordinary debut season, delivering high-energy, fast-paced, and high-scoring football games that captivated thousands of passionate fans at every home game. The electrifying atmosphere was enhanced by halftime concerts, professional cheerleaders, and DJs spinning hype tracks throughout the game, ensuring the crowd stayed energized.

The Harbor Monsters concluded their first season with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses, earning them a spot to host a playoff game against the Ozarks Lunkers. Following their victory against the Lunkers, the Harbor Monsters advanced to host the championship game—the inaugural ArenaMania—where they faced off against the Iowa Woo. The coin toss for ArenaMania I was conducted by Duluth's newly elected mayor, Roger J. Reinert, and the halftime show featured a performance by the rock band, Palisade.

ArenaMania I was a thrilling contest, with the Harbor Monsters narrowly defeating the Iowa Woo 46–44 to become champions of The Arena League. This historic win marked the Harbor Monsters as the first professional football team in Minnesota to claim a championship in the modern era.

Team name and logos

On July 27, 2023 team owner, Brent LaBrie, announced the four finalists for the team name: Sasquatch, Norsemen, Harbor Monsters, and Lakers. The represented city name was also narrowed down to four finalists: Twin Ports, Minnesota, Lake Superior, and Duluth.

The Duluth Harbor Monsters’ team name and logo were officially unveiled on August 24, 2023, during a press conference at the DECC. The name originated from a "Name-the-Team" contest that garnered nearly 2,000 submissions. The final four names underwent a fan vote, resulting in an almost three-way tie between Sasquatch, Norsemen, and Harbor Monsters, with Harbor Monsters emerging victorious.

The team's logo, created by Ryan Foose of Foose Sports, draws inspiration from the mythical Mishipeshu, the legendary underwater panther of Lake Superior. The design incorporates blue and gold, paying tribute to Minnesota's state colors. Minnesota resident Ian Thorpe, who submitted the winning name, earned the honor of naming the team.

Roster

On December 18, 2023 the Harbor Monsters signed Ja’Vonte Johnson, the franchise's first player.

The Harbor Monsters' first open tryouts were held on January 6, 2024. The team's second open tryouts were held on February 2, 2024.

On May 14, 2024, the Harbor Monsters signed Terrance Wenzel and Moe Strong, both former players for the Minnesota Myth of the Arena Football League. The pair joined the team following the dissolution of the Myth franchise.

On March 7, 2025, the Harbor Monsters signed Dan Williams III; he previously was on several NFL practice squads and most recently played for the Orlando Guardians of the XFL.

Season-by-season

Staff

Management

On July 27, 2023 Kramer Sports and Entertainment was announced as the owner of the team, led by Brent LaBrie, Dan Manor, Becca Ress, and Candyce Sorensen were announced as the team operations managers.
LaBrie is the CEO of Hi-Tec Finishing and Kramer Service Group; his companies have sponsored NHRA drag racing, including racer Del Worsham.

On October 2, 2023 Steven Walters was named as the team's general manager. Walters previously served as Channel Marketing Manager at Fasetto, a technology start-up originally based in Superior, Wisconsin, where he oversaw both the marketing and sales teams under CMO Dan Bruck and CEO Coy Christmas.

Tony O'Neil was announced as the team's inaugural head coach on October 16, 2023. O'Neil previously was an assistant coach at Duluth Denfeld and also played professional arena football for three years.

External links

Official Website

References

{{Minnesota Sports

The Arena League teams
American football teams in Minnesota
Sports in Duluth, Minnesota
American football teams established in 2023
2023 establishments in Minnesota