When Edmund Marquez went to Indoor Football League games at Tucson Arena, he saw the vision of what the Tucson Sugar Skulls could become.
Marquez saw "a dirty word in business, which is 'potential,'" he said.
When Marquez — who owns the Edmund Marquez Allstate Insurance Agencies and is vice chairman of the Rio Nuevo board — went to games last season, he went as a fan of the Sugar Skulls.
The foundation of Tucson's IFL franchise was enough for him to make a bid to co-owners Cathy and Kevin Guy, and take over as majority owner and team president, with minority owner Ali Farhang — who is the chairman of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl and co-founder of "Farhang & Medcoff" law firm — as his partner.
In October, Marquez was announced as majority owner and president with a 25% stake; Farhang's share is 20%.
"All I saw was potential," said Marquez. "I saw stands that were barely filled, but I saw players that were playing passionately on the field. I saw groups of fans that really cared. When it came to this team, the devil is in the details. We're turning over every freaking rock we can touch to upgrade. I'm appreciative of what Kevin and Cathy Guy built. They built the structure, but the structure needs to be built upon now."
The Tucson Sugar Skulls are now owned by community investors, including businessman Edmund Marquez and attorney Ali Farhang. Investors pose for a photo at the Sugar Skulls press conference on Oct. 14.
The Guys founded the team in 2019. Since the Sugar Skulls opened, the team has a 33-45 overall record and is 0-3 in the postseason. Tucson has cycled through five head coaches, including first-year head coach Rayshaun Kizer. The Sugar Skulls went a combined 8-24 the last two seasons.
Rather than shouldering a traditional ownership model, Marquez and Farhang created a model that hasn't been formed in the IFL — an ownership group that is known as the Sugar Skulls' board of governors. The board of governors is composed of local business owners. It's the first and only model of its kind in the IFL.
Tucson's board of governors: Marquez; Farhang; Tony and Hedy Ramani; Derrick Polder; Marco Mercaldo; Brad and Anita Feder; Jay and Annalisa LaSalle; Jim and Allyson Tofel; Gabe and Aly Nevarrez; Kyle and Mary Mokhtarian; Grant and Katerina Krueger; Dennis and Mistie Bene; Kameron and Sara Norwood; and Kevin and Cathy Guy.
Dennis Bene led the Salpointe Catholic Lancers for 19 seasons and had a 184-44 all-time record. He led Salpointe Catholic to three state championship appearances — winning the 2013 Division II state title. Bene mentored several college football and NFL players, including running back Bijan Robinson and Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom. He retired after the 2019 season.
Bijan Robinson, right, and head coach Dennis Bene took Salpointe Catholic High School to the Open Division semifinals in 2019.
The Kruegers are restaurateurs who own Union Public, Reforma and The Maverick. Their next restaurant is "Block A," a UA-themed sports bar opening in downtown Tucson. The Feders are founders of RightFAX, Nextrio and Simply Bits.
Jim and Allyson Tofel are the owners of Tofel Dent Construction and the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club, which opened in 1967.
Bene said "being on the board of governors has been a really great experience so far."
"The group is just amazing and everyone is working really hard to take the Sugar Skulls to the next level," Bene said. "Edmund has set a very high bar for this organization. His leadership and commitment has been second to none.
"I‘ve been on the football side of teams my entire life, so the opportunity to be a part of the front office was very intriguing. I could not be happier with the direction the organization is headed, and I believe we will be very successful.
The entire group is hyper-focused on building a winning organization."
Edmund Marquez, the 2024 Heather and Jon Volpe Tucson Strong Award recipient, speaks to those in attendance at the kickoff luncheon for the 2024 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa.
Added Polder: "I grew up here. Tucson has so many great things going for it but one thing I’ve heard a lot over the years is 'I wish there was more to do.' Sugar Skulls presented an opportunity to partner with an amazing group of people on the board and bring some fun, fast-paced and safe entertainment. I’m excited to show Tucson what we’ve been working on and it’s been a lot of fun doing this with partners on the board."
The collaborative effort of the dozen-plus owners of the Sugar Skulls allows the franchise to have more manpower to sell tickets, sponsorships and improve the quality of life for Tucson's players with improved apartments and food for the team.
"There's a buzz going on around the IFL and across the country," Marquez said. "We've had numerous coaches from other teams call our coach, Rayshaun Kizer, and go, 'What the hell is going on in Tucson?' They hear the buzz, and that's exciting."
Tucson's board of governors "give so much back to our community to make it a better place, and now there's a level of excitement," Farhang added.
Ali Farhang, Arizona Bowl co-founder and chairman, hypes up the room during the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl luncheon at Tucson Convention Center, Oct. 30, 2025.
"This is our team and we're building our traditions," said Farhang. "I think Tucson is going to be proud of the work we put into the offseason."
Other IFL franchises are "envious of the business model that we have," Marquez said.
"Ali and I could've simply bought the rest of the percentage of the team, but then it would've been just me and Ali, that's it," he added. "That's not how Tucson works. We went out to 10 other CEOs and brought them into the team as part owners. It's fantastic. It's a secret weapon. As we go out for sponsors, I have 12 other CEOs that are using their connections, friendships and their vendors to ask people for tickets. ... I see the IFL taking off and getting into the future at a high level.
"We had some conversations about national-level sponsors, the valuations of the franchises, rule changes and all the teams are onboard to take the IFL to another level, which we're excited about."
Under the new ownership, the Sugar Skulls are focused on "game-day operations" and improving fan experience, from arena lighting, fan engagement and promotional events.
A fan welcomes Sugar Skulls running back Jamyest Williams (20) back for the second half of the team’s game against Massachusetts in Tucson on May 10, 2025.
"We're looking at every nook and cranny to improve this team," Marquez said.
Marquez didn't disclose the number of season tickets sold, but noted the Sugar Skulls are going to "at least double the record."
"We're on path to fill that arena and make it a party for every single home game," Marquez said.
Championships are the standard, but with the IFL championship in Tucson for the next two seasons, reaching the title game in their own arena is paramount for the Sugar Skulls.
"If you think about the greater good and what's best for the IFL, it's Tucson being in the national championship game, because we'll pack that arena," Marquez said. "It would be wild and crazy if we were in our own national championship."
Tucson's season-opening opponent, the Vegas Knight Hawks, will face the Sugar Skulls on Sunday, March 29, at 4:30 p.m. and return to where they won the IFL championship last year. Vegas is quarterbacked by former Arizona Wildcat and IFL championship MVP Jayden de Laura.
Tucson Sugar Skulls owners Edmund Marquez (right) and Ali Farhang lead the team's the board of governors, an ownership group made up of local business owners.
The days and weeks leading up to the season is why Marquez fell in love with the job in the first place.
"I enjoy the front office more than I love watching the sport," Marquez said. "I study the office of the NFL, the NBA, NHL, MLS — I just love the business aspect of sports."
Marquez's business angle, if all goes according to plan, "is a love letter to Tucson."
"We love this community," Marquez said. "This community deserves a high-level franchise with the name 'Tucson' on it, and I think that's what drives us."
