For the last five or six months it’s been a crazy – good – whirlwind for Edmund Marquez and his crew. After all, it’s been that time since he’s become president of the Tucson Sugar Skulls and a group of investors have taken over the organization.
On Sunday, it all comes together for the team’s first game against none other than the defending IFL champs Las Vegas.
Go big or go home, right?
“It’s like drinking through a firehose,” said Marquez, as his team gets ready for Sunday and the rest of the season. “When you watch a team (like he did last year) you think give me the steering wheel and let me play with it; let me adjust it. We know what it’s supposed to look like, and we know what an elevated experience should be.”
There’s been a “ton of work” put into it, he said. New uniforms. New concessions. New coaches. New feel New attitude. New, new, new.
“It wasn’t a simple, quick fix,” he said. “There was always something we had to do and adjust. We’ve worked our tails off and are still working them off. We just don’t know what it’s going to look like. We’re excited to see it roll out.”
Oddly, he might not even see the full game. Ever the PR person, Marquez will be working the Tucson Convention Center Arena shaking hands and kissing babies, thanking everyone for attending.
.@RCCerv interviews @sugarskullsfb returning lineman Quevion Baker-McCaulay (from Mesa and played at NAU) about the upcoming season that starts Sunday against the defending IFL champion Vegas Knight Hawks at the Tucson Arena. pic.twitter.com/DrrerLx3aI
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 24, 2026
“There wasn’t enough of that last year,” he said.
“I want to make sure our co-owners work the crowd and thank everyone for being there.”
After all, the Sugar Skulls success will translate into more fan engagement and vice versa. One works the other.
That’s why the game-day experience is so important.
“It’s why we’ve been working hard on it,” Marquez said. “You’ll see a night-and-day difference between last year and this year. We are making sure we elevate so many aspects, from the introduction, to lighting to everything.”
Also new is the coach Rayshaun Kizer, a proven winner and former player. He’s 25-4 as a coach.
“We’re here to win a championship,” Marquez said. “Every time Kizer and I have conversation I say, “(yes),” whatever as long as we win a championship.
“… we are focused on winning.”
They’ll try to have more team bonding with more team activities.
“We’ll build that chemistry,” Kizer said. “We’re looking forward to grow.”
Kizer has brought in a new coaching staff and just recently made cuts for this week’s opener.
“We’re looking to revamp this Tucson team,” he said. “The last couple of years haven’t been the best seasons, but we are looking forward to a great season. I’m excited for it.”
So excited, Marquez said of the last five months, this weekend will be: “like Christmas morning. I’m busting at the seams, and I just want to get here.”
