Sugar Skulls Change Hands

BizTUCSONJanuary 8, 2026

3 minutes read

Local Ownership Group Takes the Reins

By Steve Rivera

It was 35 years ago when Edmund Marquez helped lead Sabino High School to an undefeated season and a state title on the football field. Fast forward to 2025 and Marquez, a prominent local businessman, is leading another football team, the Tucson Sugar Skulls, into a new era.

“It’s a cool surprise in the timeline of my life,” he said. “I’m president of the team and hope to be president for years. I’m very competitive. It’s a great way

to represent Tucson from a sports perspective.”

Marquez is hoping it’s a renewed hope and energy for a team that almost left the city after just six seasons. He – and a dozen other local investors – will use the premise of making the franchise successful while “making Tucson proud as we build a championship team for our community.”

When the Sugar Skulls first arrived, he met the owners involved − Kevin and Cathy Guy − and thought, “What a cool product, great team, great logo, what a great name.”

They talked regularly, given his presence on the Rio Nuevo District board.

He’d go to the games and have a great time.

“It was cool,” Marquez recalled of the early years. “It was exciting. We’d be in our suite and the (players) would be crashing up against the boards or we’d catch a football. It was so much fun.”

In August came the call from Kevin to say he and Cathy “were thinking of selling… are you interested?”

He didn’t blink an eye given what he saw as the potential. He was in. Originally, he thought it might be just the Guys, Ali Farhang − already a limited partner in the team − and himself as owners.

It then turned into something bigger.

It’ll be all about TUCSON – in big, bold letters – and what it brings.

“It’s like a love letter to Tucson as we show Tucson can operate a pro sports team and operate at a high level,” he said.

Marquez owns 25 percent of the team, Farhang owns 20 percent. And there are more, all owning 5 percent of the glorious pie.

“We now have a Board of Governors and have some of the greatest local CEOs as partners,” he said. “The board is our secret sauce. We got as much local buy-in as we could.”

He added: “It’s like growing an oak tree, we just added 14 roots. They have so much love for Tucson – and that’s what’s going to make it special. They want to be involved.”

They will all be tasked with bringing in sponsorships and buying suites.

“We will be one of the best IFL teams in the country and we will aim for championships every year,” he said.

It’ll take a village, Marquez said, but it was the right time and right place for him to make the move.

“Perfect timing,” he said. “And my relationship with the CEOs is strong; we trust each other and get along.”

Farhang said he “was excited for the Sugar Skulls’ next chapter. With the power and reach of the board of governors that we have, I see a lot of great things as far as putting a good product on the field and having a good game-day experience.”

The Guys know they will. In fact, they are still part of the ownership group.

“It’s great for Tucson, Edmund and the group they have put together,” Kevin said. “Me and Cathy never intended to own it long term. Our daughter was at UA and she graduated. Our priorities have changed.

“It’s run its course. Today is a great day for Tucson” Kevin said on the day of the new ownership announcement. “We’re thankful for all our corporate sponsors and the support they gave us. We also appreciate the community support.”

Marquez & Co. is now tasked to get the magic to happen.

“Fans need to show up and have some fun, come to the games and fill the seats,” he said. “It’s football in an air-conditioned arena. The demographics is families with kids. It’s a great place to bring your kid and have fun. It’s as close as you can get to pro football – they are literally on the other side of the wall.”