Post by 50yardfan on Jun 29, 2011 13:16:44 GMT -5
SIFL CHAMPIONSHIP NOTEBOOK: Panthers set to break attendance record Saturday
The Panthers’ previous attendance record of nearly 7,000 fans is expected to be broken Saturday when Albany hosts Louisiana for the SIFL Championship, according to GM Will Carter.
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/SIFL_CHAMPIONSHIP_NOTEBOOK_Panthers_set_to_break_attendance_record_Saturday_124688684.html
ALBANY — The Albany Panthers know what playing host to the SIFL Championship game means to their city.
They anticipate the community to be a huge part of it, as well.
Such was the reaction Tuesday afternoon when the Panthers (12-2) announced the pre-sale of 3,000 tickets for Albany’s title affair with the Louisiana Swashbucklers (10-4) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Albany Civic Center.
Not too bad, considering tickets officially went on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“We (already) had fans come out in record attendance (Tuesday) morning buying tickets, and … everybody’s supporting,” Carter said. “They’re excited about these Panthers. It’s an exciting time for the city of Albany and the surrounding counties. The fans deserve it. They’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and we’re glad to have the championship game here in Albany.”
The Panthers’ “FAN FRIENDLY” promotion, which offers reserved seats for $10 in advance of game day, sold out nearly a third of the 10,240-seat Civic Center on Tuesday and is on pace to break previous arena football attendance records that Carter estimated to be as high as 7,000.
“We wanted to make it affordable for everyone to come out and support us,” Carter said. “Like I said, the city deserves it, the fans deserve it. They’ve been supporting us all year long, and we want them to come out and support us.
“I want a packed house. That’s why I did what I did.”
A big turnout seems natural for the first arena football championship game in Albany, native son and receiver Antwone Savage of Westover said.
“It means a lot, man,” Savage said. “It’s real big for the city. A lot of fans are excited, and a lot of people are excited. Kids, grown-ups, everybody, and we’re excited, too, so there’s no better feeling.”
Panthers coach Lucious Davis said the team has an added responsibility behind the anticipated record crowd.
“Granted, we’re playing for ourselves and we want to win, but ultimately, we’re playing for them,” Davis said. “All season and last season, even when we go on the road, we’re representing the city of Albany and the citizens here.
“I think it’s important for them to come out and see the team, but I’ve been saying it all season. We have to give them something to cheer about, and I believe when we give them something to cheer about, we know that they’ll be loud, and we know they’ll be proud of us.”
Carter added that it seemed Panthers fans were cheering about a lot these days — especially when it became official late Monday night that the SIFL Championship Game was coming to Albany after Louisiana upset previously unbeaten Houston on its home field, 56-41.
“Talking to some season ticket holders and fans, they were all tuned into the game (Monday) night when Houston was playing against Louisiana, and when Louisiana won, everyone went crazy and excited about it and announced it,” Carter said. “I think this is a great opportunity for the city and surrounding counties to come out and support us and bring home a winner.”
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CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?:
Carter said the league championship game would be “good to go” for the radio broadcast Saturday night on 98.1 FM.
The reassurance came after some Albany-area fans complained of being unable to find the broadcast of the Panthers’ 75-61 victory against the Columbus Lions in the Eastern Conference Championship game this past Saturday in Columbus.
Carter explained the issue lay with the connection at the Columbus Civic Center.
“That was nothing doing on our end,” Carter said. “It had something to do on their end with their lines.”
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RICHMOND SUSTAINS CONCUSSION, STATUS UNCERTAIN:
Defensive back Levance Richmond’s availability for Saturday’s championship game is uncertain after he sustained what the team is calling a “minor concussion” last Saturday in Columbus.
Richmond, who left after hitting his head on a play in the second quarter and returned later, has a doctor’s appointment this morning, but beyond that, his status is up in the air, Davis said. Richmond already missed two games during the middle of the season with the same affliction, only that concussion was not deemed minor.
Richmond is second on the team in interceptions, third in tackles and first in pass breakups.
In other injury news, defensive lineman Tito Hannah and linebacker Andre Campbell were nursing lingering ankle injuries. Davis added quarterback Cecil Lester was “banged up pretty good” but would be fine for Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot of bumps and bruises right now,” Davis said. “I know Cecil’s banged up pretty good. I know that Terrance is banged up pretty good. I know some of the guys are banged up, but that’s expected this late in the season.
“I know Tito is nursing a bad ankle, still. Campbell’s ankle is still kind of tender. Other than that, I think we should be OK.”
The Panthers’ previous attendance record of nearly 7,000 fans is expected to be broken Saturday when Albany hosts Louisiana for the SIFL Championship, according to GM Will Carter.
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/SIFL_CHAMPIONSHIP_NOTEBOOK_Panthers_set_to_break_attendance_record_Saturday_124688684.html
ALBANY — The Albany Panthers know what playing host to the SIFL Championship game means to their city.
They anticipate the community to be a huge part of it, as well.
Such was the reaction Tuesday afternoon when the Panthers (12-2) announced the pre-sale of 3,000 tickets for Albany’s title affair with the Louisiana Swashbucklers (10-4) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Albany Civic Center.
Not too bad, considering tickets officially went on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“We (already) had fans come out in record attendance (Tuesday) morning buying tickets, and … everybody’s supporting,” Carter said. “They’re excited about these Panthers. It’s an exciting time for the city of Albany and the surrounding counties. The fans deserve it. They’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and we’re glad to have the championship game here in Albany.”
The Panthers’ “FAN FRIENDLY” promotion, which offers reserved seats for $10 in advance of game day, sold out nearly a third of the 10,240-seat Civic Center on Tuesday and is on pace to break previous arena football attendance records that Carter estimated to be as high as 7,000.
“We wanted to make it affordable for everyone to come out and support us,” Carter said. “Like I said, the city deserves it, the fans deserve it. They’ve been supporting us all year long, and we want them to come out and support us.
“I want a packed house. That’s why I did what I did.”
A big turnout seems natural for the first arena football championship game in Albany, native son and receiver Antwone Savage of Westover said.
“It means a lot, man,” Savage said. “It’s real big for the city. A lot of fans are excited, and a lot of people are excited. Kids, grown-ups, everybody, and we’re excited, too, so there’s no better feeling.”
Panthers coach Lucious Davis said the team has an added responsibility behind the anticipated record crowd.
“Granted, we’re playing for ourselves and we want to win, but ultimately, we’re playing for them,” Davis said. “All season and last season, even when we go on the road, we’re representing the city of Albany and the citizens here.
“I think it’s important for them to come out and see the team, but I’ve been saying it all season. We have to give them something to cheer about, and I believe when we give them something to cheer about, we know that they’ll be loud, and we know they’ll be proud of us.”
Carter added that it seemed Panthers fans were cheering about a lot these days — especially when it became official late Monday night that the SIFL Championship Game was coming to Albany after Louisiana upset previously unbeaten Houston on its home field, 56-41.
“Talking to some season ticket holders and fans, they were all tuned into the game (Monday) night when Houston was playing against Louisiana, and when Louisiana won, everyone went crazy and excited about it and announced it,” Carter said. “I think this is a great opportunity for the city and surrounding counties to come out and support us and bring home a winner.”
------------------------------------------
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?:
Carter said the league championship game would be “good to go” for the radio broadcast Saturday night on 98.1 FM.
The reassurance came after some Albany-area fans complained of being unable to find the broadcast of the Panthers’ 75-61 victory against the Columbus Lions in the Eastern Conference Championship game this past Saturday in Columbus.
Carter explained the issue lay with the connection at the Columbus Civic Center.
“That was nothing doing on our end,” Carter said. “It had something to do on their end with their lines.”
--------------------------------------------
RICHMOND SUSTAINS CONCUSSION, STATUS UNCERTAIN:
Defensive back Levance Richmond’s availability for Saturday’s championship game is uncertain after he sustained what the team is calling a “minor concussion” last Saturday in Columbus.
Richmond, who left after hitting his head on a play in the second quarter and returned later, has a doctor’s appointment this morning, but beyond that, his status is up in the air, Davis said. Richmond already missed two games during the middle of the season with the same affliction, only that concussion was not deemed minor.
Richmond is second on the team in interceptions, third in tackles and first in pass breakups.
In other injury news, defensive lineman Tito Hannah and linebacker Andre Campbell were nursing lingering ankle injuries. Davis added quarterback Cecil Lester was “banged up pretty good” but would be fine for Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot of bumps and bruises right now,” Davis said. “I know Cecil’s banged up pretty good. I know that Terrance is banged up pretty good. I know some of the guys are banged up, but that’s expected this late in the season.
“I know Tito is nursing a bad ankle, still. Campbell’s ankle is still kind of tender. Other than that, I think we should be OK.”