Post by fwp on Mar 11, 2010 9:39:38 GMT -5
www.ydr.com/sports/ci_14648530
When Fred Clark heard the American Indoor Football Association was placing a franchise in Central Pennsylvania last year, the former Harrisburg City School District athletic director was more than a little curious.
"I signed on as a sponsor and bought a VIP box," said Clark, who runs Clark Resources, a government relations, business development and diversity consulting firm in Harrisburg. "I went to see a game as a fan and got hooked. From that point, I took a risk."
Clark jumped in with both feet and became co-owner of the professional franchise, buying a piece of the team from AIFA owner and founder John Morris.
"We can't be compared to the Hershey Bears or the Harrisburg Senators in this marketplace, because we can't compete with them," Clark said. "But what we can do is feed off the energy they create for Central Pennsylvania sports fans. That's how we're approaching things.
"We wanted to invest in this team in a down economy, knowing full well that if we can ride things out into Year 5, we will become a brand of our own. But we're not fully known yet. We're trying to spread the word."
The Stampede -- one of 13 teams in the Baltimore-based league -- play a 14-game regular-season schedule, which runs from early March through late June. Home games are played at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.
Tickets cost $32 for floor seating along the boards that surround the field, $22 for the lower bowl and $15 for the upper bowl. For groups of 10 or more, tickets can be purchased for $10 each.
After going 4-10 a year ago, the Stampede opened the 2010 season with a 55-48 loss Saturday night to the Baltimore Mariners at the Farm Show Arena. Team officials said the attendance for the opener approached 3,200.
"Our game basically covers two areas: The hardcore football fan, who can watch a great product, and the family entertainment aspect," Morris said. "We've got tremendous players for the football fans and all sorts of things that make coming to one of our games an experience for the family.
"Last week we had fans on the field doing skits during timeouts. We gave away prizes. We had face-painting. We also had a new Harrisburg Stampede Junior Spirit team, a bunch of phenomenal little girls who performed with our cheerleaders. There's a lot going on."
Morris said every player on the Stampede is required to stay on the field for a minimum of 20 minutes after each game to sign autographs, pose for pictures and interact with fans, who are permitted on the playing surface.
"We know we're going up against a lot of choices for the family entertainment dollar people have to spend," Clark said. "We're very mindful of families' needs as we try to market our team.
"We realize that York is a critical area for us, Lancaster, too. We're called the Harrisburg Stampede, but we're targeting the sports fans in York, where we know there's a very strong football fan base."
To that end, Clark said he would love for York's new mayor, Kim Bracey, to attend an upcoming home game and flip the coin before kickoff.
Clark and Morris both know a winning team helps attract and retain those fans who come to a game at the Farm Show. And unlike semi-pro teams such as the Central Penn Piranha, York County Silver Bullets and Lancaster Lightning, the Stampede have a payroll to make.
AIFA teams do have a salary cap. Morris said only one player per team can make the maximum of $500 per game.
Harrisburg's roster boasts plenty of former NCAA Division I players, including former Canadian Football League all-star receiver Keith Stokes (East Carolina). Former Penn State kicker Kevin Kelly is on the team's practice squad.
Morris said he hopes Clark can come up with several other new partners to give the Stampede complete local ownership within the next year.
And with an eye down the road, Clark would love it if the state of Pennsylvania -- owner of the Farm Show Complex -- would help renovate the old arena by replacing seats in the lower bowl, something Clark calls vital to his team's long-range goal of raising attendance to the 5,000-per-game level.
"It's the right thing to do," Clark said of the arena upgrades. "We're at the state's mercy when it comes to parking and concessions, but they've shown a willingness to cooperate, so we're hopeful some renovations can get done in the future."
About the AIFA
The American Indoor Football Association has 13 franchises, including three in Pennsylvania and one in the Alaska hometown of former Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. The Eastern Conference champion will host the Western Conference champion in the title game.
2010 AIFA alignment
EASTERN CONFERENCE
· Baltimore Mariners
· Erie Storm
· Harrisburg Stampede
· Fayetteville (N.C.) Guard
· (Morristown) N.J. Revolution
· Reading Express
· Richmond Raiders
WESTERN CONFERENCE
· Ogden (Utah) Knights
· San Jose Wolves
· (Wasilla) Alaska Arctic Predators
· Wenatchee (Wash.) Valley Venom
· (Casper) Wyoming Cavalry
· Yakima (Ariz.) Valley Warriors
Remaining schedule
Sunday: at Erie, 2 p.m.
March 21: at Reading, 3 p.m.
April 3: Erie, 7:30 p.m.
April 10: Fayetteville, 7:30 p.m.
April 24: at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
May 2: at Baltimore, 4 p.m.
May 8: Erie, 7:30 p.m.
May 22: Reading, 7:30 p.m.
May 29: at Fayetteville, 7 p.m.
June 5: Richmond, 7:30 p.m.
June 12: at New Jersey, TBA
June 19: at Richmond, 7 p.m.
June 26: New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
dave@ydr.com; 771-2063
When Fred Clark heard the American Indoor Football Association was placing a franchise in Central Pennsylvania last year, the former Harrisburg City School District athletic director was more than a little curious.
"I signed on as a sponsor and bought a VIP box," said Clark, who runs Clark Resources, a government relations, business development and diversity consulting firm in Harrisburg. "I went to see a game as a fan and got hooked. From that point, I took a risk."
Clark jumped in with both feet and became co-owner of the professional franchise, buying a piece of the team from AIFA owner and founder John Morris.
"We can't be compared to the Hershey Bears or the Harrisburg Senators in this marketplace, because we can't compete with them," Clark said. "But what we can do is feed off the energy they create for Central Pennsylvania sports fans. That's how we're approaching things.
"We wanted to invest in this team in a down economy, knowing full well that if we can ride things out into Year 5, we will become a brand of our own. But we're not fully known yet. We're trying to spread the word."
The Stampede -- one of 13 teams in the Baltimore-based league -- play a 14-game regular-season schedule, which runs from early March through late June. Home games are played at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.
Tickets cost $32 for floor seating along the boards that surround the field, $22 for the lower bowl and $15 for the upper bowl. For groups of 10 or more, tickets can be purchased for $10 each.
After going 4-10 a year ago, the Stampede opened the 2010 season with a 55-48 loss Saturday night to the Baltimore Mariners at the Farm Show Arena. Team officials said the attendance for the opener approached 3,200.
"Our game basically covers two areas: The hardcore football fan, who can watch a great product, and the family entertainment aspect," Morris said. "We've got tremendous players for the football fans and all sorts of things that make coming to one of our games an experience for the family.
"Last week we had fans on the field doing skits during timeouts. We gave away prizes. We had face-painting. We also had a new Harrisburg Stampede Junior Spirit team, a bunch of phenomenal little girls who performed with our cheerleaders. There's a lot going on."
Morris said every player on the Stampede is required to stay on the field for a minimum of 20 minutes after each game to sign autographs, pose for pictures and interact with fans, who are permitted on the playing surface.
"We know we're going up against a lot of choices for the family entertainment dollar people have to spend," Clark said. "We're very mindful of families' needs as we try to market our team.
"We realize that York is a critical area for us, Lancaster, too. We're called the Harrisburg Stampede, but we're targeting the sports fans in York, where we know there's a very strong football fan base."
To that end, Clark said he would love for York's new mayor, Kim Bracey, to attend an upcoming home game and flip the coin before kickoff.
Clark and Morris both know a winning team helps attract and retain those fans who come to a game at the Farm Show. And unlike semi-pro teams such as the Central Penn Piranha, York County Silver Bullets and Lancaster Lightning, the Stampede have a payroll to make.
AIFA teams do have a salary cap. Morris said only one player per team can make the maximum of $500 per game.
Harrisburg's roster boasts plenty of former NCAA Division I players, including former Canadian Football League all-star receiver Keith Stokes (East Carolina). Former Penn State kicker Kevin Kelly is on the team's practice squad.
Morris said he hopes Clark can come up with several other new partners to give the Stampede complete local ownership within the next year.
And with an eye down the road, Clark would love it if the state of Pennsylvania -- owner of the Farm Show Complex -- would help renovate the old arena by replacing seats in the lower bowl, something Clark calls vital to his team's long-range goal of raising attendance to the 5,000-per-game level.
"It's the right thing to do," Clark said of the arena upgrades. "We're at the state's mercy when it comes to parking and concessions, but they've shown a willingness to cooperate, so we're hopeful some renovations can get done in the future."
About the AIFA
The American Indoor Football Association has 13 franchises, including three in Pennsylvania and one in the Alaska hometown of former Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. The Eastern Conference champion will host the Western Conference champion in the title game.
2010 AIFA alignment
EASTERN CONFERENCE
· Baltimore Mariners
· Erie Storm
· Harrisburg Stampede
· Fayetteville (N.C.) Guard
· (Morristown) N.J. Revolution
· Reading Express
· Richmond Raiders
WESTERN CONFERENCE
· Ogden (Utah) Knights
· San Jose Wolves
· (Wasilla) Alaska Arctic Predators
· Wenatchee (Wash.) Valley Venom
· (Casper) Wyoming Cavalry
· Yakima (Ariz.) Valley Warriors
Remaining schedule
Sunday: at Erie, 2 p.m.
March 21: at Reading, 3 p.m.
April 3: Erie, 7:30 p.m.
April 10: Fayetteville, 7:30 p.m.
April 24: at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
May 2: at Baltimore, 4 p.m.
May 8: Erie, 7:30 p.m.
May 22: Reading, 7:30 p.m.
May 29: at Fayetteville, 7 p.m.
June 5: Richmond, 7:30 p.m.
June 12: at New Jersey, TBA
June 19: at Richmond, 7 p.m.
June 26: New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
dave@ydr.com; 771-2063