Post by 50yardfan on Oct 27, 2010 9:38:10 GMT -5
by Jerry Hewitt - A couple of clarifications from yesterday's article on the AIFA West. First, I misunderstood Mike Mink in regards to the SIFL/AIFA deal being "done." He clarified that although he speculated that it was a done deal, he wanted it known that he didn't know if it was concluded or not.
He also provided further detail on the Yakima Warriors budget that I wrote was under $300,000. I was not incorrect exactly, just higher than need be with the actual budget, according to Mink, being under $200,000. In an email from Mr. Mink yesterday he said he believed all the AIFA West team budgets should fall under $350,000.
It was finally made official yesterday that the Oklahoma Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football League were closing up shop and that an Indoor Football League franchise is slated to take their place. Everyone knows I strongly disagree with ownerships owning more than one team. Again history says it doesn't end well. If any don't know what I'm talking about, it's the existing Odessa ownership that has staked their claim to Oklahoma City. That aside I can see two lines of motivation, one capitalizing on the established AFL market, and two bolstering the weakened Texas division.
I can see the move to strengthen the southern area of the league, but if the new ownership just comes into Oklahoma City expecting AFL fans to flock to the new game in town, they're wrong. First off, most Yard Dawgz fans will look at the IFL as a step down, much like they might if it was an af2 team taking the spot of the upper level team.
I think to come into a community that has had one brand of the sport and win them over is more difficult than if there had been no team. First they have to market in a way to win fans over to the indoor football style of play. They need to build it up as more fan friendly and all the other jive that goes along with selling anything to anybody. Next they have to win over the sponsors, get them on board, and last build a winner. Building a winner on the footsteps of a less than successful AFL team will go a long ways in the ticket sales area.
A quote from the Daily Courier in Prescott, Arizona on the IFL Arizona Adrenaline's press conference, "Moore added that the Adrenaline's goal is to provide local athletes with a shot at extending their football careers, whether it's at the college or professional level."
Huh? Excuse me, folks, but did the IFL forget to tell the new Arizona franchise that they pay players and once a player accepts a paycheck they lose any college eligibility? The more I read on this team, the more I want to say, "Houston, we have a problem."
He also provided further detail on the Yakima Warriors budget that I wrote was under $300,000. I was not incorrect exactly, just higher than need be with the actual budget, according to Mink, being under $200,000. In an email from Mr. Mink yesterday he said he believed all the AIFA West team budgets should fall under $350,000.
It was finally made official yesterday that the Oklahoma Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football League were closing up shop and that an Indoor Football League franchise is slated to take their place. Everyone knows I strongly disagree with ownerships owning more than one team. Again history says it doesn't end well. If any don't know what I'm talking about, it's the existing Odessa ownership that has staked their claim to Oklahoma City. That aside I can see two lines of motivation, one capitalizing on the established AFL market, and two bolstering the weakened Texas division.
I can see the move to strengthen the southern area of the league, but if the new ownership just comes into Oklahoma City expecting AFL fans to flock to the new game in town, they're wrong. First off, most Yard Dawgz fans will look at the IFL as a step down, much like they might if it was an af2 team taking the spot of the upper level team.
I think to come into a community that has had one brand of the sport and win them over is more difficult than if there had been no team. First they have to market in a way to win fans over to the indoor football style of play. They need to build it up as more fan friendly and all the other jive that goes along with selling anything to anybody. Next they have to win over the sponsors, get them on board, and last build a winner. Building a winner on the footsteps of a less than successful AFL team will go a long ways in the ticket sales area.
A quote from the Daily Courier in Prescott, Arizona on the IFL Arizona Adrenaline's press conference, "Moore added that the Adrenaline's goal is to provide local athletes with a shot at extending their football careers, whether it's at the college or professional level."
Huh? Excuse me, folks, but did the IFL forget to tell the new Arizona franchise that they pay players and once a player accepts a paycheck they lose any college eligibility? The more I read on this team, the more I want to say, "Houston, we have a problem."