Post by 50yardfan on Jan 26, 2011 16:06:38 GMT -5
With Outlaws gone, Billings Sports Plex turns focus to community
billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_9a811780-9a04-5caf-bd88-480d4aa2609c.html?oCampaign=hottopics
It's been three months since the Billings Outlaws indoor football team disbanded, but activity at the Billings Sports Plex, the team's former home, is far from done.
The departure of the Outlaws left an extra 120 hours per season that can be used by members of the community — athletes of all ages participating in flag football, league soccer, volleyball and track.
“There were a lot of people that thought when the Outlaws ceased operations, that it included the Sports Plex, but it's a separate entity,” owner Mike Parnell said. “When we built it, it was designed as a community-based asset and also a tool for the indoor football team that we had a related interest in.”
Parnell is the former owner of the Outlaws — a role that he described as “serendipitous.”
“My daughter and I got into fly-fishing, so we used to come out all the time,” said Parnell, who lives in Seattle. “One of those trips my son was with me and he saw a poster in a Hardin storefront for a Billings Outlaws game.
“We fell in love with it, and then fell in love as a minority interest. I never intended to be a majority owner. It just worked out that way.”
Since the controversial disbanding of the team, Parnell has redirected his focus to the four-year-old Sports Plex building. In November, he hired Tom Smith, former director of business development for the Outlaws, to be the facility's director.
Smith is leading the push to open the facility more to the community, particularly families. Part of that change required more staffing, adding four more full-time employees to the original two. He also brought in two trainers.
And there are coaches who offer up their expertise along the way, including Mary-Elizabeth Aude, who has coached track for the past 30 years.
In late 2010, the coach was looking for a place for the Rocky Mountain Flying Panthers Track Club to train during the winter months. After approaching Smith, she left as the director of track and field for the Mighty Mights track team, in addition to leading the Flying Panthers.
Aude will teach kids how to run this spring during a two-month league for children ages 6 to 12. She invited two Olympic runners, Kevin Young and Anjanette Kirkland, to share their secrets with the campers as inspiration.
“It's going to be different from any other program anyone else is used to,” Aude said. “I won't just be teaching them how to run, but it will also be a talent search for themselves, to find out if they will be a good thrower, jumper, distance or sprint runner.”
There also will be baseball and soccer clinics throughout he year.
And the facility will host a number of tournaments. A volleyball tournament scheduled for March will bring in 40 teams from across Montana.
Smith said that's about 2,200 people with family, coaches, players and fans.
“When I started here, this place was dead,” Smith said. “Now we are booked through April of next year.”
Offering memberships
Smith said they will be doubling the facility's cardio equipment to open the training facilities to paying members. An area used for office space in the front of the building is now houses member-exercise classes.
There are two classes scheduled, and offerings will expand in the coming months as membership grows.
People can join the Sports Plex on their own for $40 per month, or families can join the for $60 per month. Membership will be capped at 1,000 people.
The facility has seen four to five new members per week.
“We're not your health clubs. We don't have swimming pools. We can't do everything for everybody, but we do what we do better than anyone else,” Smith said. “Ages 7 and up, you can take core classes, track classes and walk on a treadmill with a parent.”
Members can use all exercise equipment, classes, leagues and receive discounts on community events — including concerts.
Smith said he hopes the facility can host four concerts inside a year, with two or three more outside.
One concert is booked for this fall.
Beyond athletics
Smith said he will also help high school students create their academic portfolio for free.
“It's what sets us apart,” Smith said. “We provide educational and athletic guidance.”
Smith said he's spent the past 21 years assisting students across the country with getting into college, planning volunteer opportunities, scholarships, test prep and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.
A portion of those educational programs will be available online at the Sports Plex website. Former Outlaws Manager Adam Steadman is in charge of all videos posted on the site, including live feeds of the facility.
“Members will have a special login for a section of the website that lets them see broadcasts,” Steadman said. “There is a constant live feed there, so parents can look online and make sure their kid is on the field.”
There is also the potential of having live feeds during tournaments.
Smith said the Sports Plex will start hosting scholarships. The first event to help raise money for students will be held in February. High school students are invited to come listen to music at the Sports Plex after paying $10 at the door and applying for a scholarship.
At the end of the night, half that money will be put into a scholarship fund and be awarded to a number of the students that attended the event.
“We can generate our own money without corporate hoops,” Smith said. “We're in the business to help put kids in school. We want to generate a lot of money for our school systems, because there is none.”
One thing that is up for corporate consideration is the naming rights of the facility. Smith said he has spoken to one company so far, and hopes to hear back from them by the end of the week, early next week at the latest.
After that, the last trace of the Billings Outlaws will be removed.
“When I have that, I will take the Outlaws sign down,” Smith said. “This is the Sports Plex.”
billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_9a811780-9a04-5caf-bd88-480d4aa2609c.html?oCampaign=hottopics
It's been three months since the Billings Outlaws indoor football team disbanded, but activity at the Billings Sports Plex, the team's former home, is far from done.
The departure of the Outlaws left an extra 120 hours per season that can be used by members of the community — athletes of all ages participating in flag football, league soccer, volleyball and track.
“There were a lot of people that thought when the Outlaws ceased operations, that it included the Sports Plex, but it's a separate entity,” owner Mike Parnell said. “When we built it, it was designed as a community-based asset and also a tool for the indoor football team that we had a related interest in.”
Parnell is the former owner of the Outlaws — a role that he described as “serendipitous.”
“My daughter and I got into fly-fishing, so we used to come out all the time,” said Parnell, who lives in Seattle. “One of those trips my son was with me and he saw a poster in a Hardin storefront for a Billings Outlaws game.
“We fell in love with it, and then fell in love as a minority interest. I never intended to be a majority owner. It just worked out that way.”
Since the controversial disbanding of the team, Parnell has redirected his focus to the four-year-old Sports Plex building. In November, he hired Tom Smith, former director of business development for the Outlaws, to be the facility's director.
Smith is leading the push to open the facility more to the community, particularly families. Part of that change required more staffing, adding four more full-time employees to the original two. He also brought in two trainers.
And there are coaches who offer up their expertise along the way, including Mary-Elizabeth Aude, who has coached track for the past 30 years.
In late 2010, the coach was looking for a place for the Rocky Mountain Flying Panthers Track Club to train during the winter months. After approaching Smith, she left as the director of track and field for the Mighty Mights track team, in addition to leading the Flying Panthers.
Aude will teach kids how to run this spring during a two-month league for children ages 6 to 12. She invited two Olympic runners, Kevin Young and Anjanette Kirkland, to share their secrets with the campers as inspiration.
“It's going to be different from any other program anyone else is used to,” Aude said. “I won't just be teaching them how to run, but it will also be a talent search for themselves, to find out if they will be a good thrower, jumper, distance or sprint runner.”
There also will be baseball and soccer clinics throughout he year.
And the facility will host a number of tournaments. A volleyball tournament scheduled for March will bring in 40 teams from across Montana.
Smith said that's about 2,200 people with family, coaches, players and fans.
“When I started here, this place was dead,” Smith said. “Now we are booked through April of next year.”
Offering memberships
Smith said they will be doubling the facility's cardio equipment to open the training facilities to paying members. An area used for office space in the front of the building is now houses member-exercise classes.
There are two classes scheduled, and offerings will expand in the coming months as membership grows.
People can join the Sports Plex on their own for $40 per month, or families can join the for $60 per month. Membership will be capped at 1,000 people.
The facility has seen four to five new members per week.
“We're not your health clubs. We don't have swimming pools. We can't do everything for everybody, but we do what we do better than anyone else,” Smith said. “Ages 7 and up, you can take core classes, track classes and walk on a treadmill with a parent.”
Members can use all exercise equipment, classes, leagues and receive discounts on community events — including concerts.
Smith said he hopes the facility can host four concerts inside a year, with two or three more outside.
One concert is booked for this fall.
Beyond athletics
Smith said he will also help high school students create their academic portfolio for free.
“It's what sets us apart,” Smith said. “We provide educational and athletic guidance.”
Smith said he's spent the past 21 years assisting students across the country with getting into college, planning volunteer opportunities, scholarships, test prep and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.
A portion of those educational programs will be available online at the Sports Plex website. Former Outlaws Manager Adam Steadman is in charge of all videos posted on the site, including live feeds of the facility.
“Members will have a special login for a section of the website that lets them see broadcasts,” Steadman said. “There is a constant live feed there, so parents can look online and make sure their kid is on the field.”
There is also the potential of having live feeds during tournaments.
Smith said the Sports Plex will start hosting scholarships. The first event to help raise money for students will be held in February. High school students are invited to come listen to music at the Sports Plex after paying $10 at the door and applying for a scholarship.
At the end of the night, half that money will be put into a scholarship fund and be awarded to a number of the students that attended the event.
“We can generate our own money without corporate hoops,” Smith said. “We're in the business to help put kids in school. We want to generate a lot of money for our school systems, because there is none.”
One thing that is up for corporate consideration is the naming rights of the facility. Smith said he has spoken to one company so far, and hopes to hear back from them by the end of the week, early next week at the latest.
After that, the last trace of the Billings Outlaws will be removed.
“When I have that, I will take the Outlaws sign down,” Smith said. “This is the Sports Plex.”