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Post by CF4L on Jul 21, 2010 20:21:06 GMT -5
Yeah I am sure thre are thousands of people who are sad they didnt get to see the game on TV. the IFL promised X amount of games this season on TV including the championship. They failed to deliver.
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Post by BNDC on Jul 21, 2010 21:44:33 GMT -5
1 thing I have learned in life if things happen and you hardley ever understand the real reason why. This happens alot in a work place and I have reminded co-workers many of time that we do not get paid to understand.
What I am saying is we don't know the real reason the game was not shown, and other than a few people in Billings and Sioux Falls, noone cares. The game was also shown for free on the B2 network, something that people still found something to complain about.
I was able to save $8 watching the game for free and am happy for that.(yes most games are $7, but last years championship game was $8)
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outlaw
Team Captain
Posts: 269
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Post by outlaw on Jul 22, 2010 18:16:10 GMT -5
So glad the IFL couldn't even throw a freaking bone the Storm's way during the post season awards. You can have our bone, Dance Team Award.
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outlaw
Team Captain
Posts: 269
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Post by outlaw on Jul 22, 2010 18:44:10 GMT -5
I'm sure the nice fat sponsorship check from Oakley and the Billings refs mean anyone wanting the cup will have to beat 12 on the field and hundreds of thousands off of it. You would not BELIEVE how much we had to pay the Sioux Falls refs to throw your home games against Wichita and Omaha! Luckily, that's what ultimately brought you to Billings. IFL fans, meet a Storm fan finally feeling your pain over the past few years. Stay tuned, he's not done yet.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Jul 22, 2010 22:09:37 GMT -5
I don't think you introduced yourself to me during the game...
I'm done and over it. The refs didn't cost us, NOR GIVE us a single game this season. We won, and lost based purely on the mistakes we made, or didn't capitalize on on the field. Wichita, Omaha, and Billings (twice) made the plays they needed to win. I could go off on Billings lackluster regular season schedule, but the fact of the matter is they won no asterisk needed.
I have my concerns about the viability of the Outlaw franchise, however, dependent on the repair/remodel of Rimrock Auto Arena. If that place isn't open by April or May of next year, I wonder how much money the ownership is willing to loose to keep them afloat a year at the sportsplex, and will the fanbase come back? They had a hard time selling out 1500 seats in the arena in the playoffs... they'd be lucky to get 500 for a regular season game against Kent. Will Dixon actually leave?.. was it all a mind game? (IMO YES)
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Post by gooutlaws on Jul 23, 2010 11:05:10 GMT -5
Adam Steadman the Owner/GM of the Outlaws was on the local sports radio show a couple of days ago. The following are not direct quotes.
He said the Outlaws will back to defend the title. If the Metra is not ready they will be back at the Sportsplex. He also noted that they do better financially with 1500-2000 at the Sportsplex than 4000-5000 at the Metra. But knows that the Sportsplex is not an option long term because you can not turn away fans if their are other options.
Only recieved one complaint (a letter) about the Sportsplex. But I suspect that most fans are like me, it was great what they did to keep the playoffs in Billings but they have to go back to the Metra. If Metra is open and they don't go back I would have a hard time getting season tickets again.
If they are forced back to the Sportsplex I think they need to do some price adjusting. I think the $30 ticket for open seating is what slowed ticket sales for the playoffs.
And as far as Dixon goes I heard that he is having a LeBron type moment, and is just trying to see what the reaction from the team and city would be. Steadman said he would put a large sum of money on if he is in the IFL it would be it Billings.
And I am sorry about the ramble. It feels like I typed Sportsplex about 20 times.
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Post by Banana Cat on Jul 23, 2010 11:34:45 GMT -5
Good post.
I also think that if Dixon doesn't move to the UFL, CFL, or AFL, that he will stay in the IFL and with Billings as well.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Jul 23, 2010 11:43:31 GMT -5
Well, not having to pay rent at the sportsplex is huge, and makes it financially viable, but the problem you'll run into is how long will the city and county bicker and fiddle fart around with rebuilding the Metra. If they remodel, you're looking at a 12-18 month time frame, longer if you can't get it enclosed by winter. If they don't have a plan in place and the roof covered by October-November, I'd wager the Outlaws will have to spend all season at the plex, and that might be bad in the long run. The pricing wasn't bad, I didn't think but then again I paid 25 for our 4th row (of the balcony) in Sioux Falls. The real question is will they figure out a way to assign seats. I don't think the price was so much the issue as it was the hassle of having to get to the arena at 4 to get in and save your seat. We soon forget that a majority of fans normally leave their house at 630 to get to a 7pm game.
Unless the IFL can get Billings some competition however, next year the championship will again be in Billings. I'd be interested to see how'd they have done this year having to play at Omaha, at Wichita twice and at Sioux Falls twice. instead of kent, tri-cities, alaska, etc.
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Post by BNDC on Jul 23, 2010 11:58:08 GMT -5
I remember rows 25 and up at SF Arena used to be GA, I hated that.
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Post by Banana Cat on Jul 23, 2010 12:49:31 GMT -5
I don't think you can knock Billings for their schedule, they played the teams they were scheduled to play and that's that. Unlike Richmond, they proved they weren't just a paper tiger. We all would've liked to see them play the Central West schedule, but I think it's better to have them in the Intense Conference. You can't have all the top teams in one division, or conference even, wouldn't be fair to the top teams. The regular season schedule can still include out of conference games (Billings played Omaha twice in '09 and Sioux Falls five times the past two seasons).
Billings has a great shot to be in position to host the title game again next year, but that relies heavily on whether Dixon will return or not. Lets not forget Bazemore retiring as well. The Outlaws will have a different feel even if Dixon returns next year...nothing is ever chiseled in stone...except my abs (I effing wish).
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Post by gooutlaws on Jul 23, 2010 13:19:13 GMT -5
The Metra is all county. They hired an architect yesterday to get the arena rebulit. I am on my phone so I don't have a link but the Billings Gazette article says they county commissioners have previously said they want the arena open in February for state wrestling and basketball. Maybe a lofty goal but at least it seems they have a plan.
Also my father in law who works for a general contractor toured the arena this month and was very impressed on the clean up. Sounds like the arena itself is ready to be worked on.
And as a electrician I would love me company to get the job and get some serious OT.
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Jul 23, 2010 14:22:29 GMT -5
If i'm painting a picture of me not wanting them to come back, that would be incorrect. I'm merely musing. I hope the Metra gets fixed, and soon. Oh course any future prognostications of Billings going three-peat depend on Dixon coming back and everyone staying healthy.. things that become more and more difficult the older a team gets.
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Post by gooutlaws on Jul 23, 2010 14:53:10 GMT -5
If i'm painting a picture of me not wanting them to come back, that would be incorrect. I'm merely musing. I hope the Metra gets fixed, and soon. Oh course any future prognostications of Billings going three-peat depend on Dixon coming back and everyone staying healthy.. things that become more and more difficult the older a team gets. I don't get that impression. You just come off as glass is half empty on this issue. I am more glass is half full, I think the county knows how important the arena is. to Billings and in some ways Montana. I think they are going all out to get it done as soon as its possible.
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doobi
Team Captain
Posts: 443
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Post by doobi on Jul 24, 2010 1:26:56 GMT -5
The way the outlaws spend money, I think if they had to build their own arena they would. No chance in hell that they give up on what they have going.
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Post by Banana Cat on Aug 3, 2010 23:38:57 GMT -5
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