Post by Banana Cat on Mar 15, 2011 18:50:20 GMT -5
Wolves complete their move to Stockton from San Jose. They'll play an independent schedule in 2011, same as the Reno Barons. Both Stockton and Reno will try to hook on with an indoor league in 2012.
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110315/A_NEWS/103150313
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110315/A_NEWS/103150313
Wolves ready to set up den in Stockton
Arena will host football team for several games
March 15, 2011
By Scott Linesburgh / Record Staff Writer
They needed to drive the length of the field in the final moments of the game, but the former San Jose Wolves have finally scored a new home, in Stockton.
General manager and head coach Bennie King announced Monday that the team has officially moved to San Joaquin County, and Stockton Arena will host its seven home games. The Wolves had to wait several months for the arena's management situation to be settled and will arrive just in time to set up and get ready for the 2011 season.
The minor-league professional arena football franchise will hold practices open to the public twice a day, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday through March 24 and will play its season-opening game April 8 against the Las Vegas Cobras.
"We're ready to go," King said. "We've said all along that Stockton was the only place we wanted to play this year, so we're very happy and ready to put together a team and play."
Although based in San Jose, the Wolves played last season at the Cow Palace in Brisbane and will keep their offices in San Jose throughout this season. King began exploring the move to Stockton last summer but couldn't complete a deal until a lengthy transition period ended with SMG taking over management duties of the arena from International Facilities Group on Feb. 25.
Kendra Clark, the arena's director of sales and marketing, said the Wolves did not sign a lease as a long-term tenant, but a deal had been finalized for the Wolves to play their home games in Stockton this season.
"We're very excited to have them in the building this year," Clark said. "We think it's a win-win situation for them and the facility. We'll be trying it out this year, and then at the end of the season it will be re-evaluated."
King made it clear he wants to be in Stockton more than one season and believes the Wolves can build a fan base this year by putting together a good team.
"We have a very short period of time in regards to getting this together, but at the same time, we also had a long period of time waiting for the transition to have things lined up," King said. "Ideally, you would have liked to get this done and have the appropriate time to market this, but we're going to do our best."
The Stockton Lightning played for four years in the now-defunct arenafootball2 league and averaged approximately 4,000 fans per game in its last season. King is hoping to put together a squad and draw a combination of old Lightning supporters and new fans.
He said he would be satisfied if the Wolves could draw 2,000 to 3,000 people for its season opener and try to build the fan base throughout the season. Ticket prices for a single game range from $7 to $22, and season ticket packages went on sale Monday.
"We're going to try to reach people through the radio and in the newspapers and go out into the community and get to know people and businesspeople," King said. "Hopefully we get people out to the practices. We need people to know that we're here and indoor football is back."
The franchise is owned by Ryan Petersen, chief executive officer of OCZ Technology, a computer hardware manufacturing company in San Jose. The Wolveswill play in the American Indoor Football Association West and will face teams including Las Vegas, the Reno Barons, the Sioux City Bandits and the San Diego ThunderCats.
King said players interested in trying out for the Wolves can contact him at bking@stocktonwolves.com.
Arena will host football team for several games
March 15, 2011
By Scott Linesburgh / Record Staff Writer
They needed to drive the length of the field in the final moments of the game, but the former San Jose Wolves have finally scored a new home, in Stockton.
General manager and head coach Bennie King announced Monday that the team has officially moved to San Joaquin County, and Stockton Arena will host its seven home games. The Wolves had to wait several months for the arena's management situation to be settled and will arrive just in time to set up and get ready for the 2011 season.
The minor-league professional arena football franchise will hold practices open to the public twice a day, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday through March 24 and will play its season-opening game April 8 against the Las Vegas Cobras.
Schedule
Stockton Wolves
(Home games 7:30 p.m., Stockton Arena)
April 8: Las Vegas Cobras
April 17: Utah Stealth
April 22: at Reno Barons
May 6: Reno Barons
May 14: San Diego ThunderCats
May 27: at Reno Barons
June 4: Reno Barons
June 18: Tucson Trojans
June 25: at Sioux City Bandits
July 2: Reno Barons
"We're ready to go," King said. "We've said all along that Stockton was the only place we wanted to play this year, so we're very happy and ready to put together a team and play."
Although based in San Jose, the Wolves played last season at the Cow Palace in Brisbane and will keep their offices in San Jose throughout this season. King began exploring the move to Stockton last summer but couldn't complete a deal until a lengthy transition period ended with SMG taking over management duties of the arena from International Facilities Group on Feb. 25.
Kendra Clark, the arena's director of sales and marketing, said the Wolves did not sign a lease as a long-term tenant, but a deal had been finalized for the Wolves to play their home games in Stockton this season.
"We're very excited to have them in the building this year," Clark said. "We think it's a win-win situation for them and the facility. We'll be trying it out this year, and then at the end of the season it will be re-evaluated."
King made it clear he wants to be in Stockton more than one season and believes the Wolves can build a fan base this year by putting together a good team.
"We have a very short period of time in regards to getting this together, but at the same time, we also had a long period of time waiting for the transition to have things lined up," King said. "Ideally, you would have liked to get this done and have the appropriate time to market this, but we're going to do our best."
The Stockton Lightning played for four years in the now-defunct arenafootball2 league and averaged approximately 4,000 fans per game in its last season. King is hoping to put together a squad and draw a combination of old Lightning supporters and new fans.
He said he would be satisfied if the Wolves could draw 2,000 to 3,000 people for its season opener and try to build the fan base throughout the season. Ticket prices for a single game range from $7 to $22, and season ticket packages went on sale Monday.
"We're going to try to reach people through the radio and in the newspapers and go out into the community and get to know people and businesspeople," King said. "Hopefully we get people out to the practices. We need people to know that we're here and indoor football is back."
The franchise is owned by Ryan Petersen, chief executive officer of OCZ Technology, a computer hardware manufacturing company in San Jose. The Wolves
King said players interested in trying out for the Wolves can contact him at bking@stocktonwolves.com.