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Post by daytonadan on Nov 17, 2008 22:52:21 GMT -5
Stay tuned for the info...
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Post by Caballo Diablo on Nov 18, 2008 17:32:42 GMT -5
SIFL announces first franchisesNovember 18, 2008 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) Coupling a first-class, family-oriented sports experience with a sound business plan that encourages financial success, the Southern Indoor Football League announced its charter roster of franchises on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at O'Charley's Restaurant in Lake Charles, La. Louisiana Swashbucklers owner Thom Hager, who will also serve as SIFL President, released that thirteen ownership groups have submitted the proper paperwork and have agreed to the financial responsibilities. ``I'm wearing my sunglasses because the future is so bright,'' Hager said. "I'm not going to blow this out of proportion by saying today is the greatest day in the history of indoor football, but it is so satisfying to have assembled a group of solid businessmen who appreciate a solid business model and are committed to offering a quality football product both on the field and in the community.'' The SIFL will kick off a 12-game schedule in April 2009 in the following cities: 1) Austin Texas. [Albert Martinez, owner] 2) Houma , Louisiana [Franklin Thomas, owner] 3) Houston , Texas [Andrew Watkins, owner] 4) Lafayette , Louisiana [Bentley Turner, owner] 5) Lake Charles , Louisiana . (Louisiana Swashbucklers, owned by Hager and playing in the Lake Charles Civic Center . 6) Pasadena , Texas [Gary Howard-led ownership group] Commitments for 2010 have been secured for Beaumont , Tex. ; Galveston , Tex , Lakeland , Fla , Pensacola , Fla , ; Tallahassee, Fla., Tampa , Fla , and Waco , Tex. with four more ownership groups showing strong interest.. "We're still receiving calls from around our region as if a light bulb tuned on and ownership groups finally found the perfect business model for this great sport," Hager said. ``The size of the league will be finalized at our league meetings in Lake Charles December 1-2 at the premier Pinnacle property, L'Auberge du Lac. "While we wish all competing leagues good fortune and success, I believe this bold new endeavor is the result of my thirteen years in sports management." Hager's Swashbucklers have been recognized as one of the sport's premier teams, winning back-to-back Intense Football League championships, the latter in 2008 with a perfect 16-0 record. Off the field, the Swashbuckler staff garnered virtually every award given to league front office staffs. Now it's time to take that business model from team to league levels. `I've seen too many fans lose their home teams due to poor business models and inexperienced management, Hager said. "A business is only as good as its people, coupled with proven systems and a strong product. "What good is a business model that fails to generate positive cash flow and forces teams to close their doors after one or two seasons? This league is designed to satisfy the team owners, players, and the fans," Hager concluded. Fans may visit the SIFL temporary web site at www.southernifl.com which introduces an experienced league staff with invaluable professional experience.
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Post by Caballo Diablo on Nov 18, 2008 17:40:38 GMT -5
SIFL names league staffNovember 18, 2008 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) LAKE CHARLES, La. (November 18, 2008) - Southern Indoor Football League President Thom Hager announced the appointment of four experienced indoor football executives to launch the operations of the start-up football league today at a media event O'Charley's Restaurant here in Lake Charles, La. Dan J. Blum will serve as Commissioner for the league, Scott Blanchard as Director of Creative Services, Dan Ryan as Director of Communications and Robert Winfrey Director of Operations. All four will operate out of virtual offices to reduce expenditures while providing invaluable professional experience needed to successfully launch a professional football league, Hager said. ``In order to birth a successful league, we looked for experience, not a lot of hype and ego. We looked for those dedicated to this great sport, not those who are only interested in building their resumes. I'm thrilled to have these four talented and dedicated professionals on board,'' Hager continued. ``All four have proven track records." Blum, who served as commissioner for the Intense Football League in 2008, brings 44 years of experience in football officiating to the SIFL. ``Dan has ties at every level of football from college to the NFL", said Hager. ``He's extremely well respected in the football community nationwide.'' Blanchard formerly served as the Louisiana Swashbucklers' General Manager in 2006 and has an extensive background in collegiate sports. Ryan brings over 20 years of communications experience to the SIFL, having served as the Director of Communications for the defunct World Indoor Football League and on the team level with three different teams in three different leagues. His bylines have appeared in the sports sections of the Dallas Morning, the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Orlando Sentinel and USA Today. He has also done game-day production work for NBC and ESPN. ``Indoor football is a sport that goes around in circles. Fortunately, I'm from Daytona Beach where you learn to make a living off other people doing that,' Ryan said. ``I'm thankful that the SIFL has given me another chance to work my communications model and at the same time, be close to my family.'' Winfrey handled both operations and communications for the Intense Football League in 2008 after being involved with various teams' game-day operations the five previous years. ``It feels good to be involved with a quality organization that treats everyone fairly and with respect,'' Winfrey. ``I'm looking forward to continuing my professional working relations with many of the coaches and staffs.'' Fans may visit the SIFL temporary web site at www.southernifl.com for more information or contact the SIFL at (866) 948-SIFL (7435) or e-mail the Director of Communications at dryan@southernifl.com.
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Post by sportznut on Nov 18, 2008 18:20:03 GMT -5
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Post by Bouncer_Texxx on Nov 18, 2008 18:45:32 GMT -5
wait.. hold on... so let me get this straight.. Thom Hager owns the Bucks and is league president.
No offense, but allow me to state i smell niffle spiced with apfl.
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Post by sportznut on Nov 18, 2008 18:57:58 GMT -5
No,
If this was to be like the NIFL or APFL, I wouldn't have gotten involved! But it is not going to be!
! The Intense league had a President for it's entire existence, and a VP that were owners, but they didn't have a league staff until the final year..
You will see
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Post by BlitzinBandit on Nov 18, 2008 19:00:34 GMT -5
So why would you these cities are done and the others have no venue??
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Post by sportznut on Nov 18, 2008 19:02:53 GMT -5
They have Arenas!
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Post by Caballo Diablo on Nov 18, 2008 19:20:51 GMT -5
If they can get this league off the ground it looks like a one sided affair. They're supposed to start play in 5 months?
How do you build teams that quickly that are supposed to compete with the Intense League back to back champions that went undefeated last season?
Plus their owner is the president of the league.
I want some football in my area but the Swashbucklers seem to be holding all the cards.
Where will the Austin team play?
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Post by phydeaux72 on Nov 18, 2008 19:35:28 GMT -5
Where will the Austin team play? If they play, it will most likely be in the Luedecke Arena at the Travis County Fairgrounds.
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Post by phydeaux72 on Nov 18, 2008 19:37:53 GMT -5
Galveston and Pasadena do not have arenas.
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Post by sportznut on Nov 18, 2008 20:35:07 GMT -5
Must be nice to sit on your high and mighty thrown and pass judgement
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Post by exit322 on Nov 18, 2008 21:32:40 GMT -5
Well, yeah - the IFL can't say it has all the best teams anymore (not that it ever did, but we'll humor them here)...so it has to pretend it still thinks it does by tearing everyone else down.
The IFL still doesn't impress me a bit. Not saying the SIFL will solve all of the sport's ills, but I can say with confidence the IFL won't.
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Post by Banana Cat on Nov 19, 2008 2:07:08 GMT -5
Congrats Robert and Dan (Ryan) on the new posts!
I hope the new league works out for both of you.
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Post by Caballo Diablo on Nov 19, 2008 12:02:39 GMT -5
Where will the Austin team play? If they play, it will most likely be in the Luedecke Arena at the Travis County Fairgrounds. Hmm, I was afraid of that. Years ago an Indoor football team played there, the Austin Ice Bats (hockey) played there for about 10 years before moving closer to town a couple years ago. Rodeo's, monster truck rally's, the R.O.T. Rally (Republic of Texas Biker Rally) and of course the County fair and carnivals are the life blood of this venue. It will be interesting to see how the locals treat this team and league. 2004 was the inaugural year for the AFL Austin Wranglers, they played in the 15,000 seat Frank Erwin Center. "Official" (insert grain of salt here) figures show they averaged 11,475per game over their 4 years in the AFL with the league average during that time frame at 12,405. They folded after the 2007 season and were replaced by an af2 team with the same name and owner, they are not playing the 2009 season. Their average attendance for last season was 3,458 and the league average 4,705. A few reasons for the huge drop off was the AFL fans didn't accept the lower league after watching the team for 4 years, plus they felt ticket prices weren't reduced comensurate with the product. And of course the af2 draws smaller crowds anyways unless you're Spokane. 3,000 people in a 15,000 seat arena was an ugly sight and the rent was far too expensive for an AFL team let alone an af2 team. I think fan support would have been much better if Austin had originally got an af2 team instead of AFL. The af2 Wranglers were competing against the AFL Wranglers, this new team won't have that comparrison problem. Ticket prices will determine how many of the Wrangler faithful climb on the bandwagon. Most people I talk with don't really like this venue, but it is the only alternative to the Frank Erwin Center until the 2010 season when a new arena comes on line. The Ice bats did well originally in attendance but by the end of their days at the Expo Center the place was pretty empty. The low ceiling could be a problem, but many teams accross the leagues have them. I wish them well and will definitely be going to some games, I hope I'm not in the stands alone. www.co.travis.tx.us/exposition_center/default.asp
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