Post by Banana Cat on Mar 27, 2012 18:07:12 GMT -5
neighborsgo.com/stories/81324
Q&A: Indoor Football League commish joins Wranglers
26 March 2012
It's the equivalent of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stepping down and becoming one of the owners of the New Orleans Saints.
Tommy Benizio, the former commish of the Indoor Football League, is one of the new co-owners of the Allen Wranglers, the T.O.-led Allen Wranglers.
Could Terrell Owens' presence have anything to do with the commish becoming a team owner? It probably didn't hurt.
In a Q&A with neighborsgo's Gary Pina, Benizio said he appreciates T.O.'s marketability.
Is there a date for you to step down from the league and officially join the Wranglers?
I am pleased to tell you that I am here and hustling around the Wranglers office as of this morning.
You’ve been with the league for past four years, was it time for a change?
I was very blessed with my position in the IFL. I was a founder of the league and was fortunate enough to play a role in ushering in every team that currently calls the league home. I was not seeking a change as the IFL has been my “baby” for nearly a decade. However, God had other plans and presented me with this opportunity to become involved with the Wranglers through team owner Jon Frankel. I quickly felt peace in my heart that Allen is where I was supposed to be and have made the transition as quickly as I could.
In joining the Wranglers, what experience do you bring to the table that will help the team?
In that path that God has placed me on, I have been blessed to be able to work with several teams, in several leagues, in a couple of different sports at this professional, minor-league level. I am not the sharpest guy around perhaps, but I do know this business like a captain knows every nut and bolt of his vessel. 2012 marks my 21st consecutive season in this business so I have learned from my mistakes and feel prepared to lead this team, and God willing, to do so, successfully.
What will be your role as position as team president?
Mine is a role of service. I am here to operate this team as a business in all aspects and serve the tickets holders, partners, fans, and community in any way that I can.
What kind of arrangement do you have with Jon Frankel as a co-owner?
I am very pleased to part of the ownership group as well as having the responsibility of running its operations. Though the negotiations between Jon and I are private, I think my capacity here shows both my commitment to this team and community as well Mr. Frankel’s to the same.
You said you fell in love …was it the area or the Wranglers or both?
I was actually an original owner of a team in Frisco in the IFL about 6 years ago. I remember selling the team with great hesitation as I was enamored with the Dallas area and sensed great opportunity for indoor football in the region. The local passion for football, the continued strengthening of our sport, and the brilliance of Jon Frankel all combined to create a situation that I feel is better than anywhere else in our industry and I wanted to be part of it all.
What do you think of this year’s team?
Few team owners would be dissatisfied with a 4-1 start and I am no exception. The Wranglers have a great coaching staff that did a remarkable job in recruiting players on both sides of the football. The real tests come later in the form of facing a powerhouse team like Sioux Falls, and ultimately, in the playoff efforts that we put forth. With the little time that I have spent surveying our football operations, I am very pleased thus far.
How pleased are you to have Terrell Owens on the team?
It is dream from a marketing perspective, to have a true NFL legend on the roster. He seems to have been a great ambassador for eth Wranglers so far this season and was very pleasant both times that I have seen him prior to my starting with the team.
Do you see this as possibly a trend for other former NFL stars?
I am uncertain as to how other IFL team owners are watching and assessing the actions of the Wranglers. I did notice that our team in New Mexico, with proper notice to promote Terrell coming to play in their venue, more than doubled their tickets sales…a standing room only event! I would suspect that teams across the league are not oblivious to this success and I would be very pleased to see more additions like T.O. across the IFL in the future.
You’ve been very successful with sports teams in the past, what is the secret to your success?
Prayer. God has blessed me with every success that I have enjoyed and he has taught me through my struggles as well. Our industry is a very seasonal business and it has been great to be able to go through the process each year and learn from both successes and mistakes and put on a better performance the next season. I am still growing in my knowledge of the business and praise god for this opportunity.
Your thoughts on the community’s support of the Wranglers?
I was able to attend the first home game and was blown away by not only the turnout but also by the enthusiasm of the fans. I sense that we have a lot of work ahead of us in order to be able to build upon that first games success as it is our responsibility to keep the community interested.
26 March 2012
It's the equivalent of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stepping down and becoming one of the owners of the New Orleans Saints.
Tommy Benizio, the former commish of the Indoor Football League, is one of the new co-owners of the Allen Wranglers, the T.O.-led Allen Wranglers.
Could Terrell Owens' presence have anything to do with the commish becoming a team owner? It probably didn't hurt.
In a Q&A with neighborsgo's Gary Pina, Benizio said he appreciates T.O.'s marketability.
Is there a date for you to step down from the league and officially join the Wranglers?
I am pleased to tell you that I am here and hustling around the Wranglers office as of this morning.
You’ve been with the league for past four years, was it time for a change?
I was very blessed with my position in the IFL. I was a founder of the league and was fortunate enough to play a role in ushering in every team that currently calls the league home. I was not seeking a change as the IFL has been my “baby” for nearly a decade. However, God had other plans and presented me with this opportunity to become involved with the Wranglers through team owner Jon Frankel. I quickly felt peace in my heart that Allen is where I was supposed to be and have made the transition as quickly as I could.
In joining the Wranglers, what experience do you bring to the table that will help the team?
In that path that God has placed me on, I have been blessed to be able to work with several teams, in several leagues, in a couple of different sports at this professional, minor-league level. I am not the sharpest guy around perhaps, but I do know this business like a captain knows every nut and bolt of his vessel. 2012 marks my 21st consecutive season in this business so I have learned from my mistakes and feel prepared to lead this team, and God willing, to do so, successfully.
What will be your role as position as team president?
Mine is a role of service. I am here to operate this team as a business in all aspects and serve the tickets holders, partners, fans, and community in any way that I can.
What kind of arrangement do you have with Jon Frankel as a co-owner?
I am very pleased to part of the ownership group as well as having the responsibility of running its operations. Though the negotiations between Jon and I are private, I think my capacity here shows both my commitment to this team and community as well Mr. Frankel’s to the same.
You said you fell in love …was it the area or the Wranglers or both?
I was actually an original owner of a team in Frisco in the IFL about 6 years ago. I remember selling the team with great hesitation as I was enamored with the Dallas area and sensed great opportunity for indoor football in the region. The local passion for football, the continued strengthening of our sport, and the brilliance of Jon Frankel all combined to create a situation that I feel is better than anywhere else in our industry and I wanted to be part of it all.
What do you think of this year’s team?
Few team owners would be dissatisfied with a 4-1 start and I am no exception. The Wranglers have a great coaching staff that did a remarkable job in recruiting players on both sides of the football. The real tests come later in the form of facing a powerhouse team like Sioux Falls, and ultimately, in the playoff efforts that we put forth. With the little time that I have spent surveying our football operations, I am very pleased thus far.
How pleased are you to have Terrell Owens on the team?
It is dream from a marketing perspective, to have a true NFL legend on the roster. He seems to have been a great ambassador for eth Wranglers so far this season and was very pleasant both times that I have seen him prior to my starting with the team.
Do you see this as possibly a trend for other former NFL stars?
I am uncertain as to how other IFL team owners are watching and assessing the actions of the Wranglers. I did notice that our team in New Mexico, with proper notice to promote Terrell coming to play in their venue, more than doubled their tickets sales…a standing room only event! I would suspect that teams across the league are not oblivious to this success and I would be very pleased to see more additions like T.O. across the IFL in the future.
You’ve been very successful with sports teams in the past, what is the secret to your success?
Prayer. God has blessed me with every success that I have enjoyed and he has taught me through my struggles as well. Our industry is a very seasonal business and it has been great to be able to go through the process each year and learn from both successes and mistakes and put on a better performance the next season. I am still growing in my knowledge of the business and praise god for this opportunity.
Your thoughts on the community’s support of the Wranglers?
I was able to attend the first home game and was blown away by not only the turnout but also by the enthusiasm of the fans. I sense that we have a lot of work ahead of us in order to be able to build upon that first games success as it is our responsibility to keep the community interested.