Post by Banana Cat on Jul 23, 2010 14:13:24 GMT -5
blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/07/stampede_to_return_next_season.html
Harrisburg Stampede set to return next season; looking for more support
July 22, 2010
JAMES PHILLIPS, The Patriot-News
Despite enjoying a solid turnaround from their inaugural AIFA season of a year ago, many questions continue to shadow the Harrisburg Stampede going forward.
Harrisburg, which finished the season with a 12-4 record, recorded its first playoff victory by beating Erie 52-48 in an almost empty Farm Show Arena. The disappointment shared by Stampede co-owners John Morris and Fred Clark was obvious during that game.
When Harrisburg traveled to Baltimore for the Eastern Conference Championship game, the enthusiastic Mariner fans had the 1st Mariner Arena loud and jumping. Baltimore fed off its fans and the intensity en route to a 63-15 rout.
What Morris and Clark alluded to is that it took Baltimore three years to reach this plateau of having solid fanbase and a standout team. Baltimore is hosting Wyoming in AIFA Bowl IV at 4 p.m. Sunday.
The following Q and A session was held with Morris and Clark at Clark Resources concerning the state of affairs with the Stampede.
Q: Are the Stampede returning to Harrisburg next season?
Clark: “Free parking, we did that. Reduced ticket prices, we did that. Our players have interacted with the fans in the community, and we have a winning product. What more can we do? I would say the only thing that would keep us from returning next year would be an unfavorable lease [with Farm Show Arena]. That would be the only reason.”
Q: What do you have to do to help the fanbase grow in 2011?
Clark: “We have a superior product to anything that’s out there compared to the Bears and Senators. We have to invest more time, more energy and resources in getting people through the doors, by hook or crook, so they can see this product. If they took this entertaining product and compared it to anything out there in this region, by far, they will realize what they’re getting.”
Morris: “We did a lot of things right, but we also did some things wrong. We’re trying to figure out what we need to do better in the future. The main focus is sponsorship and ticket sales, which really go hand-in-hand. The more people we get in the more sponsors will want to get involved in what we’re doing. Obviously we had a winning product on the field, we had a great season and just like any business we intend to perfect on last year and make things better.”
Q: You talked about how Baltimore started out like the situation here. What did they do to turn things around on the field and at the box office?
Morris: “Being the league owner, I’ve started up teams and Baltimore also struggled in the beginning. You saw that crowd at the playoff game, and they’re expecting around 5,000 fans Sunday. They have already sold 2,000 tickets, and had 1,000 walk-ups. Remember, this is their fourth season and the Stampede are entering their third. Baltimore saw a winning product on the field, and sponsorships continued to climb as did the attendance. We expect the same here in Harrisburg. Having Fred, who is from this community, and has all the relationships he has, we have a better situation here than in Baltimore. We’re expecting some big things next year ... we just have to figure out a way to get the people to come out.”
Clark: “We also have to realize that we’re competing for dollars. Not just against the Senators and Bears, but with the movie theaters and bowling alleys. People are conserving their dollars because of the economy. We have to figure out a way to help people realize that this is quality entertainment worth coming to see.”
Q: Is the current roster and coaching staff returning intact next season?
Morris: “Well, yeah. The guys feel that they have some unfinished business. They know that we have a championship-caliber team. Unfortunately, our quarterback [Aries Nelson] was injured early in the game in Baltimore and we couldn’t recover. They’re looking forward to coming back next season and bringing a championship to Harrisburg.”
Q: So, overall, what do you as owners need to do better to make Harrisburg have a genuine appreciation of the Stampede?
Clark: “The think there are five elements for us to be successful for next season. First, to have local leadership support like the way [county commissioner] Jeff Haste has been actively involved. Second, the Farm Show Arena making a commitment by putting in $9 million for renovations. The third thing is us as owners investing more money. It’s a decision we have to make in order to increase attendance. The fourth thing, and it’s most critical, is the media, community and business community support. I’m disappointed, not because at what the Bears, Senators and City Islanders have done, but that we’ve put our information in front of them. Now we’re going to put it in front of them early so there will be no excuses. Those sponsorship dollars are critical for us being successful. And, finally, John and I are committed to Arena Football. We’re not mad, we’re not angry, we’re not bitter and we’re not frustrated [at the lack of support]. We believe in this product and that is why we brought it here. We just want the same kind of commitment.”
July 22, 2010
JAMES PHILLIPS, The Patriot-News
Despite enjoying a solid turnaround from their inaugural AIFA season of a year ago, many questions continue to shadow the Harrisburg Stampede going forward.
Harrisburg, which finished the season with a 12-4 record, recorded its first playoff victory by beating Erie 52-48 in an almost empty Farm Show Arena. The disappointment shared by Stampede co-owners John Morris and Fred Clark was obvious during that game.
When Harrisburg traveled to Baltimore for the Eastern Conference Championship game, the enthusiastic Mariner fans had the 1st Mariner Arena loud and jumping. Baltimore fed off its fans and the intensity en route to a 63-15 rout.
What Morris and Clark alluded to is that it took Baltimore three years to reach this plateau of having solid fanbase and a standout team. Baltimore is hosting Wyoming in AIFA Bowl IV at 4 p.m. Sunday.
The following Q and A session was held with Morris and Clark at Clark Resources concerning the state of affairs with the Stampede.
Q: Are the Stampede returning to Harrisburg next season?
Clark: “Free parking, we did that. Reduced ticket prices, we did that. Our players have interacted with the fans in the community, and we have a winning product. What more can we do? I would say the only thing that would keep us from returning next year would be an unfavorable lease [with Farm Show Arena]. That would be the only reason.”
Q: What do you have to do to help the fanbase grow in 2011?
Clark: “We have a superior product to anything that’s out there compared to the Bears and Senators. We have to invest more time, more energy and resources in getting people through the doors, by hook or crook, so they can see this product. If they took this entertaining product and compared it to anything out there in this region, by far, they will realize what they’re getting.”
Morris: “We did a lot of things right, but we also did some things wrong. We’re trying to figure out what we need to do better in the future. The main focus is sponsorship and ticket sales, which really go hand-in-hand. The more people we get in the more sponsors will want to get involved in what we’re doing. Obviously we had a winning product on the field, we had a great season and just like any business we intend to perfect on last year and make things better.”
Q: You talked about how Baltimore started out like the situation here. What did they do to turn things around on the field and at the box office?
Morris: “Being the league owner, I’ve started up teams and Baltimore also struggled in the beginning. You saw that crowd at the playoff game, and they’re expecting around 5,000 fans Sunday. They have already sold 2,000 tickets, and had 1,000 walk-ups. Remember, this is their fourth season and the Stampede are entering their third. Baltimore saw a winning product on the field, and sponsorships continued to climb as did the attendance. We expect the same here in Harrisburg. Having Fred, who is from this community, and has all the relationships he has, we have a better situation here than in Baltimore. We’re expecting some big things next year ... we just have to figure out a way to get the people to come out.”
Clark: “We also have to realize that we’re competing for dollars. Not just against the Senators and Bears, but with the movie theaters and bowling alleys. People are conserving their dollars because of the economy. We have to figure out a way to help people realize that this is quality entertainment worth coming to see.”
Q: Is the current roster and coaching staff returning intact next season?
Morris: “Well, yeah. The guys feel that they have some unfinished business. They know that we have a championship-caliber team. Unfortunately, our quarterback [Aries Nelson] was injured early in the game in Baltimore and we couldn’t recover. They’re looking forward to coming back next season and bringing a championship to Harrisburg.”
Q: So, overall, what do you as owners need to do better to make Harrisburg have a genuine appreciation of the Stampede?
Clark: “The think there are five elements for us to be successful for next season. First, to have local leadership support like the way [county commissioner] Jeff Haste has been actively involved. Second, the Farm Show Arena making a commitment by putting in $9 million for renovations. The third thing is us as owners investing more money. It’s a decision we have to make in order to increase attendance. The fourth thing, and it’s most critical, is the media, community and business community support. I’m disappointed, not because at what the Bears, Senators and City Islanders have done, but that we’ve put our information in front of them. Now we’re going to put it in front of them early so there will be no excuses. Those sponsorship dollars are critical for us being successful. And, finally, John and I are committed to Arena Football. We’re not mad, we’re not angry, we’re not bitter and we’re not frustrated [at the lack of support]. We believe in this product and that is why we brought it here. We just want the same kind of commitment.”