Post by Banana Cat on Aug 16, 2010 11:37:36 GMT -5
romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/9154540/article-Indoor-football-returning-to-Rome-?instance=home_news_lead_story
Indoor football returning to Rome?
by Doug Walker, Associate Editor
16 August 2010
Rome’s two-year flirtation with indoor football may lead to a resurrection of the sport as early as next year.
Thom Hager, president of the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) and owner of the Lake Charles La., Louisiana Swashbucklers has confirmed that at least two groups have expressed an interest in bringing a team to Rome.
For the past two years, the SIFL has operated with five franchises including Columbus, Ga.; Albany, Ga.; Greenville, S.C.; LaFayette, La., and Hager’s team in Lake Charles. Two franchises have already been awarded for 2011, one in Corpus Christi, Texas, and another in Hidalgo, Texas.
“We really are into growth,” Hager said. “We’re all about affordable family entertainment.” Hager said that Georgia and Texas are a couple of primary targets for the league which recently brought indoor football veteran Gary Tufford on board as commissioner for the 2011 season.
Macon and Savannah are other cities in Georgia which are being considered for franchises while cities between Georgia and Texas including Mobile, Al., Jackson, Miss., and Tupelo, Miss are also being looked at for franchises over the next couple of years.
“We want to take it slow and make sure we have stable ownership,” Hager said.
Indoor football as a sport has seen it’s share of ups and downs over the last decade as over 160 teams and seven different leagues have folded shop.
The Rome Renegades ceased operations after the 2006 season following a pair of highly successful seasons on the field, but less than successful years at the bank.
Owner Harry Pierce of Big Time Products in Rome lured David Humphreys away from Rome High School and Humphreys put together a team that went to the championship game of the National Indoor Football League in 2005, losing to Tri-Cities, Washington in the championship game.
In 2006, Rome hosted the championship game of the American Indoor Football League, losing to the Canton, Ohio, franchise.
Part of the problem for the Rome Renegades was that even if the team was able to sell out the Forum it probably could not make money because the teams arrangement with the Forum restricted auxiliary revenue sources, such as parking and concessions.
Pierce confirmed that an unidentified individual claiming to have acquired the franchise rights to Rome contacted him last week. “I told him that I would definitely buy front row seats,” Pierce said. “I really do enjoy the game.”
by Doug Walker, Associate Editor
16 August 2010
Rome’s two-year flirtation with indoor football may lead to a resurrection of the sport as early as next year.
Thom Hager, president of the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) and owner of the Lake Charles La., Louisiana Swashbucklers has confirmed that at least two groups have expressed an interest in bringing a team to Rome.
For the past two years, the SIFL has operated with five franchises including Columbus, Ga.; Albany, Ga.; Greenville, S.C.; LaFayette, La., and Hager’s team in Lake Charles. Two franchises have already been awarded for 2011, one in Corpus Christi, Texas, and another in Hidalgo, Texas.
“We really are into growth,” Hager said. “We’re all about affordable family entertainment.” Hager said that Georgia and Texas are a couple of primary targets for the league which recently brought indoor football veteran Gary Tufford on board as commissioner for the 2011 season.
Macon and Savannah are other cities in Georgia which are being considered for franchises while cities between Georgia and Texas including Mobile, Al., Jackson, Miss., and Tupelo, Miss are also being looked at for franchises over the next couple of years.
“We want to take it slow and make sure we have stable ownership,” Hager said.
Indoor football as a sport has seen it’s share of ups and downs over the last decade as over 160 teams and seven different leagues have folded shop.
The Rome Renegades ceased operations after the 2006 season following a pair of highly successful seasons on the field, but less than successful years at the bank.
Owner Harry Pierce of Big Time Products in Rome lured David Humphreys away from Rome High School and Humphreys put together a team that went to the championship game of the National Indoor Football League in 2005, losing to Tri-Cities, Washington in the championship game.
In 2006, Rome hosted the championship game of the American Indoor Football League, losing to the Canton, Ohio, franchise.
Part of the problem for the Rome Renegades was that even if the team was able to sell out the Forum it probably could not make money because the teams arrangement with the Forum restricted auxiliary revenue sources, such as parking and concessions.
Pierce confirmed that an unidentified individual claiming to have acquired the franchise rights to Rome contacted him last week. “I told him that I would definitely buy front row seats,” Pierce said. “I really do enjoy the game.”