Post by Banana Cat on Apr 11, 2012 8:06:20 GMT -5
tribune-democrat.com/editorials/x101442867/Johnstown-Generals-need-our-support
Johnstown Generals need our support
Owner: Team remains committed to city
The Tribune-Democrat
— Whether the Johnstown Generals have a future in our city apparently is on the shoulders of residents in this region and team members themselves.
To survive, the Generals must have adequate revenue from fan and sponsor support, and in most instances both come with spirited team play.
Right now, the outlook for this indoor football league franchise is grim.
Owner Jeff Bollinger early last week confirmed for our Eric Knopsnyder that his players and coaches have not been paid for some time. By weekend, there was front-office hope that could change.
Bollinger also said he’s not throwing in the towel just yet.
“I’m reaching out to the community to help me,” Bollinger said. “I’m not asking you for a $1,000 sponsorship.
“All I’m doing is asking you to buy a $9 ticket.”
To this point, that hasn’t happened on the scale that it needs to.
With only a few hundred paid customers in the stands each home game, there is no way a team can survive with rent, salaries, traveling expenses and other bills to pay.
Most area residents we’ve talked to who have attended an indoor football game have spoken favorably of the sport.
A $9 ticket price certainly is not high these days for professional entertainment. A seat at the War Memorial Arena for a recent concert by country singer Reba McEntire cost $57 to $77 plus handling fee.
Even that’s cheap when compared to traveling to Pittsburgh or State College for a sporting event or concert.
Still, the Generals’ poor play in a 56-23 loss on Saturday did nothing to improve the situation.
Defensive end Victor Sesay had this to say afterward:
“We can’t complain about fans being here and not show up when we’re playing.
“Toward the middle of the fourth (quarter), they were leaving and that’s discouraging. I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want to watch my home team get beat like that.”
We were particularly saddened, too, to read comments last week from Generals quarterback Andre Coles, who is from Philadelphia.
Coles said he couldn’t even give away game tickets to one man, who told him that the team should change its name.
“He said the fact that we have Johnstown in our title is a negative, because people automatically expect you to fail,” Coles said.
With our city’s history of failed professional baseball and hockey teams and earlier indoor football franchises, perhaps failure is just a matter of time for the Generals.
It hasn’t happened yet and we hope it doesn’t.
Bollinger said that he’s committed to Johnstown.
“I’m here,” he said. “If the ship sinks, I’m sinking with it.
“I’m not going anywhere.
“I’ve got too much time, too much money invested in it.
“My game plan is to be here in 20 years telling you how great it has been and celebrating an anniversary.”
In order to reach another season in Johnstown – or perhaps even complete this one – Bollinger said the team needs to sell 1,500 to 1,750 tickets for each of the remaining home games.
We hope that happens. We urge area families to at least give indoor football a try.
If they don’t, another sports franchise will be leaving town.
Home sweet home
Remaining games at the War Memorial Arena for the Generals (the first three are very win-able games that could help the cause - BC):
* May 5: Western Pennsylvania Sting.
* May 12: Huntington Hammer.
* May 26: Western Pennsylvania Sting.
* June 2: Erie Explosion.
Owner: Team remains committed to city
The Tribune-Democrat
— Whether the Johnstown Generals have a future in our city apparently is on the shoulders of residents in this region and team members themselves.
To survive, the Generals must have adequate revenue from fan and sponsor support, and in most instances both come with spirited team play.
Right now, the outlook for this indoor football league franchise is grim.
Owner Jeff Bollinger early last week confirmed for our Eric Knopsnyder that his players and coaches have not been paid for some time. By weekend, there was front-office hope that could change.
Bollinger also said he’s not throwing in the towel just yet.
“I’m reaching out to the community to help me,” Bollinger said. “I’m not asking you for a $1,000 sponsorship.
“All I’m doing is asking you to buy a $9 ticket.”
To this point, that hasn’t happened on the scale that it needs to.
With only a few hundred paid customers in the stands each home game, there is no way a team can survive with rent, salaries, traveling expenses and other bills to pay.
Most area residents we’ve talked to who have attended an indoor football game have spoken favorably of the sport.
A $9 ticket price certainly is not high these days for professional entertainment. A seat at the War Memorial Arena for a recent concert by country singer Reba McEntire cost $57 to $77 plus handling fee.
Even that’s cheap when compared to traveling to Pittsburgh or State College for a sporting event or concert.
Still, the Generals’ poor play in a 56-23 loss on Saturday did nothing to improve the situation.
Defensive end Victor Sesay had this to say afterward:
“We can’t complain about fans being here and not show up when we’re playing.
“Toward the middle of the fourth (quarter), they were leaving and that’s discouraging. I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want to watch my home team get beat like that.”
We were particularly saddened, too, to read comments last week from Generals quarterback Andre Coles, who is from Philadelphia.
Coles said he couldn’t even give away game tickets to one man, who told him that the team should change its name.
“He said the fact that we have Johnstown in our title is a negative, because people automatically expect you to fail,” Coles said.
With our city’s history of failed professional baseball and hockey teams and earlier indoor football franchises, perhaps failure is just a matter of time for the Generals.
It hasn’t happened yet and we hope it doesn’t.
Bollinger said that he’s committed to Johnstown.
“I’m here,” he said. “If the ship sinks, I’m sinking with it.
“I’m not going anywhere.
“I’ve got too much time, too much money invested in it.
“My game plan is to be here in 20 years telling you how great it has been and celebrating an anniversary.”
In order to reach another season in Johnstown – or perhaps even complete this one – Bollinger said the team needs to sell 1,500 to 1,750 tickets for each of the remaining home games.
We hope that happens. We urge area families to at least give indoor football a try.
If they don’t, another sports franchise will be leaving town.
Home sweet home
Remaining games at the War Memorial Arena for the Generals (the first three are very win-able games that could help the cause - BC):
* May 5: Western Pennsylvania Sting.
* May 12: Huntington Hammer.
* May 26: Western Pennsylvania Sting.
* June 2: Erie Explosion.