Post by Banana Cat on Feb 25, 2012 12:44:13 GMT -5
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120225/A_SPORTS/202250333/-1/NEWSMAP
New arena team coming to Stockton
By Scott Linesburgh / Record Staff Writer
February 25, 2012
STOCKTON - Arena football returns to Stockton with a new team in an established league, but it will also have ties to the city's past franchises.
The newly formed California Eagles of American Indoor Football have signed a contract to play their six home games in the 2012 season at Stockton Arena. They open the season March 4 on the road against the Ontario Warriors and host Las Vegas' Sin City Jacks on March 11.
The Eagles are a hybrid of a team owner Dan Whited was putting together and some remaining players and coaches from the Stockton Wolves, an independent team that played at the arena last year. When Whited couldn't make a deal to play at Power Balance Pavilion, the Sacramento-area construction project manager came to an agreement with a group that included David Mairs, who will be the head coach and general manager of the Eagles.
2012 schedule
(Home games at Stockton Arena)
March 4: at Ontario
March 11: Las Vegas
March 15: at Arizona
April 1: at Ontario
April 7: Arizona
April 22: Ontario
April 28: North Alameda
May 4: Arizona
May 21: North Alameda
"It has worked out great for everyone, and we're very pleased to be able to play our games at Stockton Arena," Whited said. "It's great to bring organized indoor football back to the city. I'm glad I was able to find an affordable arena that I didn't have to charge astronomical prices in."
Whited said ticket prices will be $22 for lower-bowl seating and $15 for the upper bowl. Children 12 and under are half price.
One significant way the Eagles will differ from the Wolves is their membership in the 12-team AIF, established in 2005. The Wolves were a competitive, well-financed team, but some of their opponents were not, and the franchise suffered cancellations that left it scrambling for replacement opponents.
Mike Cera, who manages Stockton Arena for SMG, said he checked with officials at SMG facilities that host other AIF teams as well as with league personnel before making the deal with the Eagles.
"That was a huge consideration for us. There needs to be a viable, solid league with teams in it," Cera said. "So we really did our research, and we felt pretty good about this league because of its history."
Whited and Mairs both have history with arena football in Stockton. They were assistant coaches with the Stockton Lightning, an af2 franchise that folded in 2009. Mairs was the assistant head coach and defensive coach of the Wolves, and former Wolves head coach Bennie King is now the offensive coordinator and commissioner of the AIF's Western Division, which includes the Eagles, Warriors, Jacks, Arizona Outlaws and North Alameda Knights, a travel team.
Mairs said the team has been practicing at Franklin High, adding that several former Wolves might make what will be mostly a locally based squad.
"I cut my teeth on football in this area, and this is a huge football community," Mairs said. "I would say that 90 percent of the players we had on the Wolves last year came from the Sacramento, Stockton or Bay areas, and the percentage should be higher this year. There's a lot of very good players around here."
By Scott Linesburgh / Record Staff Writer
February 25, 2012
STOCKTON - Arena football returns to Stockton with a new team in an established league, but it will also have ties to the city's past franchises.
The newly formed California Eagles of American Indoor Football have signed a contract to play their six home games in the 2012 season at Stockton Arena. They open the season March 4 on the road against the Ontario Warriors and host Las Vegas' Sin City Jacks on March 11.
The Eagles are a hybrid of a team owner Dan Whited was putting together and some remaining players and coaches from the Stockton Wolves, an independent team that played at the arena last year. When Whited couldn't make a deal to play at Power Balance Pavilion, the Sacramento-area construction project manager came to an agreement with a group that included David Mairs, who will be the head coach and general manager of the Eagles.
2012 schedule
(Home games at Stockton Arena)
March 4: at Ontario
March 11: Las Vegas
March 15: at Arizona
April 1: at Ontario
April 7: Arizona
April 22: Ontario
April 28: North Alameda
May 4: Arizona
May 21: North Alameda
"It has worked out great for everyone, and we're very pleased to be able to play our games at Stockton Arena," Whited said. "It's great to bring organized indoor football back to the city. I'm glad I was able to find an affordable arena that I didn't have to charge astronomical prices in."
Whited said ticket prices will be $22 for lower-bowl seating and $15 for the upper bowl. Children 12 and under are half price.
One significant way the Eagles will differ from the Wolves is their membership in the 12-team AIF, established in 2005. The Wolves were a competitive, well-financed team, but some of their opponents were not, and the franchise suffered cancellations that left it scrambling for replacement opponents.
Mike Cera, who manages Stockton Arena for SMG, said he checked with officials at SMG facilities that host other AIF teams as well as with league personnel before making the deal with the Eagles.
"That was a huge consideration for us. There needs to be a viable, solid league with teams in it," Cera said. "So we really did our research, and we felt pretty good about this league because of its history."
Whited and Mairs both have history with arena football in Stockton. They were assistant coaches with the Stockton Lightning, an af2 franchise that folded in 2009. Mairs was the assistant head coach and defensive coach of the Wolves, and former Wolves head coach Bennie King is now the offensive coordinator and commissioner of the AIF's Western Division, which includes the Eagles, Warriors, Jacks, Arizona Outlaws and North Alameda Knights, a travel team.
Mairs said the team has been practicing at Franklin High, adding that several former Wolves might make what will be mostly a locally based squad.
"I cut my teeth on football in this area, and this is a huge football community," Mairs said. "I would say that 90 percent of the players we had on the Wolves last year came from the Sacramento, Stockton or Bay areas, and the percentage should be higher this year. There's a lot of very good players around here."