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Post by aifloffice on Mar 10, 2007 19:33:04 GMT -5
I was told around 1,300 fans showed up. They had more tickets sold. It did not help that U of I played last night. I know that had to hurt their attendence.
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Post by Sykotyk on Mar 10, 2007 21:18:52 GMT -5
Yeah, the crowd was pretty vocal the few times the Illinois-Indiana score was announced. Including tons of fans near me screaming for Indianans to 'go home'.
Sykotyk
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Post by Sykotyk on Mar 10, 2007 21:21:04 GMT -5
Well, I originally said it looked like 60-65% full, I checked the capacity and it states 2,350 for sports, so 60% was about 1,400, so that sounds right. The crowd that was there was pretty vocal.
Shame they had such a close loss after a steady fourth quarter comeback get squandered by a wide open Rats TD and then an INT by the Rats own 2 yard line late.
Sykotyk
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Post by Danvillian on Mar 12, 2007 23:01:42 GMT -5
:smileydemolition: The turf the players tried out on was a "loaner" turf that was thin and worn. The turf they got from Peoria didn't arrive until the day before the 1st home game. They had absolutely NO turf before the first game at Erie. The coaches and players (not the owner) worked until late into the night the night before, to get the turf down and cut to fit the arena. A few more things I've heard around town from very reliable sources: Names should be on the uniforms (which did look good) by the next game, but they finally came in the day of the last game so there was no time to have them put on. Also (and this is unbelievable), the players and coaches reportedly had to travel to Pittsburg for the first game with the Riverrats by SCHOOL BUS!!! Can you imagine being a 6'5" 280+ lineman cramed into a school bus for a trip to Pittsburgh and only getting 2-300.00 a game??? I hope the owner doesn't run these guys off! The crowd at the game was good but I also think the Illini kept some sold tickets at home. The crowd was loud and into it. A couple observations: This town loves it's football and will support a team that is run the way it should be (even the local high school travels on tour buses) but won't have patience for an owner who doesn't do things right.... Also need to upgrade the $5.00 "program" that I was stupid enough to buy. No roster or pictures and looked like it was done right here on my computer and printer. BUT it is almost amazing the quality of play (with a few exceptions) that the coach and players have accomplished with very limited practice. I can't with to see it when they finally get time in the arena to practice. And RJ Luke is GOOD! Great game against the River Rats! And I also liked the hard hats.... Might have to get me one!
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Post by wyldstallionsrules on Mar 13, 2007 8:43:22 GMT -5
You might want to check out the reason they had to take a school bus, the local bus company that the team was using was notified the Demo owner a day before the trip that there was not going to be a bus available for them to use.
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Post by Danvillian on Mar 13, 2007 9:33:22 GMT -5
:smileydemolition: Not true.... The reason they had to take a school bus is because the owner originally wanted them to take rental vans that the coaches and players would drive. The players made a stand of sorts and he then tried to charter a bus the day before they left, but none were available. So the last option was a school bus. I DID check. One thing you need to keep in mind is that this is not a big market like Pittsburgh. It's a smaller, close-knit community. The head coach grew up here and his son plays (quite well I might add) for him. Several of the team members are from the "community" and almost everyone knows everyone to some degree. What I've told you is true, from first hand accounts and I hope (as does evryone in town) that this owner starts treating these guys right. If so, we'll be there for the Demo at every game! But from what I (and others) hear, there is a LOT of frustration on the part of the players and the coaches. Not about the league or their commitments to play, but for the owner.
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Post by demolition55fan on Mar 13, 2007 21:10:06 GMT -5
Well my Social Studies teacher is Tony Reetz, #55....so I usually hear his side of things.
He just feels it would be better if the owner and the guy under him knew a little bit about football-which they don't.
I really wish they would put more of an effort into this. Seriously, they can't even update the website. I could run a website for crying out loud. This team has a lot of potential...but I'm scared the guys in the Front Office are going to ruin it.
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Post by Danvillian on Mar 13, 2007 22:00:58 GMT -5
I agree with you 100%! This team has a ton of potential and hopefully we'll get a few more skill players to round it out! The town wants this and needs a shot in the arm like this, and we'll back em as long as they're here. It's our town and it's our guys! Lets hope the owner buys in as much as the town has!!!! Go DEMO!!!!! :smileydemolition:
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Dragon Fan
2nd String
Words are only powerful if they are given power
Posts: 148
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Post by Dragon Fan on Mar 20, 2007 19:44:38 GMT -5
A problem I seemed to have noticed is the lack of promotion of the team. I haven't heard anything about the team, except for the occasional newspaper write up the day after a game.
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Post by Sykotyk on Mar 20, 2007 23:09:51 GMT -5
Lack of promotion is a major killer of teams in these leagues. I don't know how people who buy them can think can get away with it. It's the 'field of dreams complex'. If you build it, they won't come. They need to be poked and prodded and reminded every day that there's a team, there's a game, and this is why it's exciting and why you should plunk down $10, $15, or $25 to see it.
Sykotyk
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