Post by Gene on Oct 18, 2007 15:58:11 GMT -5
By Brad Fuqua, The Daily Courier
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Move over Sundogs. A new sports tenant is coming to Tim's Toyota Center.
American Indoor Football Association executives and an ownership group under the umbrella of IDC Sports Ventures announced Wednesday afternoon that arena football is coming to Prescott Valley in March 2008. Local sports marketing guru Jim Shipp is the unnamed team's general manager.
Shipp said the AIFA is a notch below the popular Arena Football League and a notch above AF2. He bases those comparisons on organizational flow and salaries. Besides the entertainment aspect, the new franchise has the goal of developing players to move up.
"When you see those guys out there playing, they're playing for more than the fun of the game," Shipp said. "They're playing for an opportunity."
Player salaries range from $250 to $1,000 per game. There are salary caps on both coaches and players. Shipp said housing would be provided.
"The teams play eight-man football on a 50-yard turf field," said Wade Cunningham, IDC chief executive officer. "Our team will provide a fast-paced brand of football and affordable family entertainment to northern Arizona. ... In addition, we offer young men an opportunity to continue playing football past their college years and possibly advance to the AFL or the NFL."
Shipp said home games will likely be played on Saturday evenings. The team will have a 14-game schedule with seven at home and seven away. Conflicts with the hockey team's schedule could arise, especially if the Sundogs advance into the playoffs, but officials said those details will be worked out.
For the hockey to football conversion, an artificial turf field will be rolled out. When the team begins workouts, they may be required to work outdoors because of the hockey conflicts.
The team will choose a nickname through a fan contest poll.
The AIFA wrapped up its first year over the summer with teams located mainly in the East and South. League co-owner Michael Mink said there is a westward movement and the Prescott Valley franchise is part of the overall picture to place teams in this part of the country.
When asked about stability, Mink pointed to close scrutiny of ownership groups.
"There are always issues of stability," Mink said. "Some teams won't be invited back this year. We have guidelines ... and over time we are always looking at the quality of ownership groups."
Mink said the league has a five-year plan of 24 teams with 12 each in an Eastern and Western conference. Salt Lake City and Casper, Wyo., will also have teams in the division.
Mink said cities in Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California are potential future AIFA sites. Although another Arizona team will not be in the works this season, Shipp said Yuma is a possibility in a year or two with plans for a new arena down there.
IDC Sports Venturing paid $43,000 to get into the league - a $25,000 franchise fee plus $1,500 per month dues.
A television deal is also in the works, officials said. A satellite signal is available and the team will negotiate with a local TV channel to carry the action. Games will also be available on radio, cell phone broadcast and on the web. Simply 4Me Inc., is paying the AIFA $2.5 million for exclusive media and publishing rights.
The Prescott Valley team will get started on building its team right away. A head coach has not yet been hired but Shipp said a leading candidate is current Scottsdale Community College coach Doug Medowski, who formerly played for the AFL's Rattlers. Shipp said he's also talking to ex-NFL players.
Coming up this weekend, the team will head up to Northern Arizona University to scout players. Shipp mentioned by name a Lumberjacks defensive end, Blair Boynton, as a player he'd love to have.
Player tryouts are upcoming in both Phoenix and Dallas.
Another source of players could come out of the semipro outdoor Copper Football League. IDC Sports Ventures operates the Tri-City Titans, a local team that will play its home games next season at Ken Lindley Field in Prescott.
This is the second team sports venture for the new arena. There have been rumors of other projects but nothing has been made public.
"One of the things that came across our desk was sports," Tim's Toyota Center executive director Steve Conrad said. "That message was loud and clear."
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Move over Sundogs. A new sports tenant is coming to Tim's Toyota Center.
American Indoor Football Association executives and an ownership group under the umbrella of IDC Sports Ventures announced Wednesday afternoon that arena football is coming to Prescott Valley in March 2008. Local sports marketing guru Jim Shipp is the unnamed team's general manager.
Shipp said the AIFA is a notch below the popular Arena Football League and a notch above AF2. He bases those comparisons on organizational flow and salaries. Besides the entertainment aspect, the new franchise has the goal of developing players to move up.
"When you see those guys out there playing, they're playing for more than the fun of the game," Shipp said. "They're playing for an opportunity."
Player salaries range from $250 to $1,000 per game. There are salary caps on both coaches and players. Shipp said housing would be provided.
"The teams play eight-man football on a 50-yard turf field," said Wade Cunningham, IDC chief executive officer. "Our team will provide a fast-paced brand of football and affordable family entertainment to northern Arizona. ... In addition, we offer young men an opportunity to continue playing football past their college years and possibly advance to the AFL or the NFL."
Shipp said home games will likely be played on Saturday evenings. The team will have a 14-game schedule with seven at home and seven away. Conflicts with the hockey team's schedule could arise, especially if the Sundogs advance into the playoffs, but officials said those details will be worked out.
For the hockey to football conversion, an artificial turf field will be rolled out. When the team begins workouts, they may be required to work outdoors because of the hockey conflicts.
The team will choose a nickname through a fan contest poll.
The AIFA wrapped up its first year over the summer with teams located mainly in the East and South. League co-owner Michael Mink said there is a westward movement and the Prescott Valley franchise is part of the overall picture to place teams in this part of the country.
When asked about stability, Mink pointed to close scrutiny of ownership groups.
"There are always issues of stability," Mink said. "Some teams won't be invited back this year. We have guidelines ... and over time we are always looking at the quality of ownership groups."
Mink said the league has a five-year plan of 24 teams with 12 each in an Eastern and Western conference. Salt Lake City and Casper, Wyo., will also have teams in the division.
Mink said cities in Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California are potential future AIFA sites. Although another Arizona team will not be in the works this season, Shipp said Yuma is a possibility in a year or two with plans for a new arena down there.
IDC Sports Venturing paid $43,000 to get into the league - a $25,000 franchise fee plus $1,500 per month dues.
A television deal is also in the works, officials said. A satellite signal is available and the team will negotiate with a local TV channel to carry the action. Games will also be available on radio, cell phone broadcast and on the web. Simply 4Me Inc., is paying the AIFA $2.5 million for exclusive media and publishing rights.
The Prescott Valley team will get started on building its team right away. A head coach has not yet been hired but Shipp said a leading candidate is current Scottsdale Community College coach Doug Medowski, who formerly played for the AFL's Rattlers. Shipp said he's also talking to ex-NFL players.
Coming up this weekend, the team will head up to Northern Arizona University to scout players. Shipp mentioned by name a Lumberjacks defensive end, Blair Boynton, as a player he'd love to have.
Player tryouts are upcoming in both Phoenix and Dallas.
Another source of players could come out of the semipro outdoor Copper Football League. IDC Sports Ventures operates the Tri-City Titans, a local team that will play its home games next season at Ken Lindley Field in Prescott.
This is the second team sports venture for the new arena. There have been rumors of other projects but nothing has been made public.
"One of the things that came across our desk was sports," Tim's Toyota Center executive director Steve Conrad said. "That message was loud and clear."
