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Post by Gene on May 12, 2008 10:39:05 GMT -5
Unfortunately, there are "fair weather" fans for every team in every sport. Those of us that love the indoor football game show up no matter what. I guess the point thats trying to be made here about minor league teams working in bigger markets could be summed up by the Tallahassee Titans situation. They were averaging, as i undertsand it, 4,000+ per game yet the arena fees were so high that they couldnt keep up financially. But you do have a point about the losing teams with low attendance. They are all struggling financially.
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Post by 11HP20 on May 14, 2008 10:28:56 GMT -5
I don't know enough about the Tallahassee area to guess at what a better option is. I know "The Tuck" is owned by the local goverment which usually points to bad things to come. I wonder why filling over 1/3 of the seats can't cover the rent.
I know in Baltimore the CFL Colts were gone as soon as the NFL screwed to fans of Cleveland and let the Browns go to Baltimore. I think minor league football would be hard to sell there as long as the NFL is in town. I'm basing this on having been born and raised in Maryland. Hopefully the Mariners find a way to fill the seats and thrive.
I consider St Louis to be a major market. Right now The Rage are 3-6 and still averaging 3734 fans per home game. That is in an arena that holds 9755 people in it's football configuration. The team tried one year in the Savvis Center in downtown STL. That didn't work for obvious reasons. The franchise has been the Renegades, Believers, and now The Rage in it's 8 year history. This is the 4th season they've been called The Rage. My point is minor league football can work in major markets. The Rage are doing it as members of the most expensive league to be a member of.
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Post by djh0722 on May 14, 2008 10:36:48 GMT -5
That is a very respectable opinion. I think indoor football can work in Baltimore. It will take advertising dollars to get the word out. It is just not widely advertised. Local radio spots would be great, and more print ads in local papers as well would be a huge benifit. A mention once or twice in a paper is not really god enough, as it is easily forgotten.
Indoor football season begins months after the NFL season ends. If people were aware that there was more professional football in their city, I think they would be up for giving it a chance. Whn the Ravens season ended a couple of years ago, I found the AIFA team (The Blackbirds) by Googling "Arena Football"+"Baltimore". I know I am not the only person looking for a football fix after the NFL season has ended.
It is also a great family event (as long as the families are not sitting behind the benches). It is affordable and fun. It is a pro sport that the entire family can go to without having to shell out tons of cash for.
People just need to know it is an option. Advertising works. I can't get that stupid "Free Credit Report.com" song out of my head!
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Post by 11HP20 on May 15, 2008 8:39:35 GMT -5
You're right about the advertising. I've seen Rage TV commercials, heard radio adds, seen them get local news spots for charity events, and listened to Rage players doing local sports radio interveiws. All the while their average attendance has increased.
Last years Rage attendance averaged 3476 (now 3734). I can't back it up with numbers because The Rage were in the NIFL prior to that but if memory serves me correct it was around 3200 in 2006 and slightly less in 2005. In the Believers days the average was just under 3000 (me thinks).
If you keep plugging at it you can increase the numbers. I'm sure there are subtle differences from town to town in what is the best way to advertise. Still the goal is the same. Get your name out there. Here in STL it has helped increase attendance by around 700 fans per games over the last 5 years.
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Post by djh0722 on May 15, 2008 10:06:07 GMT -5
With aggressive and smart advertising, any team can be successful. Even something as updating team websites regularly helps to an extent. I see myspace pages for teams but many of them have not been updated in some time. Advertising needs to have a grass-roots beginning and then branch out form there. Teams need to work closely with local youth football teams. Get them involved in the sport. The parents will take the kids to the games. The kids will have a great time and want to come back. Start building your future fanbase. Build a solid foundation of young fans. Teams need to remember their demographic. This is a family game/event.
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Post by 11HP20 on May 15, 2008 16:48:58 GMT -5
Agreed I've seen little leaguers playing around with the Cardinals mascot Fredbird, a 7s rugby demo, and the NWFA's St Louis Slam do a half time demo at Rage games. All went over great. All were smart moves. No one is talking about how hard it is to get the job done at the organization. They are just getting it done. I think teams from all the leagues could take a lesson from teams that "Just do it".
Look at the Outlawz in the CIFL. People all over the indoor football world respect them. They are in Hellertown PA well within driving distance of Philly. They compete with the AFL Soul for football dollars as the seasons overlap. Yet the Outlawz are making it work.
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Post by exit322 on May 27, 2008 22:36:33 GMT -5
There are a number of big city indoor football teams that have had success for long periods of time.
The Rage were mentioned...they've been playing since 2001 (granted, under three names with a few different owners) - but they still get 3000-plus (and aren't very good this year).
CIFL Chicago Slaughter - Granted, they comp a fair amount, but they've gotten 6000 or more people to show up for all their home games.
CIFL Milwaukee Bonecrushers - Despite a terrible team and a coach and GM that worked from the inside to ruin the team so the AF2 could come in...they've drawn over 2000 fans every game.
Success can happen in bigger cities. But it takes a different kind of work than in some smaller towns like Erie or Marion.
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Post by UnoBomber on May 30, 2008 23:39:49 GMT -5
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Post by 1stDownStorm on May 31, 2008 22:18:50 GMT -5
That article is also now on the front page of the AIFA website if you scroll down, just in case no one else noticed.
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Post by gonzo13 on Jun 1, 2008 15:08:54 GMT -5
Of course it is.....It has John Morris' name in it.
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Post by Standard Deviation on Jun 1, 2008 15:35:21 GMT -5
Maybe if they gave away Baltimore Merchandise at the games rather than AIFA shirts and Hats the Mariners might be recognized once in a while.
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Post by gonzo13 on Jun 2, 2008 0:24:26 GMT -5
Ain't that the truth?
The sooner these guys realize that the average fan doesn't give a s**t about these leagues the better they will be.
Nobody wants an AIFA shirt....Hell, I wouldn't want an NFL shirt. Give me a Bears or Falcons......Or Lions or Mudcats shirt and I'd be fine with that.
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