Post by fiftyyardfan on Jun 24, 2010 11:19:52 GMT -5
Sports souvenir hunters or those who have been fans of the Fayetteville Guard can purchase of piece of the arena football franchise Saturday.
Team owner Richard King said the team's jerseys, helmets, footballs and all other team paraphernalia will be auctioned off at the conclusion of Saturday's regular-season game against Richmond at the Crown Coliseum.
"It's all going up for auction. We're taking everything out of storage and letting it go,'' King said. "Everything that's not sold will go back to the next person who owns the team.''
King announced two weeks ago his intentions to step away from the franchise he helped bring to Fayetteville in 2005. He is seeking a local buyer for the team, but could wind up selling it back to the American Indoor Football Association in which the franchise competes. As a last resort, King could simply sell off the team assets, including the playing field and bus.
There have been no interested buyers to date, according to King.
"I've had none. Zilch. Zero,'' King said. "I haven't heard a word from anyone, which is discouraging.''
Just as discouraging to King was the slim turnout for last Saturday's game, a 65-58 loss by the Guard against the Erie Storm. King said a crowd of only 1,800 showed up for what could have been the team's next-to-last appearance at the Crown.
"It was nothing like I'd thought it would be,'' he said. "We advertised it pretty well. We distributed about 25,000 flyers to neighborhoods around the city.''
If Saturday's game is the final one for the Guard, King intends to make sure it's a memorable one.
In addition to the auction, he's having a video of game highlights from the Guard's seven years assembled. The highlights will be shown to the crowd at halftime.
King is also planning a video conference featuring former Guard defensive lineman Joe Morrison. Morrison suffered brain injuries in July 2009 in a work accident that ended his football career. He's been recovering since in his hometown of Aurora, Ohio.
"I think all that will make it a special and memorable halftime,'' King said. "It'll be exciting to see Joe.''
www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/24/1008731?sac=Sports
Team owner Richard King said the team's jerseys, helmets, footballs and all other team paraphernalia will be auctioned off at the conclusion of Saturday's regular-season game against Richmond at the Crown Coliseum.
"It's all going up for auction. We're taking everything out of storage and letting it go,'' King said. "Everything that's not sold will go back to the next person who owns the team.''
King announced two weeks ago his intentions to step away from the franchise he helped bring to Fayetteville in 2005. He is seeking a local buyer for the team, but could wind up selling it back to the American Indoor Football Association in which the franchise competes. As a last resort, King could simply sell off the team assets, including the playing field and bus.
There have been no interested buyers to date, according to King.
"I've had none. Zilch. Zero,'' King said. "I haven't heard a word from anyone, which is discouraging.''
Just as discouraging to King was the slim turnout for last Saturday's game, a 65-58 loss by the Guard against the Erie Storm. King said a crowd of only 1,800 showed up for what could have been the team's next-to-last appearance at the Crown.
"It was nothing like I'd thought it would be,'' he said. "We advertised it pretty well. We distributed about 25,000 flyers to neighborhoods around the city.''
If Saturday's game is the final one for the Guard, King intends to make sure it's a memorable one.
In addition to the auction, he's having a video of game highlights from the Guard's seven years assembled. The highlights will be shown to the crowd at halftime.
King is also planning a video conference featuring former Guard defensive lineman Joe Morrison. Morrison suffered brain injuries in July 2009 in a work accident that ended his football career. He's been recovering since in his hometown of Aurora, Ohio.
"I think all that will make it a special and memorable halftime,'' King said. "It'll be exciting to see Joe.''
www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/24/1008731?sac=Sports
