A View From NFL Europe: For the Fans
Lee Zakow
Sunday July 23, 2000
I see where Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, is charging people for the privilege of attending training camp scrimmages. Get real. It appears as if this guy is trying to squeeze every last dime out of the public. Let’s be happy about one thing. This would never happen in the Arena League, or in NFL Europe for that matter. I’ve never been to Orlando for NFL E training camp (I plan to go this year) because it’s hard for me to get away at that time of the year. But the report from people who do is, that they have an absolute blast. The Germans, the Scots, they all come over. Even London Monarch fans. That’s a great way to build a fan base.
In talking with Commissioner Baker, an owner, and fans, I understand one thing is clear. Many owners and Commissioner Baker are committed to making this a league of the people, for the people. That is precisely the reason why the
Los Angeles Avengers have done so well in what many have come to perceive as a very tough football market. Mr. Wasserman is committed, has a brilliant marketing staff and relates to the fans. And it is true that Mr. Snyder is a diehard football fan and is trying to put the best product he can on the field, but that’s where the comparison to many owners ends. Mr. Wasserman’s Avengers are for everyone. Mr. Snyder’s Redskins are his and his alone, or so it seems. And I feel that’s unfortunate, because sports touch people in a lot of ways. NFL E has touched plenty of people, as has the Arena League.
Todd Marinovich and the Avengers have had strong fan support thanks to owner Casey Wasserman
Image courtesy of Mike Wright |
My question of the day, though, is this. I was told that the idea in the Arena League was to eliminate weak markets while making the strong ones even stronger. Therefore, the question becomes, what to do about Houston and Florida? Do both markets deserve to have a team? What markets deserve to get a team? Is consolidation such a bad thing? Florida is a textbook case. The South Florida sports market is an absolute wasteland. Many say that baseball died the day the Marlins’ World Series team was disassembled. Not true. Miami is a tough market and as a point, let’s see how well the Dolphins do if they get off to, say, a 3-5 start. Will the stadium sell out? Yes, I know hockey and basketball have had their moments. And the way the Bobcats played earlier in the year against Tampa Bay and Orlando, there are the seeds of a heated rivalry there. But I don’t know if it’s worth the wait. Wouldn’t a place like Louisville be better? Their demographics are better than Birmingham and Memphis, just behind Orlando of the “non-major league” cities (Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, etc.). Granted they need an arena, but I think Louisville, with solid, local ownership could make it go.
Houston has an exciting team to watch. They can put points up in bunches. Florida struggled last week. Jim Arellanes looked horrible, throwing two picks on the Bobcats’ first two series. Arellanes is tall and rangy, has a good arm, but does not have a good read on the Arena game yet. He left the Rhein Fire training camp in March right before the season began. Is Florida reloading for next year? And their ownership mess at the start of the season did not make things any easier on the struggling team. The team’s future is cloudy as is Houston’s if attendance does not improve. I would think that both teams’ ownerships are committed to making things work in their respective markets. But, at least they don’t charge to watch practice.
Lee Zakow was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2001.
The opinions expressed in the article above are only those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, opinions, or official stance of ArenaFan Online or its staff, or the Arena Football League, or any AFL or af2 teams.
