Atmosphere in Tampa Bay Lackluster at Best
Adam J Locascio
Saturday May 15, 2004
As we enter the bye week, I wish I could say that I was completely in love with the franchise, but unfortunately, I’m not. Things just aren’t the same this season.
And by the way, how about that four-game winning streak? Wow. It seems like the Storm are getting hot at the right time.
No, I am not disappointed in the product on the field. The Storm that I am disappointed with comes before and after the games, and it has very little to do with the guys in the cleats.
With the exception of the 60 minutes of action on the field, there is very little entertainment at the St. Pete Times Forum. Compared to last season, the atmosphere has been dulled down to a coma-inducing lullaby.
Last season, the pregame festivities included Australian shepherds and their Frisbee-tossing counterparts catching long passes that would make Barry Wagner a little uneasy about his job. It included the roar of a line of Harley Davidson motorcycles and the intoxicating smell of carbon monoxide that followed them onto the field for the National Anthem.
And now, the “calm before the Storm” lasts about two hours.
Once the game starts, no one is looking for these little concessions. Oh, the “field goal kick” for some random prize is always a crowd pleaser, especially considering that some of those contestants have earned tryouts with the Storm for their performance.
Halftime still has a well-choreographed dance number by the Tampa Bay Storm cheerleaders brought to you by Napa Auto Parts, which is emblazoned on their rear ends. Then there’s the obligatory sumo wrestling or jousting, which is done in those giant inflatable cushioned outfits. Or what about the “musical bean-bag” contest? Yeah, that was fun the first 1,456 times.
And can we retire those bean-bag chairs at some point? Those chairs are torn up. In fact, I think three of them came over on the Mayflower.
At some random point in the game there’s even a Napa-sponsored drive-of-the-game where, if the Storm scores a touchdown, you win a bottle of windshield solvent. Personally, I think if I drink the solvent and it gives me a better buzz than some of these events. It also has more kick than any beer served at the Forum. Not to mention I didn’t have to refinance my home to get it.
There are also no real giveaways anymore. Last season, there were team posters, pennants, car flags, rally towels—the one for the Orlando game was great—and cheerleader cards. This year we get leftover thundersticks from the previous night’s hockey game.
There were rumors of a 2004 Storm Cheerleader Calendar that was supposed to be released sometime this season. The girls featured in months January through May have got to be pretty ticked off. And, no, it wasn’t a 16-month calendar.
Two weeks ago, I ventured eastward on I-4 for the Storm/Predator game. Talk about pageantry. Talk about excitement. They have a mascot that will about put you off your lunch if he sneaks up on you. Think orcs from Lord of the Rings crossed with Ray Lewis. The Storm has Storm Dawg, for whom I’m still searching for a connection with the team. For almost two seasons, I inadvertently referred to Storm Dawg as “Storm Monkey” due to the long, curly tail that hung off the back of the costume. It looks like a monkey.
The Predators have a Hummer H2 adorned with cheerleaders that cruises the field during timeouts and launches t-shirts to the crowd. I guess the golf cart was too tough on gas. The Hummer is accompanied by a beautiful blonde emcee who engages the crowd with a microphone, which no doubt sends the crowd into a lather.
And you know what the Predators have during the pregame? That’s right, the bikers on Harleys. I guess that was a fair trade for Clif Dell.
The AFL Fan Bill of Rights refers to the fact that “every Fan is entitled to a total entertainment experience.” Well “total entertainment experience” would imply a little more than just a football game. We can play football in front of the Forum. The practice turf is lying out there for anyone to use.
The Storm front office needs to get their marketing and public relations department to step up and electroshock this experience for fans. Sure, there are little diversions and events to bridge the gaps between plays, but let’s face it, they are pretty tired and unoriginal. It’s almost as if there is a textbook titled “Games For Your Sporting Event” and these people are just reading it line for line. It may be time for some fresh blood, fresh ideas and maybe even fresh faces to help draw the traffic back to the Forum.
People will come to the Forum if there is more than a football game there. If it’s just football we’re after, well, there’s a football game on the magic box at home. Without anything to entice a potential fan to come to the arena, I don’t blame anyone for sitting home. It’s pretty much the same experience with a better view and a softer seat.
Adam J. Locascio is a financial advisor in the Tampa Bay area and a Board Member of the Tampa Bay Storm Surge Fan Club. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix and is a six-year season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Storm.
