A minute with…
David Speakman
Wednesday January 25, 2006
David Speakman: Title and role?
Scott Myers: MANAGING PARTNER
DS: What is a typical day in the office?
SM: TYPICALLY MY DAY IS SPENT DEALING WITH A RANGE OF ISSUES INCLUDING TEAM SPONSORSHIP DEALS, ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES, SEASON TICKET PROMOTIONS...REALLY THERE IS NO TYPICAL DAY!
DS: What was most difficult about last seasons 2-14 finish?
SM: LOSING! SERIOUSLY, IT WAS DIFFICULT GOING THROUGH A YEAR WHERE YOU WERE NOT EXPECTED TO WIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE HAD THE LEVEL OF SUCCESS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.
DS: Tell me about the jersey bonfire.
SM: BURNING THE JERSEYS WAS JUST A WAY FOR US TO GET RID OF LAST SEASON IN OUR MINDS, AND IN THE MINDS OF OUR SPONSORS AND SEASON TICKET HOLDERS. IT BASICALLY SYMBOLIZED THAT WE WERE WASHING OUR HANDS OF THAT SEASON AND WOULD START OVER AGAIN IN A NEW FASHION FOR 2006. THE JERSEYS WERE ALSO A SERIOUS PAIN IN THE BUTT FROM THE DESIGN STAGE UNTIL THE DUMPSTER!
DS: You replaced long time coach Bobby Humphrey with Ron Selesky. Can you tell me how you decided on the change and why you chose Selesky?
SM: ESSENTIALLY, IT HAD BECOME TIME FOR US TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. BOBBY HAD DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT FOR THIS FRANCHISE AND HAD TAKEN THEM A LONG WAY. WHEN WE BEGAN TO LOOK FOR A NEW HEAD COACH, WE WANTED A COACH THAT WAS A PROVEN WINNER IN ARENA FOOTBALL. WE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND RON'S NAME ALWAYS CAME UP. THEN WE LOOKED AT HIS EXPERIENCE AND CONTACTS IN THE ARENA LEAGUES, AND HE SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM THE OTHERS WHEN WE INTERVIEWED HIM.
DS: You have tremendous fans in Birmingham. How do you maintain your attendance while other teams with more on field success struggle?
SM: WE HAVE GREAT FOOTBALL FANS IN BIRMINGHAM AND MANY OF THEM HAVE TAKEN TO THE STEELDOGS. WE ALSO TRY TO MARKET OUR PRODUCT TO PEOPLE SEEKING ENTERTAINMENT, AND WE TAKE CARE OF THAT WHEN THEY COME TO A GAME, WIN OR LOSE.
DS: Is a jump to the Arena Football League a possibility for the Steeldogs? Could the city or ownership support the move?
SM: I THINK THE MARKET IS BIG ENOUGH FOR A JUMP TO THE AFL. WE ARE MORE INTERESTED RIGHT NOW IN WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE AF2 AND WORKING TOWARD LEADING THIS LEAGUE IN ATTENDANCE.
DS: af2 hasn't increased player’s pay since it's inception. Would it be too damaging to the league to raise weekly salary to $300 or from $50 to $100 for a win?
SM: WELL, IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, THE LEAGUE HAS INCREASED THE OVERALL BENEFIT TO THE PLAYER INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF MEALS ALLOWED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE TEAM, AND MORE SUBSTANTIALLY THE ABILITY TO HOUSE PLAYERS. NOW, WITH THEIR FOOD AND ROOM COVERED, THEIR MONEY GOES A LOT FURTHER.
DS: How do you feel about the rate at which the af2 is expanding and where did you see the cut off point?
SM: I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THE BEST MARKETS WITH QUALITY OWNERSHIP GROUPS AND ONLY EXPAND WHEN THOSE TWO ELEMENTS ARE TOGETHER.
DS: Anything else you’d like to add?
SM: WATCH OUT FOR THE STEELDOGS IN 2006!
David Speakman lives in Roswell, GA. He is the owner of Speakman Collectibles and is an inline hockey player/coach/ref when he isn't chasing down an interview. Speakman Collectibles is the exclusive manufacturer of arenafootball2 helmet collectibles. Big Game, Little Helmets.
