mtedora
10-07-2006, 03:15 PM
the TEXAS LEAGUE {baseball} has a great team called the Coastal Bend Aviators - they play in ROBSTOWN, TX, just outside of Corpus Christi... and the following IFL story causes me to wonder if the HAMMERHEADS will now be called the COASTAL BEND HAMMERHEADS.
Hammerheads reveal new home in Robstown
Arena expected to open by the end of the year
SOURCE: Matt Young Caller-Times
October 6, 2006
ROBSTOWN - A week after being told they weren't welcome at the American Bank Center, the Corpus Christi Hammerheads have landed on their feet.
The Hammerheads struck a deal to play at the new Central Pavilion Arena at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown.
The facility, which is scheduled to open in December, is a 2,500-seat air-conditioned arena that can accommodate concerts, rodeos, and boxing and wrestling matches.
"I feel real positive about everything regarding Central Pavilion Arena," Hammerheads owner Chad Dittman said. "Because of the small confines, we expect to have a real raucous atmosphere, and with the space out here, we're going to bring back tailgating before the games. We think the atmosphere at our games will be better than ever.
"And this is a nice building we're moving into, and we just feel really welcome here. We feel like we finally have a home."
Playing in Robstown will change things for the Hammerheads' marketing strategy.
"Now, we'll put more focus on Robstown, Alice, Kingsville, Banquete and all the areas around here," Dittman said. "We think we'll have some real die-hard fans in those areas. We'll still get plenty of tickets from Corpus Christi and Calallen and those areas, too."
The Hammerheads, which made it to the Intense Football League championship game last season, reported an average attendance of close to 6,000 fans per game at the American Bank Center. That number won't be duplicated in the smaller arena, but Dittman even found the positive in that.
"There will be much more of a demand for tickets," said Dittman, who said ticket prices will be similar to past seasons. "It was hard to create that demand when were playing in an 8,000-seat arena, but now we expect to sell out every game and create some excitement about tickets."
The Hammerheads open their season in April, which would put them head-to-head against the af2 - another arena football league looking to move into the American Bank Center.
"We're not worried about competition at all," Dittman said. "As long as we focus on what we do best, then we're not worried about who else is here or if anyone else is here. As long as we take care of our business, then we'll be fine."
Contact sports editor Matt Young at 886-3702 or HYPERLINK mailto:youngm@caller.com youngm@caller.com
Hammerheads reveal new home in Robstown
Arena expected to open by the end of the year
SOURCE: Matt Young Caller-Times
October 6, 2006
ROBSTOWN - A week after being told they weren't welcome at the American Bank Center, the Corpus Christi Hammerheads have landed on their feet.
The Hammerheads struck a deal to play at the new Central Pavilion Arena at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown.
The facility, which is scheduled to open in December, is a 2,500-seat air-conditioned arena that can accommodate concerts, rodeos, and boxing and wrestling matches.
"I feel real positive about everything regarding Central Pavilion Arena," Hammerheads owner Chad Dittman said. "Because of the small confines, we expect to have a real raucous atmosphere, and with the space out here, we're going to bring back tailgating before the games. We think the atmosphere at our games will be better than ever.
"And this is a nice building we're moving into, and we just feel really welcome here. We feel like we finally have a home."
Playing in Robstown will change things for the Hammerheads' marketing strategy.
"Now, we'll put more focus on Robstown, Alice, Kingsville, Banquete and all the areas around here," Dittman said. "We think we'll have some real die-hard fans in those areas. We'll still get plenty of tickets from Corpus Christi and Calallen and those areas, too."
The Hammerheads, which made it to the Intense Football League championship game last season, reported an average attendance of close to 6,000 fans per game at the American Bank Center. That number won't be duplicated in the smaller arena, but Dittman even found the positive in that.
"There will be much more of a demand for tickets," said Dittman, who said ticket prices will be similar to past seasons. "It was hard to create that demand when were playing in an 8,000-seat arena, but now we expect to sell out every game and create some excitement about tickets."
The Hammerheads open their season in April, which would put them head-to-head against the af2 - another arena football league looking to move into the American Bank Center.
"We're not worried about competition at all," Dittman said. "As long as we focus on what we do best, then we're not worried about who else is here or if anyone else is here. As long as we take care of our business, then we'll be fine."
Contact sports editor Matt Young at 886-3702 or HYPERLINK mailto:youngm@caller.com youngm@caller.com