Air Strikers return

[runninref]

Dayton Air Strikers return for the Premier Basketball League’s 2012 Season
Written by Chris Foltz on July 18, 2011

Chicago, IL – 7/18/2011- The Premier Basketball League (PBL) announced that the Dayton Air Strikers will be returning to the PBL for its upcoming 2012 Season. The Dayton Air Strikers, led by Coaches Chris McGuire and Darnell Hoskins, marks the fourth team to be a part of the PBL for the 2012 season and this will be the second PBL season for the Air Strikers.

“The Air Strikers have a great program and an exciting fan base. We are thrilled to see the return of this young team to the league for our 2012 season,” mentioned PBL President and CEO Brij Desai.

Coach McGuire and Coach Hoskins have already started hosting practices and getting the team in shape for the season. They both are known around the Dayton/Miami Valley area for their great coaching skills and abilities to push athletes to their limit.

“We are very excited about returning to the PBL for its 2012 season. The Premier Basketball League is where the Dayton Air Strikers first started. The team is more developed along with more of a competitive edge from the players and front office. We look forward to providing the league with professional brand and quality basketball,” commented Anthony Byrd, President and CEO of the Air Strikers.

Byrd says he has continued to establish a team brand after competing in the PBL’s 2011 season. All games for the 2012 PBL season will be broadcasted live online (www.atsportstv.com) and on the @SportsTV Network.

Earlier this year, the PBL announced a regional play model. This allows fans to travel to away games and support their hometown teams. In addition, the regional play model keeps team travel costs at a minimum. The Dayton Air Strikers will be playing their home games at the James Trent Arena in Kettering, Ohio.

The Air Strikers join the Rochester RazorSharks, Chicago Muscle, and Team Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the 2012 season. The PBL will continue making the rest of their team announcements prior to the official summer try-outs and combine scheduled for late August.

For more information about the Dayton Air Strikers visit www.daytonairstrikers.com or email info@daytonairstrikers.com

[Frank Mart]

It's funny, everything indicated that would be part of the independent American Association (IBA), not surprisingly, the Strikers were a dismal failure in the last edition of the PBL. Thanks.

[LightningMan]

Well, I said there needed to be a team in the environs between Pennsylvania and Illinois and the Strikers fit that bill.

[bluenoser]

Never thought it possible but it just may be. I have a better idea than all these "franchise" anouncements - have ROCH play all YMCA teams b/w ROCH and CHI, award themselves a trophy at the end of the "season" and donate all league "proceeds" to the Y's.

Bring back Dayton? This is a farce.

Note to the CHI/SCR owners - "run now and run fast". Mama won't be so pissed off if you only lose $100 for a "website".

On the plus side, perhaps the NBLC will webcast some games so you can see the best North American non NBA/NBADL players playing in North America ...

[turbocamyes]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

... On the plus side, perhaps the NBLC will webcast some games so you can see the best North American non NBA players playing in North America ...

Are you including the D-League as part of the NBA?

[bluenoser]

Originally Posted by turbocamyes

Are you including the D-League as part of the NBA?

Yes I was but edited for clarity.

[JeffKuntz]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

Bring back Dayton? This is a farce.

Why is it a farce?

From Dayton's point of view: As we all know, Dayton left the PBL to join the IBL.. But now all the IBL's teams in the Dayton region basically all left that league in order to create their own organization. Dayton didn't make any negative statements when they left the PBL, they just left and went about their business.. now with no IBL teams left to play they have to pick a league to play in don't they? The PBL obviously made the most sense to them because I'm quite certain the Air Strikers had options..


From the PBL's point of view: Dayton pretty well in the middle from a geographic standpoint.. Dayton didn't throw a hissy fit last year, either.. Yes the Air Strikers had an awful record but that's a basketball issue not a business issue..


Actually I think this move makes great sense for both the PBL and the Dayton Air Strikers.. If the PBL can get two to four more teams who are geographically in between Chicago and Scranton then I think they will have done an exceptional job of rebuilding their league so quickly..

As I mentioned in another thread, since they've gone ahead and announced the teams then they desperately need to start showing signs of life in Chicago and Scranton.. like yesterday.. but so far the league office has done a solid job in a short amount of time..

[bluenoser]

[QUOTE=JeffKuntz;156248]Why is it a farce?


Because they drew about 100 fans a night, because they travelled with like 8 players, because they left to go to a rec league and then the PBL welcomes them back with open arms, ... ... ...

Someone is going to have to coin a new word "PBLish", oh, I guess I just did. Very similar to "ABAish" but worse at obtaining franchise fees.

[JeffKuntz]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

Because they drew about 100 fans a night, because they travelled with like 8 players, because they left to go to a rec league and then the PBL welcomes them back with open arms, ... ... ...

Someone is going to have to coin a new word "PBLish", oh, I guess I just did. Very similar to "ABAish" but worse at obtaining franchise fees.

Well at the moment we're talking about different issues..

I was addressing the PBL and Dayton and how they fit into the footprint.. you're talking about the Air Strikers performance as a business..

I agree completely that they have work to do.. if you're looking for positives, they are going back to Trent Arena which is a ridiculously huge upgrade over McLin Gym, and they've got a small group of supporters at the moment..

It's up to them to take the support they've got and grow it.. cold calling businesses won't work for the Air Strikers.. they need to get with the business people they do have and simply ask for their help.. ask those business owners to set up meetings with other business people that they know, and then ask THOSE PEOPLE for their help.. and and grow it that way..

It's going to take time but they're in a deeply damaged market and must build it by shaking as many hands as possible..

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

Why is it a farce?


Because they drew about 100 fans a night, because they travelled with like 8 players, because they left to go to a rec league and then the PBL welcomes them back with open arms, ... ... ...

Someone is going to have to coin a new word "PBLish", oh, I guess I just did. Very similar to "ABAish" but worse at obtaining franchise fees.

I coined the phrase PBL-ish long ago, but never registered a copyright. You can have it.

We're kinda in agreement on this. However, it's the Doc's money and he's been making moves like this all along. Strategy: Go to Mapquest and pick a location. Remember the Augusta Groove? Remember the Nevada Thunderbirds? Nothing has changed. People were simply in denial about the PBL. Now people seem to be disappointed about the PBL's recent and not so recent actions. I'm baffled. Nothing has changed.