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2009 Baltimore Mariners Ramp Up Community Visibility

October 2, 2008 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Baltimore Mariners News Release


(Baltimore, MD) The 2009 Baltimore Mariners are working to raise awareness of the second-year professional indoor football franchise, owned by local business man and area native, Alan Taylor. Prior to Taylor purchasing the Baltimore Mariners, the team struggled with lower than expected attendance numbers. In their inaugural season in 2008, the Baltimore Mariners of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) managed to sell only a limited number of season tickets. While the first home game of the '08 season saw an estimated 3,000 fans in the seats, the numbers dwindled game after game. This is an issue Taylor plans to remedy during his ownership. He believes that developing a stronger community relationship is the key to success, and so far, this is proving to be true.

Taylor and team general manager, Greg "Muggy" Justice have aligned themselves with local powerhouse businesses like Royal Farms convenience stores and smaller, family owned businesses such as the Sunset Restaurant in Glen Burnie, MD. The Baltimore Mariners organization has been creating strong community bonds and business partnerships in the form of sponsorship dollars from the local business owners, who believe in the family friendly product that 2009 Mariners plan to display beginning in March of 2009.

The Mariners' latest grass-roots marketing campaign led them to the recreation league in Hampstead, MD. and the young Hampstead Ravens' 2008 punt-pass-kick competition. Making an appearance at the event was the AIFA's top rated kicker and Baltimore's biggest off-season acquisition, J.R. Cipra. Cipra, who is a physical education teacher in Baltimore is no stranger to working with children. This event afforded Cipra the opportunity to combine his two favorite passions, teaching and playing football. Joining Cipra at the P.P.K. event was 3rd year Baltimore indoor football veteran, offensive lineman Faraji Mason.

Mason's off-field demeanor has made him a favorite among Mariners fans. It is his soft spoken gentle nature and genuine love of the community that made him the perfect compliment to Cipra at the Hampstead Raven's event. Mason, an Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) graduate first found his way into Baltimore's professional sport scene when he landed a starting position on the now defunct Baltimore Blackbirds indoor football franchise. He joined the Baltimore Mariners in their 2008 inaugural season and has signed a contract to return to the turf again in 2009.

Mason and Cipra, both wearing a Mariners Jersey worked closely with the young athletes in the kicking contests. Cipra tutored them in the mechanics of kicking, and Mason measured the results of the kicks. With over 200 children and their families attending the event, it was a great opportunity to spread the word about Baltimore's 2009 Mariners team. It is also about community and working with the children. This is not about a sales pitch. It is about a genuine love of and dedication to this wonderful city and its surrounding communities. Quite a few of the Mariners players live and work full time jobs in the area and they have a great sense of pride in being able to represent the city of Baltimore and making a positive impact in the community. This is about giving back, and not just selling tickets.

The Baltimore Mariners will continue to expand their presence leading up to and throughout the 2009 season. This Saturday October 4th, representatives from the team will be at the popular Annual Fells Point Fun Festival in historic Fells Point, MD. For more information on the festival, visit www.fellspoint.us. Season tickets are now on sale for the 2009 Baltimore Mariners' seven regular-season home games. Visit www.baltimoremariners.com to order your season tickets today.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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