2015 Team Awards Announced
July 1, 2015 - Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release
The Indoor Football League (IFL) is proud to announce the 2015 Team Awards for outstanding achievements during the IFL regular season.
Franchise of the Year: Tri-Cities Fever
The Tri-Cities Fever are the 2015 IFL Franchise of the Year. Selected by their peers, factors considered for achieving this award consisted of attendance, sales, public relations, marketing, performance on the field, community involvement and overall representation of the IFL.
"With the quality playing partners that we have, this is a true honor. Any team in the league could be deserving of this award and yet for them to recognize Tri-Cities is humbling," said Tri-Cities Owner Teri Carr. "We always make it a point to do the right things for our community, players, playing partners and the league. Thank you to those who have recognized that."
On the field, the Fever posted an 8-6 record and returned to the playoffs in 2015 for the first time since 2012. Throughout their 11th season of play, the Fever ranked among the best in the IFL in ticket sales and attendance. Off the field, the Fever excelled in public relations, marketing, and community relations programs. Through their efforts in 2015, the Fever helped raise over $70,000 in the Tri-Cities community. This is the Fever's second franchise of the year selection. The team previously won the award in 2012.
Executive of the Year: John Pettit (Co-Owner, Vice President, COO, Iowa Barnstormers)
The Iowa Barnstormers' John Pettit is the 2015 IFL Executive of the Year. Under Pettit's leadership, the Barnstormers saw a smooth transition into the IFL during the past season. The team ranked at or near the top in attendance and sales. The team averaged 6,564 fans per game in 2015, second in the IFL. The Barnstormers will look to continue their growth in 2016, building on the momentum of seeing their attendance rise to over 7,000 fans per game in each of the their last three home games. During the 2015 seaosn, Pettit served on the IFL Expansion Committee. His efforts have assisted in not only growing the Barnstormers' brand, but also in solidifying the IFL business model.
Best Fan Base: Sioux Falls Storm
The Best Fan Base award is given to the team with the fans that show the most enthusiasm, energy, and overall appreciation for their team. Despite leaving their longtime home in the Sioux Falls Arena at the end of last season, Storm fans have rabidly embraced the team's new home at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. The Storm's 2015 home opener set an IFL attendance record with 9,787 fans in attendance. The Storm finished the season averaging a league-leading 7,141 fans per game, continuing to make Sioux Falls one of the toughest places to play in the league. This is the second consecutive season the Storm have received this award.
Best Game Operations: Green Bay Blizzard
The Green Bay Blizzard have once again been awarded Best Game Day Operations. Longtime stalwarts in this category, the Blizzard pride themselves in putting on a great show for their home fans. This season the Blizzard consistently created innovative game-day presentations, entertaining their fans with unique half-time shows, giveaways, music and on-field promotions. The team has earned this award in three of the last four years.
Best Cheerleader/Dance Team: Colorado Ice
The Colorado Ice have earned the Best Dance Team award in 2015. The dance team, better known as the "Icicles", earned the designation as the award is based on talent, attractiveness, uniforms, and crowd interaction
Community Relations Award: Sioux Falls Storm
The Community Relations award is presented to the team that best exemplifies outstanding service to their community. The Sioux Falls Storm received the award based on their contributions with such programs as the Sioux Falls Backpack Program, Sacks for Cash, Disaster Relief Fund, and Operation Homefront among many others. The Storm partnered with, and donated to, such organizations as the Boys and Girls Club, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and many more. The team also helped support, via fundraisers, several people in the Sioux Falls community who are stricken with life-threatening illnesses. In all, the Storm were able to raise over $100,000 for the Sioux Falls community in 2015.
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Indoor Football League Stories from July 1, 2015
- Pettit Earns IFL Executive of the Year - Iowa Barnstormers
- 2015 All-IFL Teams Announced - Sioux Falls Storm
- 2015 Team Awards Announced - IFL
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