Desperados Move to Reunion Arena
January 6, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Dallas Desperados announced today that they have reached an agreement to play their 2003 home games at Reunion Arena. The club â which played its inaugural season at the American Airlines Center â will kick off its home schedule Feb. 2 by hosting the New York Dragons in the season opener.
The Desperados experienced the Reunion Arena confines last summer, playing their first playoff game in the venerable old arena. The closeness of the 11,751 fans and the reverberating noise they created helped push the team to a 47-46 victory over the Indiana Firebirds.
"Being able to announce that we're kicking off our second season at Reunion Arena is a real exciting time for us," says Desperados President and General Manager Jerry Jones, Jr. "We all know there's been some mighty great sporting events and competitions played at Reunion. There's been championships won there. There's nothing more exciting than getting to go into Reunion and try to bring back those 'Reunion Rowdies' and getting everybody going trying to help us win football games."
The team's move to Reunion Arena also benefits the City of Dallas, which regained control of the building last fall.
"We are so excited to have the Desperados come to Reunion Arena. It is a huge coup for us," says City of Dallas Mayor Laura Miller. "I just think today is the beginning of a very successful run for this arena. We're very excited to have the Desperados here. We wish them a very successful season."
The Desperados deemed their inaugural season a success, making the playoffs with a 7-7 record while leading the league in attendance (13,603 fans-per-game). The strong fan base they built during the 2002 season should bring back memories of the old "Reunion Rowdies" in 2003. The "Reunion Rowdies" became a staple at Reunion Arena during the 1980s and '90s for creating noise and making it difficult for visiting teams.
The Desperados kick off the 2003 season on Feb. 2 by hosting the New York Dragons. NBC Sports â in their first season associated with the AFL â will televise the game, as well as up to 70 other AFL games throughout the season. The 2003 AFL season will consist of 16 regular season games â eight home games and eight road games â instead of 14 games as in the past. Desperados season ticket packages start at $40 and can be ordered by calling 972-785-4900 or by visiting the Dallas Desperados website at www.dallasdesperados.com.
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