Introducing the Tennessee River Sharks
December 12, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Tennessee River Sharks News Release
The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) announces that a franchise team is coming to Chattanooga. The team will be called the Tennessee River Sharks. They will play in 2006 at Camp Jordan Arena. The NIFL season is March through June.
At November league meetings in St Louis the NIFL agreed to a request by Jamie LaMunyon to place a franchise team in Chattanooga. Carolyn Shiver, league president said, "We have been looking at the Chattanooga area as an excellent site for several years. We're happy that we can now make it happen."
Owner of the River Sharks is Jamie LaMunyon a veteran operator of professional football teams in the NIFL. She also owns the Maulers of Montgomery, Alabama. They were an expansion team last year. LaMunyon previously owned teams in Oklahoma and Georgia. She said, "My husband and I are very pleased that we now have a team so close to our home on Lookout Mountain. It's been our dream for sometime."
The River Sharks organization is pleased to announce that the Sports Barn will be the official training facility and a major sponsor of the River Sharks. "Our affiliation with the Sports Barn gives this team the most professional strength and conditioning opportunities in the league." Mrs. LaMunyon said. "Mr. Bowman (Marketing Director of the Sports Barn) has been very gracious and a great help to us in getting this team set up in Chattanooga."
The Spirit Barn will be the official trainers of the Scenic City Dancers/Cheerleaders (River Sharks dancer/cheerleader group). "We expect our cheerleaders and dancers to be every bit as much a part of the show as our football team." LaMunyon said. Jo Ellen Craze of the Spirit Barn will be the coordinator of the dance team and cheerleaders.
Host hotel and corporate office is at the Ramada Limited, 6650 Ringgold Rd Chattanooga, TN. The website of the Tennessee River Sharks is www.riversharksfootball.com . The organization is now taking applications for employment. Applicants for sales, management and coaching may apply on line or by phone 334-558-3917.
Seating at Camp Jordan Arena will be general admission and general admission-reserved. There will also be floor boxes right next to the dasher board sidelines. Floor boxes are often purchased by businesses and groups but some will be reserved for individual sales. Season tickets are on sale now on the website or by telephone. Prices are $105 for general admission and $140 for general reserved for seven home games. Individual single game tickets are $16 and $21. "Camp Jordan is a nice arena, but seating is limited. We believe every game will be a sell-out so we are recommending everyone purchase season tickets while they can." LaMunyon said.
Indoor football is one of the fastest growing professional sports in the country. It's "real" football played on an indoor turf the size of a hockey rink with a padded wall being all that separates the fans from the players. Footballs that go into the stands during regular play become souvenirs of the fans. On average, 30 to 40 footballs go into the stands every game. The NIFL style of indoor football is very similar to the outdoor game in that players do not play both offence and defense. Consequently, they are able to better develop their skill at their chosen position. The differences to the outdoor game include the size of the teams, it's 8-man football, there's no punting, it's usually high-scoring and it's very, very fast! To learn more about the game and the NIFL go to their website at www.nationalindoorfootball.com.
Schedules for the 2006 season are not complete at this time but the season begins the middle of March and the River Sharks can expect to play teams generally from the southeastern region of the country.
• Discuss this story on the National Indoor Football League message board...
National Indoor Football League Stories from December 12, 2005
- New Ownership to Field NIFL Cincinnati Marshals For 2006 Season - The Marshals
- Introducing the Tennessee River Sharks - Tennessee River Sharks
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.
