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Lightning, 1420-AM KSTN Strike Radio Agreement

March 31, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league have announced a one-year radio play-by-play broadcast agreement for 2007 Lightning home, away and ArenaCup Playoff games on 1420-AM KSTN.

"The Stockton Lightning is very excited to provide our fans with play-by-play action on KSTN 1420," said Lightning president Dan Chapman. "KSTN has been a local radio leader for decades in San Joaquin County and we're looking forward to this partnership."

"KSTN 1420 is pleased to add the Stockton Lightning to our selection of sports broadcasts," said 1420-AM KSTN general manager Robert LaRue. "It is an honor to offer arena football to Stockton on the radio for the first time, and we are excited to be involved with the local team."

All broadcasts are scheduled to begin 15 minutes prior to opening kick-off with the Lightning pre-game show and end with the Lightning post-game wrap-up. Additionally, the Lightning continues their internet broadcast agreement with SportsJuice.com, the internet audio home for all Lightning home, away and ArenaCup playoff games.

Beginning this season, Lightning home games and select road games will be available for viewing at www.stocktonlightning.com through an online stream via B2 Networks, for a $6 "pay-per-view" charge (broadband connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher required).

1420-AM KSTN enters its first season in a radio broadcast agreement with the Lightning, also serving as home to the Stockton Ports minor league baseball team and California Cougars indoor soccer. Mike Benton, who is also the play-by-play announcer for the ECHL's Stockton Thunder, will handle radio play-by-play duties for the second consecutive season for the Lightning and will be joined in the booth by color commentator Steve McElroy, who also serves Sacramento State University's athletic department with various broadcast roles.

New to the broadcast team this year is local Northern California fan-favorite and former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver J.J. Stokes, who will contribute with additional color commentary on select Lightning broadcasts.

A veteran of nine seasons in the National Football League, Stokes spent his first eight years with the San Francisco 49ers and his most recent 2003 campaign with the World Champion New England Patriots, garnering 30 touchdown receptions and 4,293 receiving yards in his career.

The San Diego native was a part of four NFC West champion teams and the NFL's number one-ranked offense in 1995 with the 49ers. Stokes caught a career-high 63 receptions, eight touchdown receptions and tallied 770 receiving yards with the 49ers in 1998, helping guide the 49ers to the NFC Divisional Playoff round. Stokes parlayed a decorated college football career at UCLA, garnering first-team all-american honors as a 1993 senior and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Stockton opens the 2007 af2 season on Saturday, March 31 with a road matchup against the defending ArenaCup Champion Spokane Shock, beginning at 5:00 p.m. PT. The Lightning open the 2007 home schedule against the local rival Central Valley Coyotes on Saturday, April 14, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

In their first season, the Lightning ranked third in af2 attendance with an average of 7,445 fans per home game. Season tickets and individual tickets for the 2007 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.



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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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