NIFL Everett Hawks to Call Everett Events Center Home
December 16, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Everett Hawks News Release
It is official. The Everett Hawks have signed a lease agreement with the Everett Events Center. The inaugural season for the National Indoor Football League team will begin play in March of 2005. The official schedule is still being finalized.
"We are extremely pleased to have a new addition to our family," commented Global Spectrum's Kim Bedier, General Manager for the Everett Events Center. "I believe with Sam Adams at the helm the Everett Hawks have a great opportunity for success."
The Everett Hawks, owned by Sam Adams (Current All Pro Defensive Tackle for the NFL Buffalo Bills) and coached by Jay Atwood (Previously coached minor league football in the NWFL) has completed terms to play preseason games preceding their 7 home game schedule in the Everett Events Center in Everett, WA. The team will play against other teams from the Tri-Cities, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and Wyoming. The regular season is followed by a 3 game playoff tournament with the pinnacle achievement of the National Championship. For more information please visit www.everetthawks.com
"We always expected this venue to have at least 2 permanent tenants," remarked Fred Safstrom, Executive Directive for the Everett Public Facilities District. We are very pleased with the Hawks' strong local identities and welcome them to the Everett Events Center."
We are very anxious and excited in becoming a permanent fixture within the community, "said Sam Adams, Owner of the Everett Hawks. "Our staff is working very hard to create a winning team both on & off the field."
Although the Everett Hawks will employ a full staff, the Everett Events Center's Marketing and Sales Department will assist in the marketing and sales efforts for the new franchise.
"We looked at the experience and enthusiasm of the Everett Events Center's Marketing & Sales Department and realized how great of an asset they could become, "commented Lisa Balmes, VP, Operations/Business Development for the Everett Hawks. "They have done a great job on the marketing and sales of the events as well as sponsorship sales, but most importantly they have entrenched themselves into the local community. That is our goal as well."
"Everett, Washington is a strong sports market with minor league baseball and junior hockey," NIFL President, Carolyn Shiver said. "With a sports base already in place, we expect the Everett market to respond well and support our brand of indoor football." The NIFL will begin its fifth year of operation in 2005. The league currently has 26 member teams across the United States. For more information on the NIFL, please contact 888.422.9682 or visit www.nationalindoorfootballleague.net.
The Everett Hawks is an organization that is funded by private investors and corporate sponsors. Corporate sponsorships will include advertising for organizations, community awareness, game day tickets and the opportunity to be involved with an organization dedicated to making Everett a great place to live. Season tickets will range from $49-$231 per seat.
The goal of the league is to give athletes the chance to showcase their talents and earn an opportunity to play at the next level, whether that is college or professionally. The Hawks are currently seeking players with a winning attitude. Information on training camp will be released soon.
The Hawks and their families will be deeply entrenched in community activities. Our ownership, coaches, players and administration staff will be visiting schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, children's hospitals, as well as many other local charitable organizations. The Hawks currently have Internship opportunities for local college and high school students. "Our goal is to provide the community a fun family activity during the months of March-July that is reasonably priced," said Adams.
Venues Today - Everett Events Center Ranked #2 in the World
In the July issue of Venues Today, one of the industry's leading publications, the Everett Events Center was ranked second in the world for venues with a capacity of 5,001-10,000 for the time period of 11/15/03-5/15/04. The ranking, which does not include hockey events, was based on total gross ticket sales ($3,286,317), while also highlighting key numbers such as attendance and number of shows. The Everett Events Center was second in attendance (81,453) and third in number of shows (26).
Billboard Magazine - Everett Events Center Ranked #6 in the World
In the July 24 issue of Billboard, one of the industry's leading publications, the Everett Events Center was ranked sixth in the world for venues with a capacity of 5,001-10,000 for the time period of 11/19/03-5/18/04. The ranking, which does not include hockey events, was based on total gross ticket sales (3,539,624), while also highlighting key numbers such as attendance and number of shows. The Everett Events Center was fourth in attendance (131,310) and third (41) in number of shows.
AGC - Everett Events Center Takes the Grand Award for Construction Excellence
The Associated General Contractors of Washington awarded PCL Construction Services, Inc. the 2004 Grand Award for Construction Excellence for the Everett Events Center, at the 19th Annual Safety and Construction Excellence Awards at the association's annual banquet at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on Friday evening. The project also won first place in the New Building category (over $50 million). The AGC awards are a based on safety, teamwork, excellent client service, innovation and sensitivity to the environment and surroundings.
NAIOP - Everett Events Center Selected as 2004 Outstanding Public Project of the Year
The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties chose the Everett Events Center as a 2004 Outstanding Public Project of the Year. This award recognizes the public projects that showcase the technical expertise of the development team that greatly increase the quality of life in our region.
The Everett Events Center, a $71.5 million multi-purpose complex, was developed by the Everett Public Facilities District. The 10,000-seat venue hosts a myriad of events including concerts such as Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Cure and Third Day. Other events include rodeos, ice skating and family shows such as Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey, Disney On Ice, The Wiggles in Concert, The Harlem Globetrotters, Champions On Ice, WWE and many others. The Everett Events Center is also home to the Everett Silvertips, a Western Hockey League franchise, and seats up to 8,500 excited hockey fans. In addition to hockey, the venue accommodates other sporting events such as basketball, volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics.
The Comcast Community Ice Rink, an adjacent regulation ice rink, is used for public skating, local hockey leagues, figure skating instructional sessions and much more. Additionally, the two ice sheets can be converted to form a 57,000 square foot space to host trade shows, expositions, consumer shows and special events.
The three-story Conference Center includes three 900 square foot executive meeting rooms, a 12,000 square foot ballroom, which can be arranged in a number of different configurations, and a full banquet kitchen. Centerplate is the official food and beverage concessionaire for the Everett Events Center.
Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com), the fastest growing firm in the public assembly facility management field, has more than 35 facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The Philadelphia-based company is part of one of the world's largest sports and entertainment conglomerates Comcast-Spectacor.
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