Over a Cup of Coffee
by Jerry Hewitt
March 27, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
The Media and Indoor Football, Part V
There are a couple factors that tend to play into the data I've collected. One is teams that have been around five-plus years generally have better local news coverage. Also one has to take into account how much competition there may be in any area for that sports coverage and last how successful any teams may have been on the field as winning games helps get more press in the long run. Also one can argue that a press release may get lumped into a newspaper article with content on other sports happenings in an area and not show up on some search engines.
One can look at the collected data and make their own judgment. The point here isn't the content in the release that's important. That's not to discount the importance of it to the end user, the fan. From a team's standpoint it's really about two things: one, getting the teams name out there as much as possible and two, well, a story first.
Several years ago I questioned a sports reporter in Evansville, Indiana on why they weren't giving more coverage to the Bluecats of the then NIFL. His response was one that has stayed with me longer than the Bluecats ever played indoor football. He said it wasn't his job to cover the team just because they were there, but it was the team's job to give him a reason to cover them. Of course one can argue about what his job actually was, but that doesn't matter as the point is the press may not cover a team just because it's there, just as fans may not buy tickets just because they're there. In any business you have to give people a reason to come.
Press releases are inexpensive marketing and in these economic times, all teams are looking at how to cut costs. I would be willing to bet that teams who enjoy the best news coverage in their markets also enjoy higher regular attendance and season ticket sales.
There are many factors that go into whether a team is a success or not, and local news coverage just one, but I doubt seriously a team can make it in any community without the local press on their side.
Friday night's action
In the IFL, the Green Bay Blizzard (3-1) took sole possession of first place in their division by downing the Bloomington Extreme (2-2) 35-21. In the CIFL, the Marion Mayhem (0-1) got off to a rough start by going down to the Cincinnati Commandos (2-0) 48-19. Both the Commandos and Blizzard issued game recaps. On the IFL site, standings were updated, but the Pointstreak recap feature was a bust. The recap from the Blizzard was not posted on the IFL site as of this writing. The CIFL did have the Commando story along with standings updated. Two leagues, one game each, shouldn't be a big deal to have it all concluded on the league sites, but only the CIFL managed this small feat. In the AIFA, Wyoming topped Wenatchee Valley. The league posted the score in its ticker and nothing else; no recap from the league or either team.
The CIFL also has what is called Gamebreak, an audio by Dean Jackson on the upcoming games and recap of past week's action. Between their live stats feature, good updating of games and their website, I'm just a little impressed. I realize they may only have six teams and maybe there is an argument that it is easier to keep this stuff up with only six teams, but regardless, they have it going right. Only one game in each of the IFL, AIFA and CIFL last night and only one got it all right, the CIFL!
This article and more archived at The Indoor Football Report located at www.IndoorFootballNetwork.com Comments about this article or suggestions can be made to indoorbowl@yahoo.com
Indoor Football League Stories from March 27, 2010
- Strong Second Half By Venom Clinches 55-33 Win Over Roughnecks - West Texas Roughnecks
- Arkansas Cruises 53-34 over Abilene - Arkansas Diamonds
- Amarillo Soundly Wins Home Opener - Amarillo Venom
- Chicago Slaughter Celebrate First Victory In The IFL - Chicago Slaughter
- Slaughter Escape Wild 34-33 - Alaska Wild
- Extreme Fall in Upsetting Loss to Blizzard, 21-35 - Bloomington Extreme
- Omaha Beef's March 29 Game on Dish & Direct TV - Omaha Beef
- Spartans Look To Quiet The Storm - La Crosse Spartans
- McMichael's Slaughter Vie For First Win - Chicago Slaughter
- Over a Cup of Coffee - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
