Quad City to host af2 fan convention
November 2, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa - The 2006 af2 Fan Convention will be held here in the Quad Cities
this coming January at the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel Conference Center. This annual event is
the first national arenafootball2 event to be hosted in the Quad Cities since the 2001 ArenaCup
Championship when the Steamwheelers hosted the Richmond Speed.
What sets this national af2 event apart from all others is this convention is being
organized by the Quad City Steamwheelers Fan Club. Last February, the first ever Fan/Booster
Club Convention took place in Macon, GA. and despite a small turnout then, it was enough to get
the ball rolling. The Macon Knights Booster Club President, Jackie McCowan organized the
event last February. McCowan explained, "We wanted to find out directly from the league office
what we could do and not do for our players and our team." "We've heard rumors about you can
do this but not that or another booster club would do this but we thought that was illegal and there
was never anything in writing so we wanted to get everyone on the same page."
Jerry Kurz, af2 President, thought it was a great idea. "This is an opportunity for us to
reach out to our fans, help them get organized and support their teams within our guidelines yet
provide them with a support structure and the freedom to do what works best for them." "I would
like to see a national af2 fan club." Gary Stibolt, president of the Quad City Steamwheelers Fan
Club is heading up the af2 national fan club with other league fan organization leaders. He also
is chairman of the 2006 af2 Fan Convention. "Jerry challenged us to have every team
represented at the 2006 convention and we are going to succeed," stated Stibolt.
The convention will be held at the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel in Bettendorf, IA on the
weekend of January 6th, 2006. It starts with a Meet & Greet Spirit Night where fans will enjoy
food, fun, and mingle wearing their team colors. Saturday, will host business meetings and
several breakout sessions that focus on various topics ranging from marketing and setting up
organizational processes to creating by-laws and learning how to work with league and team
owners. Other activities are scheduled as well including a coach's clinic at the new OS Sports
Complex bubble on North Brady Street, Davenport.
"We have a complete package put together and feel this convention will mirror the af2
championship week with everything we have to offer fans. The information sharing will be huge
and will go a long way towards organizing fan and booster clubs which help build the af2 fan
base," explained Stibolt. The Steamwheelers Fan Club has also partnered with Reynolds Ford to
provide free shuttle transportation for fans and team owner/operators coming to the convention.
For more information, visit www.steamwheelerfans.com/2006af2/index.htm.
The Steamwheelers enter their seventh season starting in March 2006. Season tickets
are available online at www.steamwheelers.com or by calling (563) 324-4888.
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