Tennessee Valley Raptors headed to Rockford, Illinois
August 26, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
ROCKFORD, Ill. - Indoor football now has a home in Rockford.
Centre Events is pleased to announce that a 4-year agreement has been reached with Tennessee Valley Raptors team owner Art Clarkson, whose Alabama-based franchise will relocate to the Rockford MetroCentre and is set to compete in the 2006 United Indoor Football (UIF) season.
Current UIF plans include a 16-game season with eight home games that will take place at the Rockford MetroCentre. The arrival of this franchise in Rockford, after heading north from Huntsville, Ala., is due to the collaboration and partnership of a local sports enthusiast, Robert Lowe, and sports industry veteran, Art Clarkson. In addition, Jerry Reinsdorf will be a minority partner.
Art Clarkson, the team's majority partner, is the former president and principal owner of the Birmingham Bulls Hockey Team of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and the Birmingham Barons baseball team of the Southern League. Clarkson has earned numerous honors throughout his career in professional sports. He was named the Southern League Executive of the Year an unprecedented four times in 1979, '82, '83, and '88. The Sporting News named him the AA Executive of the Year in 1982. In 1989, Clarkson received the McPhail Promotional Trophy, an award that is presented to the person voted the nation's best promoter and marketer of minor league baseball. Clarkson was voted arenafootball2's Executive of the Year for the 2001 and 2003 seasons.
"There are several reasons I chose to move my team and family to Rockford: the hard work and enthusiasm of Corey Pearson and the MetroCentre staff; for my wife to be closer to her parents, who live in Mt. Prospect, Ill.; and finally, as the birthplace of indoor football, Rockford is the perfect home for this team," Clarkson said.
Local attorney and business man Robert Lowe (pronounced "Lau") will be a principal partner in the team. Lowe is a partner of the Gilbert & Lowe P.C. law firm and is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Federal Trial Bar. Lowe is the president and CEO of Best Realty LLC. Lowe and his companies are supporters of youth sports in Rockford, Byron and Durand. Lowe and wife Camille have four children and reside in Byron, Ill.
"I am proud to be able to play a part in bringing indoor football to the Rockford area. It's our goal to make sure that each game is a memorable experience for fans, young and old," said Lowe.
Jerry Reinsdorf, Chairman of the Chicago White Sox and of the Chicago Bulls will be a minority partner in the venture. Both of Reinsdorf's sports franchises have donated millions of dollars to causes in the Chicago community through a variety of efforts, including Chicago White Sox Charities and CharitaBulls. During his career in professional sports, Reinsdorf has been responsible for the construction of two new sports facilities in Chicago, Comiskey Park (1991), now U.S. Cellular Field, and the United Center (1994).
"I've known Art for twenty years and have successfully done business with him in the past. I know Art will be successful in this venture," stated Reinsdorf.
Dakota Crow, UIF Executive Director said, "I am very excited about the possibility of Rockford joining the UIF; they would be a great addition. I look forward to the other owners of the league approving Rockford's membership for 2006."
A vote of ratification for Rockford's UIF membership will take place Sept. 8-11 at the league meetings in St. Louis.
"We're thrilled to have this team playing in downtown Rockford," said Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey. "Indoor football just adds to the many diverse activities already available in Rockford's River District."
"I am incredibly proud of the Centre Events staff and Corey Pearson for their work in bringing indoor football to our community. Indoor football is a great new addition to the growing family of professional sports that the people in this region can enjoy. Having an increased number and variety of events, as well as year-round attendance, are key to the success of the MetroCentre," said Gary Marzorati, Chairman of the MetroCentre's Authority Board.
"The addition of indoor football to the MetroCentre's event schedule turns the facility into a twelve-month per year operation, said Corey Pearson, General Manager of Centre Events. "Traditionally, the summer months are slow for us, but now we will have 75% of our summer weekends booked with games for the public to enjoy. There will definitely be a positive impact on the downtown and surrounding community."
The Rockford team's name is yet to be determined. A "Name the Team" contest may be held.
For more information about the Raptors, contact Darrell Ponder, Assistant General Manager and Public Relations Director of the Tennessee Valley Raptors at darrell@raptorsuif.com or call 256-513-2962.
For more information, please contact Brooks Jordan, Director of Marketing and Sales, at bjordan@centreevents.com or Blaze Farrar, Group Sales and Marketing Manager, at bfarrar@centreevents.com or by calling 815-968-5600.
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United Indoor Football Association Stories from August 26, 2005
- Tennessee Valley Raptors headed to Rockford, Illinois - Tennessee Valley Raptors
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