The OSC Interview: Austin Wranglers President Doug MacGregor
by Fran Stuchbury
Published on April 17, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Austin Wranglers
OSC contributor Fran Stuchbury recently had the opportunity to interview Austin Wranglers President Doug MacGregor. MacGregor is entering his second year with the team and manages the team's daily business operations.
Fran Stuchbury: This is your second year with the Wranglers. How did the team improve during the off-season to help them now have a winning record and a chance of winning the Southern Division title?
Doug MacGregor: We were very disappointed with the results from last year. We had a team that worked hard and gave everything they had on the field, but the results were not what we viewed acceptable. We had a very poor start and while our results were much better in the second half to the season, we knew we had to improve.
Improvement is critical in this league since each year the bar gets raised. We have some great teams in the league and they are all committed to building winning programs. As part of the Southern Division, we knew that we would have intense competition. All of this meant that we not only needed to improve, we needed to improve a lot.
Our GM, Glyn Milburn, and the coaches formulated a plan to build from the foundation of high character players that we had last year and address some areas that we needed to improve. The beauty of the AFL is that the salary cap allows teams a fair shot at building a winning program and Glyn and the coaches put in an enormous amount of work to lift this organization up.
FS: Prior to the season the Wranglers named Mike Feder executive director. What exactly does he bring to the table?
DM: Mike Feder has been a great addition to the team. He has helped our front office develop and build strong customer relationships and put on a great game. He has also helped build our media and sponsorship relationships.
Any time you have an experienced professional like Mike join the team, you're bound to get much better. Our mission is to build a team that this region is proud of both on and off the field, and Mike has contributed to this.
FS: The AFL is considered a fan friendly sport. Do the Wranglers rely on feedback from fans to make sure they are doing a good job serving them? What has the team done to help attract fans to attend games?
DM: The Wranglers solicit suggestions from the fans in every way that we can. We love when our fans email us and let us know what they like and don't like (particularly if they don't like something). We watch the message boards to see if there are problems. We do surveys and of course we walk the arena and talk to folks. We've made a large number of changes and improvements based on what our fans have told us.
Austin is relatively new to Arena Football and it's a big challenge to raise the awareness. Fortunately, this is the heart of football country so we have a great community. Austin is vibrant and growing and economically strong, which helps. Once we get fans in the arena, we consistently hear the same message. "This is great, I'm definitely coming back". It just takes time to build the awareness.
One aspect that has helped this year is we're winning. In a community with the National Championship in baseball and football, there are high expectations.
FS: Would you like to eventually see the Wranglers in the same division as the Dallas Desperados? How has the rivalry been between the two teams so far?
DM: I think that it would be great if Dallas and Austin were in the same division. In a relatively short time, we've built a pretty intense rivalry and it would be great if we could have a home-away game with them each year. We'll see if this comes to pass as the league continues to expand.
FS: Are you optimistic about the AFL's future on national and cable television if NBC does not decide to renew?
DM: The AFL is in the middle of an incredible growth spurt. When we look at the progress that's been made over the past few years including the relationship with NBC, which gave a legitimacy that the league needed, the expansion of coverage with a regional orientation that came with FSN and most recently, the addition of OLN, the league is doing great.
I have confidence that regardless of which direction the league goes next year, we will continue to build strong relationships that are good for our fans, our sponsors and our media partners.
FS: Are you happy with the job AFL Commissioner David Baker has been doing?
DM: I'm very pleased with the job that the Commissioner has done. Simply look back at where the league was prior to him accepting the job and where the league is today and you can't help but be impressed.
FS: You attended last year's ArenaCup in Bossier City, Louisiana. Did you enjoy that experience?
DM: I love Arena Football and get as much as I can. As someone new to Arena Football, I want to learn as much as I can and every game is a learning experience for me. The Arena Cup was done very well and of course it's a great chance to meet with af2 players and coaches. I love the af2 and think that the development of the af2 is important for the growth of the league.
FS: Do you feel the EA Sports AFL video game has helped the league get more popular?
DM: The EA game has been another important step forward. Not only is it fun for Arena Football fans, but also it's a great way for folks who aren't familiar with the AFL to get exposed to the game. I don't know if we're going to have an owner's cup where the owners play each other, but I'd feel pretty good about my chances if we do.
The coolest thing is that fans can get out on the field after the game and get an autograph from the player's that they've just been playing on their EA game. There is no other league that I'm aware of where that can happen.
FS: What are the chances a new arena will be built for the Wranglers?
DM: The Frank Erwin Center is a great facility and we love playing in Ambush Arena. The Austin area is growing rapidly and there is a strong market demand for an additional venue, but whether it will be built is still a big question right now. It's too early to know how things will turn out, but fortunately, we're fine regardless of the direction that things head.
FS: Deion Sanders has expressed an interest in getting involved with the Wranglers. Would he be a good fit for the team?
DM: Deion Sanders is one of the most gifted athletes, a man of character, a committed team player, and a great fan of Arena Football. I believe that he would be a great addition to the Wranglers and to the AFL if he were to become a committed member of the ownership group.
If you have any questions or comments about this interview feel free to drop me an email at arenazone@yahoo.com and I will be more than happy to get back to you.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 17, 2006
- Dragons chasing playoff berth - New York Dragons
- The OSC Interview: Austin Wranglers President Doug MacGregor - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Rattlers Road Game Versus Dallas Rescheduled - Arizona Rattlers
- Destroyers close out final fourth of season with three of four games on the road - Columbus Destroyers
- Slide Continues for Avengers - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
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.
