'Wheelers Scrimmage International Team
March 25, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
Moline, Ill. - For the first time in Arena Football history, a foreign football team will play Arena Football on United States soil as the Quad City Steamwheelers host the "Team Down Under" in an exhibition scrimmage Friday night at The MARK in Moline, Ill.
Team Down Under is an All-star team of American style football players from Australia and New Zealand that were selected from the AFL's Pacific Rim Training Camp held last year. Many were outstanding rugby and Australian Rules football players who have been training extensively for Arena Football.
Team Down Under arrived in the Quad Cities area on Monday night and will train all week at BGB Sports Complex (former Marycrest University Events Center) in Davenport, the Steamwheelers home training site.
A lot of hours have gone into this event, including the work of Arena Football founder and Steamwheelers Managing Operator Jim Foster and Vice President of International Development for the Arena Football League and founding father Jerry Kurz.
"To expand Arena Football to the Pacific Rim feels just great," said Kurz. "Jim and I knew from the beginning that this could be a game that would work all over the world and this is a major step towards that. These kids have worked real hard, some of them have never seen the nets or the boards, so that will be an adjustment but that is the beauty of our game. It's part of the fun, too."
Despite the jet lag from nearly 20 hours of flights, the "Team Down Under" and their coaches could not be more excited.
"We've been looking forward to this for quite some time and the buildup has been fantastic," Team Down Under offensive coach Mike Sea said. "We would have come a month ago, we were so excited. To be here, to play football and to be a part of history is just fantastic."
Tickets for the scrimmage can be purchased at The MARK box office during normal business hours up until game time. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children 14 and under. Proceeds benefit the United Way.
The Tulsa Talons and defending ArenaCup Champion Peoria Pirates kickoff af2's fourth season this Friday, when they meet in Peoria. Other Week 1 action includes: Cincinnati at Louisville, Arkansas at Wichita and Bakersfield at San Diego - all on Saturday night. The expansion Green Bay Blizzard plays at Hawaii on Sunday, rounding out the opening weekend schedule.
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