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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Everett Welcomes Indoor Football League


Global Spectrum announced today the Indoor Football League’s Everett Raptors will play their inaugural season at the Comcast Arena at Everett.
“We are pleased to add the Everett Raptors to our roster here at Comcast Arena at Everett,” commented Global Spectrum’s Kim Bedier, General Manager for the Comcast Arena. “Everett and Snohomish County have the best sports fans and I’m sure they will welcome this newest addition.”
“We are thrilled that the Raptors have chosen to locate in Everett,” Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said. “Football fans are in for a treat with this new team. They will get fun, fast-paced football -- and all of it from a great seat right at the Comcast Arena.”
The game is exciting, fast paced, high scoring, up-close and personal, and in your face football. “Everett was an obvious choice for our team given the success in drawing crowds seen with the other teams that call Everett home,” stated Mike Barry, General Manager of Northwest Pro Sports. “The Everett Raptors are looking forward to being highly successful on and off the field. We look forward to being part of numerous outreach and community organizations with an emphasis on families and youth.”
The team’s front office is led by General Manager Mike Barry, a 22-year Snohomish County resident and Captain of the Lake Stevens Fire Department, as well as Director of Operations and game day productions, Jim Granacker.
Coach Sean Ponder brings thirteen years of coaching experience to the field from both the Arena Football League and the Indoor Football League. Coach Ponder will oversee the coaching staff including Offensive Line Coach, Ryan Lippincott, former Center at Western Washington University, and US Army vet, Mike Crecelius, former player and coach for the Snohomish County Vikings and Cascade High School.
The 2012 season home schedule is expected to be released within the next few weeks.
The Everett Raptors are settling into the community, including opening a local downtown office. Season ticket reservations are being accepted now by calling the Comcast Arena at 425.322.2645 or visiting the Everett Raptors website at www.everettraptors.com. Single game tickets are expected to go on sale in January 2012.
Indoor Football League (IFL) mission statement is “To consistently serve our guests, partners, and our homes at the highest possible level and to do so with integrity, kindness, affordability, and passion on the field, in our front offices, and around the communities in which we play.” The fast-paced, hard-hitting entertainment has become a favorite since the IFL began in 2003 and developed into its current establishment.
The Raptors join other Comcast Arena tenants, the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips, 2010 National Lacrosse League Champions the Washington Stealth, and Tilted Thunder Roller Derby.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

IFL Announces New Mexico Stars

The Indoor Football League announced today that they have accepted into the league for the 2012 season, the New Mexico Stars. The Stars will call the Santa Ana Star Center, in the city of Rio Rancho, home for the 2012 season and beyond.
“We have had an amazing response from the City of Rio Rancho, the Santa Ana Star Center and the Santa Ana Star Casino,” said Stars General Manager Dart Clark. “We feel that New Mexico will be a perfect match for the League and the New Mexico Stars Team. The area has a strong football heritage, and it is our hope to bring a first class operation to the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho area.”
The Stars also announced today their first ever Head Coach, IFL Veteran coach Chris Williams, formerly of the West Texas Roughnecks. Williams has won a league championship, in 2006, and was the head coach when the team set the record for longest regular season winning streak in professional football history at 27 games. In his eight seasons as Head Coach, the Roughnecks made the playoffs seven times. “I am excited to be staying in the IFL,” said Williams. “My family and I are excited to be moving to New Mexico and starting this new chapter of our lives. I am looking forward to building a competitive, winning team with the Stars, and am excited to be playing in one of the nicer arenas in the league in the Star Center.”
“We are confident that we have the right owners and the right league in place to bring our new team success,” said Star Center GM Gunnar Fox. “We are looking forward to our first season of play in 2012.”
“We are excited about how the Stars fit into our regional alignment out west,” stated League Commissioner Tommy Benizio. “We are continually working on building a group of strong, close playing partners for our western teams, New Mexico fits our plans perfectly.”
The Stars will be having their introductory press conference on October 20, 2011, with the team’s first open player tryout on October 29th. For more information regarding the press conference and the tryout please contact the Stars front office at 505-891-7318.
The Indoor Football League was created in 2008 from a merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football Association. The league’s fourth season is set to kick off in the Spring of 2012. For more information about all things IFL log on to www.GoIFL.com or contact the league office, (804)643-7277.