Talons Hire Orlando Predators Executive

The San Antonio Talons announced today the hiring of Keith Recine as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Recine spent the past five years with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League, the last four as Director of Game Day Operations and Corporate Sponsorship Coordinator.
During Recine's tenure in Orlando both attendance and corporate sponsorship revenue grew, making the franchise one of the cornerstones of the AFL. The Predators lead the AFL in attendance this season with an average of 12,552 fans per game and are also among league leaders in corporate sponsorship revenue. Recine will be tasked with leading the Talons day-to-day operations and strengthening the business side of the organization.
"The opportunity to take over the Talons and introduce Arena Football to San Antonio is a dream come true for me," says Recine. "San Antonio has all the ingredients necessary to make it one of the top markets in the Arena Football League and the Talons organization has everything anyone could hope for to make it a world class franchise."
Talons Owner David Lynd expressed his excitement about Recine leading the franchise.
"We are proud to announce the hiring of Keith Recine," says Lynd. "This was among the most important moves we could make and we are glad we made it before our season ended so we could get a jump start on next year. Our 2013 season ticket sales are in full swing and we hope our fans are proud of what we have accomplished this year and will continue to support the team."
"We looked at numerous AFL teams and executives to fill this position and Keith was our number one choice," Lynd adds. "Keith is a veteran Arena Football League executive and has successfully managed one of the most storied franchises in the AFL in the Orlando Predators."
AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz is also expressed a great deal of optimism about the hiring.
"Keith has been a tireless worker for the Predators and the AFL for years now," says Kurz. "His dedication to our sport has been appreciated and I'm excited that the Talons franchise will now benefit from his vast experience."
Recine's arrival to San Antonio this week signals a change in the direction of the franchise's business operation. Recine is expected to bring valuable knowledge and experience in running an AFL franchise with him from Orlando. The Talons focus off the field is expected to center around expanding both their season ticket base as well as their roster of corporate partners in San Antonio. He is expected to bring with him Orlando's commitment to providing a total sports entertainment experience for the fans every game and a focus on "community based marketing" with a goal of making the Talons a recognized part of the San Antonio community throughout the entire year.
The San Antonio Talons are completing their first Arena Football League Season in San Antonio. The team was moved to San Antonio from Tulsa, OK in 2012 and won the AFL's Central Division title this season. They will host their first AFL playoff game on July 27, 2012 at the Alamodome.