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Arena football debuts at the Bud Center |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 22 March 2007 |
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A wide smile paints 10-year-old Konnor Snider’s face as he eagerly awaits his first football game — indoors.
“Football is just my thing,” he said.
On the field, staff members smooth out all the bumps from the carpet strips and piece them back together. More fans filter into the arena, curious to get their first glimpse at the new team.
The Colorado Ice, northern Colorado’s most recent semi-professional team, hopes to heat up the area’s already sizzling sports scene even more. Sports fans already relish in Colorado Eagle hockey games, college football games, and semi-pro baseball and soccer games. Now arena football can be added to the bill.
The first regular season game is at 7:05 p.m. Friday, March 23 against the Billings Outlaws at the Budweiser Events Center.
 Fans like Konnor got a sneak peak at the United Indoor Football league team during a charity exhibition game last week. His mother Laura Snider, 32, got tickets through her work.
“Football is big in our family,” Laura said.
The Milliken family is excited to have arena football so close to their home. They usually go to some kind of sporting event, either locally or in Denver, every other month.
Brian Snider, 32, Konnor’s father, said teams like the Colorado Ice give kids coming out of high school — or who don’t go on to the NFL after college — another opportunity to play football.
Former Colorado State University football player Travis Garcia, 24, of Fort Collins read about the Ice in the paper and called the coach. He’s now a defensive back for the Ice.
“When you’ve played football your whole life, it’s hard to leave,” Garcia said.
Many of the guys see the team as a second chance — a chance to maybe move on to a bigger team and advance their careers. Garcia said it could become a stepping stone for some of the players.
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For tickets go to www.thecoloradoice.com or call 1.877.544.8499. Click on the image above for a pdf of the schedule and official games rules and regulations.
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Offensive lineman Brandon Alconcel, 23, of Fort Collins moved back from California to play for the Ice after finding the team online. Alconcel also played for CSU.
“Of course when you are a kid, your goal is to become an NFL player,” said Alconcel. “If it doesn’t happen, you don’t know when you’ll play again.”
The biggest difference in arena football is the size of the field — 50 yards long with end zones 8 yards deep. There are eight men to a side and play includes free substitution.
Unlike in the Arena Football League — the league that the Colorado Crush play in— there are no nets in the end zones. Fans in these sections better keep their heads up, and they could walk away with a football.
Ticket prices range from $8-$43 per game with about 7,200 seats at the Bud Center.
Josh Brewer, 29, of Greeley played for the Colorado Venom, another indoor football team in northern Colorado that only played one game before folding in 2004.
He said he expects the Ice to be more successful.
“The coaching seems a lot more higher quality,” he said. “They also have indoor experience.”
Brewer is the backup for starting quarterback Ryan Clement.
Head coach Collins Sanders, a University of Northern Colorado alumnus, has six years experience as an indoor coach.
“Honestly, the talent level of this team is significantly more important than my experience,” Sanders said. “The players make the plays. I think our talent is exceptional. We will find out.”
Sanders said the Colorado Ice hopes to build strong ties to the community. With several players from CSU and UNC, there’s already a strong base.
Jeremy Randall, 28, of Loveland brought his 4-year-old to the exhibition game. His wife is on the dance team, so he anticipates going to most of the games. He and his family are excited that the Bud Center has added indoor football.
Randall said this type of football is more appealing to the little ones because it is easier for them to see.
The Sniders agree.
“You can almost reach out and touch the players,” Laura said.
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Region’s pro teams continue to enjoy support from fans
Northern Colorado is becoming an oasis for sports fans. From hockey, baseball, soccer, football and indoor football, the region has got it going on.
And the game has just begun. The Colorado Eagles have stolen the spotlight the last three years, selling out hockey game after hockey game. Now the Colorado Ice are taking the stage.
But it doesn’t end there.
A WNBA expansion team may make its debut in 2008.
David King, owner of Triple Crown Sports and former owner of the Colorado Chill National Women’s Basketball League team, is in negotiations to bring the Chill back as a WNBA team.
“I am very optimistic we can do it,” King said. “There’s a great lifestyle in this area. People are active and have the financial ability to do things and support things.”
King knows that anytime there’s a viable market, there’s also competition, but the strong organizations will survive. His plan is to have 14 games at the Budweiser Events Center and four at the Pepsi Center in Denver — a dual-home court arrangement.
“My roots are here and we would like to see it happen here,” King said.
Kurt Colicchio, owner/general manager of baseball’s Fort Collins Foxes, said the fans will pick and choose the teams to support.
“I don’t think it’s a slam dunk to put a team here and be successful,” he said. “I think a sports team has to specifically appeal to the population.”
The Foxes, member of the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League, came to town in 2005.
“For athletes coming out to Fort Collins, it’s a great place to play,” he said.
Because there are several young families and retirees, Colicchio said there’s good support for amateur sports. One key component to successful sports is the combination of affordability and fun.
More northern Colorado sports means more choices. People do not necessarily have to drive to Denver for a good game.
WHO MADE IT AND WHO DIDN'T
Kicking butt
• The Colorado Eagles joined the Central Hockey League in 2003. The team was the regular season champs the last two years and were the playoff champions 2004-2005.
• Fort Collins Foxes came to Fort Collins in 2005, won the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League championship last year and placed first in the league in 2005 and 2006.
• Fort Collins Force will be going into its 10th season, competing in the W-League of the United Soccer Leagues.
• Greeley Grays started as The Spanish Colony team in 1925. It now competes in the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League.
Fat lady has sung
• Colorado Chill played three seasons (2004-2006) in the NWBL, a women’s professional basketball league, until withdrawing last year because of league instability. In its history, the Chill achieved three regular season titles and two championship titles.
• Colorado Venom played only one arena football game before folding in 2004.
Erin Frustaci
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