arenafootball2 - Green Bay

Green Bay Expansion Franchise Holding Contest for Nickname

By Scott Tittrington
News-Chronicle

The folks who operate arenafootball2 bill their product as fan-friendly entertainment. They're already taking a big step in trying to win the hearts of the passionate pigskin people in Green Bay.

A joint press conference was held Tuesday at the Resch Center between AF2 executive director Jay Marcus and the ownership group of an expansion AF2 team set to make its debut in the facility this April.

While details such as ticket prices, who will be on the coaching staff and where the players will come from are still sketchy, this much is known: The team will be ready for play in the 2003 season, and it needs a nickname.

So, through Tuesday, vice president of operations Kristin Rode is encouraging fans to submit their suggestions through their favorite local media outlet. The person behind the winning entry will pocket $2,500, as will a local charity selected by the media vehicle through which the suggestion was submitted.

"In hopes, we'll all be working together to basically select the name of our new arena football team," Rode said.

"All wrapped up in a nutshell, we are very, very excited that our new arena team is coming. It's right around the corner."

The process of bringing indoor football back to Green Bay initially began two years ago, not long after arenafootball2 absolved its competitor, the Indoor Football League. The IFL included the Green Bay Bombers, who played before sparse crowds in the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena for three seasons and didn't make the jump to AF2.

Now, with a new building to call home and the muscle of the AFL name, there is hope the indoor game can find its niche alongside the Green Bay Packers. "Arena football is the real deal. If you're going to play the indoor game, this is the brand name of indoor football," said Dr. Eric Margenau, the chief executive operator and chairman of the board of Orlando Predators Entertainment, which owns Green Bay's AF2 team.

"Hopefully Green Bay will be as excited as we are about the season opening the first week of April."

From now until that time, there's plenty for Margenau, Rode and the remaining powerbrokers behind the franchise to take care of. The "Name the Team" contest will be followed by another competition next month to name the team mascot. A team Web site is currently under construction, and a dance team has been selected.

As for the actual on-field product, player tryouts are slated for the end of December and the first week of January, while Rode said there is a list of three or four names already being considered to be the franchise's inaugural head coach.

The person selected will lead Green Bay into its 16-game season starting in April, and if all goes well, wrapping up with the playoffs in August and the right to play for the ArenaCup.

FYI: To submit a suggestion for the nickname of Green Bay's new arenafootball2 team, contact News-Chronicle sports editor Scott Tittrington at (920) 432-2941 ext. 154 or scott.tittrington@gogreenbay.com. All entries must include entrant's name, address, phone number and nickname suggestion. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday.

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