Intense Football League - Corpus Christi Hammerheads

Corpus Christi Hammerheads Unveil Logo

IFL unveils Hammerheads logo, plans for expansion

By Matt Young
Caller-Times

Chad Dittman has been all over Texas this summer trying to find arenas suitable for teams in his Intense Football League, but he came back home to Corpus Christi for one more announcement about the league's original franchise. CC Hammerheads

What: Intense Football League's first franchise

Where: Based in Corpus Christi; will play in Memorial Coliseum When: IFL play begins in May 2004

He unveiled the Corpus Christi Hammerheads logo - a shark with violent teeth and a football tucked under one fin - Friday.

"I think it's one of the best minor league logos out there," said Dittman, the IFL founder. "We'll put this logo up against anybody's."

The logo's unveiling was a fun time for Dittman as he showed off the design and handed out dozens of shirts to spectators, but his real business is on the road, where he will continue trying to lock up cities and arenas for the rest of the league.

The league begins play next May. So far, Dittman's signed agreements to place a team in Corpus Christi, San Angelo and Odessa. He wants at least three more cities, though he says that could expand to as many as five.

According to Dittman, he has a contract with Waco that he's waiting to sign and is close to deals with Lubbock and San Antonio.

In the past, Dittman had always spoke of San Antonio as almost a dream city with the Alamodome as the dream venue, but he says he thinks he can get it done, despite the hefty price tag that comes with renting out the Alamodome for eight dates.

"It's expensive, but it's in our budget," Dittman said. "Renting a place like the Alamodome is a big risk, and we know it, but you have to take risks. We feel like the city of San Antonio, specifically in a place like the Alamodome, has the most upside of any city in Texas. An indoor football team would fill a void for football in that city. They've supported the Cowboys training camp tremendously, and we feel like they would do the same for us."

According to Dittman, the league could have contracts finalized with the three remaining cities in the next two weeks.

Once those cities have management and everything in place, the league could consider adding a couple more teams, with Frisco and El Paso as possibilities.

The Hammerheads, who will play in Memorial Coliseum, have also reached an agreement with 103.7 KOUL-FM to broadcast all their games.

Contact Matt Young at 886-3702 or youngm@caller.com

This article was taken from www.corpuschristihammerheads.com.  All rights reserved.