Lions set for Saturday opener
March 9, 2007 - World Indoor Football League 2 (WIFL 2)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA, March 9 --- The Columbus Civic Center stage is set, and the Lions are "roarin' to go!" That's a scenario to get the blood pumping and adrenaline flowing, as the Lions (1-0) square off against the Osceola Ghostriders (1-0) in their World Indoor Football League home opener Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
Head Coach Jason Gibson said "I think I'm more excited than the players. They seem to think it's just another game, they haven't expressed unusual emotion or opening-night jitters. For example, one of my goals is for us to go undefeated at home -- while the players' mentality is, they're going undefeated overall, and this game is just the next step to doing that."
While front-office staff and seven local owners are working furiously and nearly around the clock for every detail to be just right, Gibson's anticipation level has much to do with his having been a major part of the team's sales and business operations since last August. "Win or lose, we're going to give the fans a great game and provide high-quality entertainment," he said. "I've never felt more a part of a total organization's effort than this season, and we're planning to make this community proud of the Lions."
Following is a quick guide to the start of the Lions' 2007 home season:
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
Single-game tickets are available Saturday from 1:00 p.m. through halftime at the Civic Center Box office, or by calling TicketMaster at 706-494-8330, or logging onto www.ticketmaster.com.
Prices are $20 Lower Level, $15 Upper Level, $10 Youth (ages 3-18 and college with ID), and military with ID receives $3 off adult prices.
Parking is free, as the fee is built into every game ticket. Full concessions are available through Civic Center concessionaire Aramark, Inc.
SEASON TICKETS AND ADVERTISING
Season tickets are priced at $120 Lower Level and $90 Upper Level for seven home games. "First-and-Ten Club" ticket plans contain 26 to 60 undated ticket vouchers for "best available" seat at time of redemption
and range from $500 to $1,000. Corporate boxes for four or eight persons at field level are still available, including pre-game buffet with appearances by the team at prices starting at $2,550.
For information about these and all forms of advertising and promotion sponsorships, group outings and birthday parties, contact: Rick Jacobson at (706) 681-2801 or rick@columbuslions.net; Katie Lewis at (706) 527-0693 or katie@columbuslions.net or David Walker at (706) 327-7570 or david@columbuslions.net.
PROMOTIONS
Knology of Columbus presents "Knology Kneighborhood Night". Customers may present their Knology bill at the box office for $5 off their adult Lower Level tickets. The first 1,000 fans will receive pairs of Knology and Columbus Lions Thunder Sticks.
RADIO
Davis Broadcasting's veteran play-by-play announcer Jeremy Jeffcoat will call the action live on 1580-AM "The Zone" (ESPN Radio), accompanied by color analyst Chris Blackshear. The broadcast will be carried on the World Indoor Football League's website. To access, log onto www.wifl.us and click on "Internetwork." All WIFL games this season will be audio-streamed in this fashion.
LEAGUE OFFICIALS
WIFL commissioner Gary Tufford will be on hand, with an expected appearance by League Supervisor of Officials Tom Bryan.
OTHER ENTERTAINMENT
One of the Lions owners will sing the national anthem -- we'll keep it a secret till gametime! Other pre-game events will include a moment of silence in honor of late Daytona Beach Thunder player Javan Camon, who was fatally injured in a violent collision in the Lions season-opening win on the road February 26.
Fans will enjoy the choreographed routines of the Columbus Lions Dance Team and the debut of Lions mascot Beamer, sponsored by BMW of Columbus. Featured contests and fan-participation events will take place during timeouts and quarter intermissions.
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World Indoor Football League 2 Stories from March 9, 2007
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