Ar-e-na?
While we anxiously await the start of the NFL season, the continued attempt at non-NFL football market penetration continues as the Cleveland Gladiators topped the Orlando Predators* 69-66 in front of nearly 14,000 fans yesterday evening.
*(Let me take a second to say that I’m glad that it wasn’t the Orlando franchise that moved to Cleveland, as we would have been on the receiving end of countless jokes for having the “Predators” tag. Carl Monday is a happy man)
Bowling Green’s finest, Robert Redd, hauled in 14 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns. Those in an Arena Fantasy League with Redd in the starting lineup were likely thrilled upon checking their line-up this morning. And then likely very depressed when they realized that they’re actually in an Arena League Playoff Fantasy league.
Personally, I’m struggling to get into this whole thing. Old school? Possibly. Perhaps if I attended a game, I may appreciate it more? If you were in attendance last night, leave your thoughts in the comments. Especially if you’re willing to buy me a ticket to the next home game…
July 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
The most vital question:
Are the beers at the game cheap? (The answer can take into account the relative price at Arena football vs. Browns Stadium)
July 1st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Touche, Eli. Or Blossom, for that matter. Highway robbery in the middle of the woods, I tell you…
July 1st, 2008 at 5:49 pm
i want them to lose.
i dont want our first championship in over 40 years to be an imaginary championship.
July 1st, 2008 at 6:27 pm
wendigo, Don’t forget our indoor soccer championships.
We did not get the embarrassing Predator nickname, but that logo is almost as sexually embarrassing, no?
July 1st, 2008 at 7:22 pm
that’s right, don’t forget about the crunch or the force!
and scott i’m with you on this one… i kind of want to start heading to some games, kind of feel it out… this may be because my mind is clouded by how BAD the tribe is right now (last place?? really??) and all this bs about lebron, however i can’t imagine a drunken night watching arena football (and BG’s finest! go falcons!) being all that bad at all!
…last place??? it’s 2008 right, not 1988?
July 1st, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I was at the game last night and have been to 3 during the regular season I can tell you this, don’t go in with an NFL mindset. Once you get there just enjoy the atmosphere get into it and you’ll love it. If you go in skeptical or pessimistic you won’t enjoy it. (Although I cant drink legally, beer is hovering around the same price as the Tribe game)
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:53 am
You would think they would subsidize the beer to draw in more ticket buys…
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 am
it’s fun, what else can you say? tickets are reasonable and cheap. We had 30 buck seats which were midfield in the club section, a perfect view. The fella above was right, don’t think you’re going to see NFL quality football. It’s an 8 on 8 game with a ton of scoring and almost no running game. Balls that go into the crowd stay there. Plays are made which see the defender and receiver crash the boards like an NHL game, only with no glass separating the fans from the players. On kickoffs, the ball actually bounces off a net behind the endzone, which then becomes a live ball. The return man has to catch it with his back to the charging special teams unit, turn around and run for his life.
A great atmosphere and they do plenty to get the fans into it. And when they score 50 points, free Big Macs!
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Was at the game, gotta say, it was pretty sweet. Nice to watch a team win for once. As Bobby said, enjoy it for what it is. Also, read up a little on the rules before hand, there are some key differences that would make the game a lot easier to understand if you knew them
.