Pro football: coming to an arena near you

Most AF2 teams get their players from their own area, the league president said.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Rain or not, get used to the weather at the corner of Front and Walnut.
Throughout springtime and the early months of summer starting in 2007, the Valley's new professional football team, the Mahoning Valley Thunder of the Arena2 Football League, will be rumbling at the Chevrolet Centre downtown.
The new franchise became a reality Monday evening when Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and Thunder co-owners Dr. Michael Slyk, Dr. Jon Saadey and Tim Chesney signed an agreement under a spotlight on a stage shared by county political leaders.
"Pro football has arrived," Williams said, moments after "the Scranton experience," a two-minute video showing clips from a recent trip to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to observe that area's AF2 team in action.
The fact that local ownership and business involvement are integral parts of the franchise puzzle played a big part in making the Thunder come to fruition.
On their own
Statements by Rep. Tim Ryan echoed the theme that the days of depending upon outsiders for opportunities are over.
"If we've got to do it ourselves, then we'll do it," Ryan said, pointing to the Valley's positive achievements in the past several years, including construction of the Chevy Centre.
The Thunder's season begins with training camp before games start the last week of March or first week of April. A championship game would be the third weekend in August, said Jerry Kurz, AF2 president.
Kurz believes that Mahoning Valley -- AF2's 24th member -- will be in the Midwest division with Green Bay, Louisville, Ky., and Quad Cities, Ill.
He said that AF2 cities range in population from 140,000 to 400,000.
Youngstown's team will be one of the smallest markets.
"But some of our smallest ones have done the best," Kurz said. "Spokane [Wash.] is a brand new team that had 10,000-plus for its first three games [of 2006].
He said that AF2's identity won't be much different than Arena Football League teams in major markets.
"When you turn the TV on, it [AF2] is the same game you see on NBC."
"This building [Chevrolet Centre] is a five-cash register McDonald's, while Chicago would be a 10-cash register McDonald's. It's the size of the building. But when you walk into this building or one of an AFL team, you'll see the same game being played, the same product, the same service and the same community commitment."
Local talent
Kurz's office gives approval to coaches recommended by member franchises.
However, he didn't know who the Thunder's coach would be.
"It's a local team recommendation," Kurz said. "We'd want someone to fit in the community, hopefully with an Arena football background, but with ties to this area would be great."
There will be no player draft and no territorial rights. Most teams get players from their locale, but recruiting goes on all across the country, according to Kurz.
"Because the football talent is so deep here," Kurz said, "this is a wonderful way to bring all those players who went out of state to college to come back home and play professional football."
While the AFL has a salary cap, AF2's players make $200 a week game pay, get a $50 win bonus and are housed, fed and transported during the season.
"For a six-month job, that's not a bad living," the AF2 president said. "It's full-time work during the six months, but most of them are working to get to the AFL."
He said that one-third of players in the AFL have come from AF2.
One former AFL player, Kurt Warner, went on to the National Football League's Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams.
"John Gregory is coach of the Arkansas Twisters [of the AF2], who gets credit for discovering Kurt Warner," Kurz said. "Warner made his bones, so to speak, in Arena football."
Involvement
Saadey said he didn't look at his investment as a risky venture.
"A level of commitment is necessary in any endeavor that's worthwhile, and we are fully committed," the co-owner said.
He said he's involved for many reasons.
"I've always loved athletics. It's always been a part of my life," said the former Cardinal Mooney High School quarterback, who threw out the ceremonial first pass to Monday's crowd of 400.
Andy Shobel of Canfield caught the ball.
"It was up for grabs," said Shobel, a friend of Chesney's.
"I own a business and will sponsor some seats. It's a great business thing," said Shobel, who owns Litehouse Pools.