Thunder in the Valley deserves larger fan base

Thunder in the Valley deserves larger fan base

The start of spring in the Mahoning Valley brings with it the start of loud, rustling Thunder in downtown Youngstown.

And so it was last weekend, when the Mahoning Valley Thunder af2 arena football team scorched the Albany Firebirds 44-34 before 3,713 charged fans at the Chevrolet Centre.

The victory marked the third straight year the professional football team opened its season with an electrifying win. We hope it also marked the start of the most successful year yet for the minor-league squad both on the Cortland Banks Field and in the Chevy Centre stands.

To that end, this football-frenzied Valley should get on its collective feet to support the Thunder for its solid, affordable product, its commitment to the Mahoning Valley and its tangible impact on the ongoing resurgence of downtown Youngstown and our region.

They’re ready to rumble

Among the ranks of defeatists and pessimists out there some may ask: Why should we support a team whose record in 2008 was 3-13?

To them, we say: Forget the past. The team this year has been revamped, retooled and rejuvenated with 17 promising new players. Or in the words of third-year veteran Thunder head coach Mike Hold, “This is a new season. When we start preparing for this year, you can’t look back.”

Judging by the roster of seasoned pros – some from the NFL — and the fierce competitiveness displayed by the Thunder in its opening win last Friday, Valley fans will have their thirst for hard-edged, high-energy, rough-and-tough football easily quenched this season.

And with tickets priced as low as $12 along with various promotions planned to spice up game nights, arena football makes for reasonably priced family fun and enjoyment.

Home-grown Valley product

Another strength of the Thunder since its debut in 2007 has been its home-grown roots. To their credit, the Valley-based co-owners — Dr. Michael Slyk, Dr. Jon Saadey and Tim Chesney — this year have launched a campaign to increase local ownership of the team.

The team is financially solvent but is courting additional investors in the Mahoning Valley. A larger and more locally-based ownership structure bodes well for the longevity and overall stability of the team.

The community-mindedness of the Thunder also is evident in its foundation. The specific objectives of the Thunder Foundation are to provide opportunities for the youth, their families and other citizens of the Mahoning Valley. It says it focuses on “activities that will assist their spiritual, mental, emotional, intellectual and physical development, leading to positive growth of the Mahoning Valley.”

A needed presence downtown

As the Thunder supports its community, so, too, should the community support its Thunder. The team needs a more expansive fan base. With it, the squad can ensure its own survival and carry on the recent string of sold-out attractions at the four-year old downtown arena.

That kind of momentum is what the Chevy Centre, a symbol of downtown’s renaissance and the Valley’s resurgence, needs to succeed, and it must not be allowed to fizzle.

To that end, circle your calendars for this Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Mahoning Valley will battle Milwaukee in front of what we hope will be the first of many Thunder-packed houses this spring and summer.