Philadelphia Soul Arena Football
The Soul Are Back
PHILADELPHIA SOUL, FRONT ROW MARKETING SERVICES BACK IN SAME HUDDLE FOR 2011
PHILADELPHIA (July 28, 2010) - The Philadelphia Soul and Front Row Marketing Services announced today that they are teaming up, once again, to bring back the Arena Football League Championship Title.
With this partnership, Front Row Marketing Services (FRMS) – a subsidiary of the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor that specializes in generating incremental revenue and evaluating sponsorship investments and handled the sponsorship sales for the Philadelphia Soul from 2004-2008 – will continue in that capacity as the Soul prepare to return in 2011.
“We are happy to have Front Row Marketing Services back with the team,” said Soul co-majority owner, Craig Spencer. “FRMS was a valuable asset for the Soul in our previous five seasons and we look forward to continued success.”
Consistently placing in the top two in sales in the AFL, FRMS will pick up where they left off selling inventory such as dashboards, turf squares, banners, promotions, naming rights, and team entitlements. FRMS will provide corporate marketing and sales of the commercial rights assets for the ArenaBowl XXII Champions, including sponsorship and signage.
“I have been a fan and a sponsor of the Soul from the very beginning and knew they would be a great addition to the Philadelphia sports scene,” said Pete Ciarrocchi, owner of Chickie’s & Pete’s and co-owner of the Soul. “I couldn’t have been happier, watching in New Orleans, as the Soul broke the curse of William Penn and brought the ArenaBowl Championship to Philadelphia. I so much see the value the Soul brings to Philadelphia, as well as my business, that I wanted to increase my commitment and become a co-owner and do whatever I can to help make the Soul an even bigger success.”
The AFL canceled its 2009 season, ending a 22-year run. The AFL began play again in April 2010 with games televised nationally by NFL Network every Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. The Soul announced its return to compete for the 2011 championship in June 2010. NFL Network will carry Soul games next season.
“Front Row Marketing Services has an understanding and passion for our product that we wouldn’t find anywhere else,” said Soul co-majority owner, Ron Jaworski. “They bring tremendous value to the franchise and we are exited to have them as part of the Soul family.”
The 2011 regular season runs April through July leading into the playoffs and ArenaBowl in August. The Soul, which returns to play home games at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center), capped their previous five seasons with an ArenaBowl XXII championship in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats, 59-56.
“We are thrilled to reunite with the Philadelphia Soul franchise and their passionate and devoted owners,” said Senior Vice President of Business Operations, Adrian Staiti. “The Philadelphia Soul will kick off their return with success both on and off the field.”
The current 15-team league includes: the Arizona Rattlers, Alabama Vipers, Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings, Cleveland Gladiators, Chicago Rush, Dallas Vigilantes, Iowa Barnstormers, Jacksonville Sharks, Milwaukee Iron, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, Orlando Predators, Spokane Shock, Tampa Bay Storm, Tulsa Talons and Utah Blaze. The Kansas City Brigade and San Jose SaberCats will also join the AFL in 2011 with the Soul.
Front Row Marketing Services, a subsidiary of the sport and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, is based in Philadelphia, PA with offices in or near Los Angeles, CA; San Jose, CA; Fort Collins, CO; Miami, FL; Augusta, GA; Des Moines, IA; Portland, ME; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Kansas City, MO; Albuquerque, NM; Albany, NY; Cleveland, OH; Vancouver, BC; London, ON; and Birmingham, UK. FRMS generates incremental revenue for public assembly venues, sports teams and municipalities through the marketing and sales of naming rights, advertising/sponsorships, exclusive product and vendor rights agreements, premium seating and hospitality features. The company currently develops incremental revenue for over 45 accounts.
Comcast-Spectacor (comcast-spectacor.com) is the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company which owns the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), the home of both teams, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and four Flyers Skate Zone community ice skating and hockey rinks. In addition, Comcast-Spectacor is also the principal owner of Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field with more than 85 facilities throughout the United States and Canada; Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage service provider; New Era Tickets, a ticketing and marketing company for public assembly facilities; Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company; and Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions. In a partnership with Disson Skating, Comcast-Spectacor annually produces 10 nationally televised figure skating spectaculars on NBC.
LONGTIME AFL EXECUTIVE GOODHINES NAMED SOUL GENERAL MANAGER
PHILADELPHIA, June 30, 2010 – The Philadelphia Soul today announced longtime Arena Football League executive Tom Goodhines as the team’s general manager. Goodhines will be responsible for overall business and team operations of the football organization, which begins play in April 2011.
“Tom is highly respected in our sport and we are fortunate to add someone of his talent, knowledge and experience to help us build the Soul into what everybody here in Philadelphia expects – a championship franchise,” said Soul co-majority owner, Craig A. Spencer.
“I am excited to work with somebody of Tom’s caliber,” said co-majority owner and current ESPN Monday Night Football broadcaster, Ron Jaworski. “His understanding of the league and team operations will be a huge asset in putting together a championship organization.”
Goodhines joins the Soul after serving in executive positions with the Arena Football League since 2000 including the league’s director of media services from 2001-05 and director of communications and football operations for the Utah Blaze from 2005-07. Under his guidance, the Blaze won the prestigious Commissioner’s Award in 2006 for team excellence on and off the field.
“I am thrilled to be part of this incredible city and the return of the Philadelphia Soul,” said Goodhines, a native of Syracuse, N.Y. “Our team’s focus will be to win championships and, in doing so, provide unrivaled value and entertainment to our incredible fans and partners.”
The Soul announced its return to compete for a championship in April 2011. Home games will be played at Wachovia Center. The Soul capped their previous five seasons with an ArenaBowl title in 2008.
Goodhines was a longtime member of the Arena Football League Hall of Fame Board of Directors and, during his tenure in the league office, led communications efforts during five ArenaBowl championships. He was also a member of the NFL Communications team at Super Bowl XXXIV. Prior to his AFL years, Goodhines was a sports broadcaster for WMCR Radio in Oneida, N.Y. and sports editor of the Oneida Daily Dispatch and Ithaca Journal.
PHILADELPHIA SOUL RETURN TO ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE - RECHARGED FOR CHAMPIONSHIP RUN IN 2011
– ArenaBowl Championship Winning Team Returns to Wachovia Center in April –
PHILADELPHIA (June 16, 2010) – After a two-year hiatus, a revitalized Philadelphia Soul franchise is poised for a triumphant return to Arena Football League competition in 2011, it was announced today by the local ownership team of Craig Spencer, Ron Jaworski, Pete Ciarrocchi and Cosmo DeNicola.
“We are thrilled to reward our fans with the return of a stronger, fiscally stable Philadelphia Soul franchise,” said Spencer, an original majority owner. “While we shared the frustration of every fan when the league shut down, we also believed it was essential for the sport’s long-term success. Today’s announcement is further testament to that belief and that the league is back and stronger than ever.”
The 2011 regular season runs April through July leading into the playoffs and ArenaBowl in August. The Soul, which returns to play home games at the Wachovia Center, capped their previous five seasons with an ArenaBowl XXII championship in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats, 59-56.
“We are bringing back to our incredible fans the most exciting, fan-friendly and affordable brand of football in America,” said Jaworski, an original owner and current ESPN Monday Night Football broadcaster. “My partners and I are committed to putting together a championship team for this great city to be proud of.”
The AFL canceled its 2009 season, ending a 22-year run. The new version of the AFL launched in April 2010 with games televised nationally by NFL Network every Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. NFL Network will carry Soul games next season.
“What a thrill to join such passionate and committed owners to bring back the championship tradition of the Philadelphia Soul and all of the great family entertainment it provides,” said Ciarrocchi, owner of the legendary local sports bar Chickie’s and Pete’s.
“The excitement is already building as we kickoff the return of the Soul and its special brand of ‘Philly Ball.’ I am personally thrilled to be part of a championship program and partnering with the greatest ownership group in Arena Football,” said DeNicola, a Philadelphia native and former owner of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton AF2 franchise.
“The AFL is pleased to welcome the Philadelphia Soul back to the Arena Football family,” said Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz. “The passionate fans of Philadelphia and the surrounding area as well as the tremendous ownership group epitomize Arena Football and the league’s continued commitment to the communities we serve.”
The current 15-team roster includes: the Arizona Rattlers, Alabama Vipers, Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings, Cleveland Gladiators, Chicago Rush, Dallas Vigilantes, Iowa Barnstormers, Jacksonville Sharks, Milwaukee Iron, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, Orlando Predators, Spokane Shock, Tampa Bay Storm, Tulsa Talons and Utah Blaze.
Original Soul owner Jon Bon Jovi said, “I will not be part of the ownership group due to my focus and attention being on the current Bon Jovi worldwide tour, but I have fond memories of my experience with the Soul and especially our 2008 ArenaBowl championship season. I continue to be a fan of the team and want nothing but continued success on and off the field for the Soul.”
Fans are encouraged to log on to www.philadelphiasoul.com, to sign up to receive the latest news and updates on the Philadelphia Soul.
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