Up & Coming Weekly

January 04, 2022

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 5-11, 2022 UCW 7 "It has been three years since the last indoor football game," General Manager of the Carolina Predators, Benjamin Pippen, said at the Carolina Preda- tors press conference last week. "We are now bringing in a new arena football team, the Carolina Predators." One of the three team owners, Ralph Byrd, is thankful to have a permanent home for the Carolina Predators to play in and feels the team will help unify the community. "For three years, we were a travel team up and down East Coast," Byrd said. "Fayetteville is a great place, a great city, for football. Wins and loss- es. We are not just about winning the football game. Some of the coaches have played and coached here when there was an arena team years ago. It is not just about football games; it is about bringing everyone together." Byrd, an athletic trainer, is not just an owner; he is also now general man- ager for the Carolina Predators. "I took care of these guys, and now I am going to take care of them on another level. I appreciate Fayetteville for having us – that's the big thing." Byrd says they bought the team and brought it to Fayetteville to allow another generation the opportunity to play football. "Playing has done great things for us. We couldn't play anymore. It was something we decided to do. We wanted to give the younger guys the ability to play football. It was reaching out to different arenas in various cit- ies, and Fayetteville had a very warm and inviting arena. e atmosphere brought us here," he said. e team has big plans for their first game and hopes the events will be ac- cessible and affordable. "We will have a tailgate, espe- cially for the first game," Byrd said. "A formal meet and greet with coaches, players and staff. Tickets will be $10 to $15. We are not here to make money. We want to provide a family-friendly atmosphere in which kids can meet professional football players." Head Coach, Charles Gunning, saw this as a great belated Christmas gift, announcing the Predators are coming not just to Fayetteville but specifically back at the Crown Coli- seum. "When I walked in, I felt chills. I've played here. I have coached here. I played for the Cape Fear Wildcats in 2001," he said. Givens explained that he is bringing "a championship coaching staff and championship football team" to sup- port the Predators. His championship staff includes Jon Hall, who has been coaching since 2015. Hall won Offensive Coach of the Year in 2016 and has called Fayetteville home since 2012. In the past, he also played for the Wildcats in the past.Offensive Coordinator, Shawn Wood, is also happy to be here at the Crown. "anks for allowing us to be a part of Cumberland County. We bring exciting football here and an electric offense. You are going to see a lot of fireworks from this team," Wood told attendees at the press conference. ese men, who are bringing the Carolina Predators to Fayetteville, are long-time teammates and colleagues. ey have played and coached to- gether at different times in their lives. ey plan to utilize that long-standing team dynamic to bring quality and skilled sports entertainment to the Fayetteville community. Team tryouts will be held at an undecided location on Jan. 15. Spectators and athletes can find up-to-date information about tryouts and the team's upcoming schedule on the team's Facebook page, Carolina Predators Arena Football Team.e first game will be on March 26, in Mis- sissippi. e first home game will be on April 10. NEWS Carolina Predators bring arena football to Fayetteville by ELAINA J. MARTIN ELAINA J. MARTIN, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. From left to right : Charles Gunning, Ralph Byrd, Shawn Wood and Jon Hall pose together at the Crown Coliseum after a Carolina Predators press conference, December 29, 2021. (Photo by Elaina J.Martin.) FREE HEALTH CARE • for Eligible uninsured Adults call 910.485.0555

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