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.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/825045
12 UCW MAY 17-23, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Now online! Flip our pages for news, views art and entertainment! www.upandcomingweekly.com Call and ask one of our marketing representatives to help you grow your business. 484-6200 Chuck Norris and Jeff Longo are relatively new to Fayetteville, but they've already gotten a feel for the community. ey're the new owners of Fayetteville's professional hockey team. e former Fayetteville Fire Antz is now the Fayetteville Marksmen. "e new team name acknowledges the community's heavy connection with the military," said Longo, president of the organization. A marksman is the definition of precision, accuracy and confidence. All these traits are also necessary for a hockey team. A sometimes feisty, sometimes cuddly red fox will be the team mascot. Foxes have always intrigued man. Storytellers and writers in almost every culture throughout history have depicted foxes as cunning, intelligent and shrewd. e red fox is one of two species found in North Carolina. ere is an M hidden in the forehead of the fox logo, recognizing the first letter of the Marksmen wordmark. e fox will be a fluffy, cuddly mascot who will be a frequent visitor to schools, local events and more. e upcoming hockey season will feature 28 home games at the Crown Coliseum, Longo said. e season starts at the end of October and runs through April 1. He was complimentary of Coliseum Management. Spectra Venue Management oversees 11 sports and entertainment venues in North Carolina, including the Crown Complex. "Spectra sets the standard for the industry that contributes to the success of its tenants," said Longo. As were the Fire Antz, the Marksmen will be one of 11 members of the Southern Professional Hockey League. In baseball terms, the Marksmen would be thought of as a Single-A team. Other cities in the league include: Birmingham, Alabama; Roanoke, Virginia; Pensacola, Florida; and Macon, Georgia. Each team has 20 players, 18 of whom dress out for games. ere are three six-man squads, which rotate regularly during the games. Most of the players are recruited from Canada, said Longo, where youth leagues abound. Longo says his players in many cases are right out of high school, 18, 19 and 20 years old. As in all minor-league sports, player lifestyles are spartan. ey receive what could be called modest salaries. Some of their living expenses are provided by the club. All players live at a contracted apartment complex where housing and utilities are provided at no cost to the players and their families. "e players love the climate, with the beach two hours away and the mountains just a four- hour drive," said Longo. Because North Carolina is a non- traditional hockey market, heavy promotion and marketing are important in developing interest among the public and a strong fan base. Longo said the key to success as much as the games themselves is the hoopla that accompanies them. "Fans need reasons other than the hockey to come out for what amounts to a fun and entertaining experience," he said. Prize giveaways and player accessibility are key. Hockey is clearly a contact sport, although in the NHL brawling has become passe. It's one of two differences at the minor-league level. e games aren't as fast as in the big leagues, and there's a bit more player contact because that's what fans want to see. Injuries are rarely if ever serious. The FireAntz Are No More by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS We can help you learn what is happening in and around Fayetteville! In print and online! Look for it online now at www.upandcomingweekly.com. 208 Rowan St. 910.484.6200 Connecting a Community What's going on in our community?