AFL2 - Iowa Barnstormers

**cycloneworld** · 02-22-2008, 08:02 AM

Since we are having the hockey debate, why not have one about the Barnstormers coming back.

Marty was killing this team yesterday saying it was going be a huge failure. Miller was saying he didn't think it would be and that they would average 5-6k fans per game. It looks like the league average is around 7,000 per game.

With only 8 home games, I could see this team really doing well. I know I will actually go to a few games (unlike the Stars or Energy). I think it has the potential to do very well.

Tickets are affordable which is a big issue. I really hope they do well and stick around because the old Iowa Barnstormers were great to watch.

**ISUFan22** · 02-22-2008, 08:53 AM

How much are the tickets and when do they start playing?

I'll probably hit one game at least but no more than 2 or 3.

**bmuff** · 02-22-2008, 08:57 AM

I think that the AFL team has a couple of things going for it. First off, it is scheduled at a time when it is not competing with anything. No college FB or BB, no NFL. Second, it is football! Seems like there is a bottomless appetite for FB these days. Third, they have a roster big enough to include a lot of former ISU/iowa/UNI players. Fourth...one word...tailgating.

**ISUFan22** · 02-22-2008, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by bmuff

Fourth...one word...tailgating.

This should have been the lead-off point.

**Broodwich** · 02-22-2008, 09:53 AM

Tailgating + Berryman = GOOD TIMES

**HILLCYD** · 02-22-2008, 09:55 AM

Cellphone + Berryman = JAIL TIME

Sorry, couldn't resist.

**HILLCYD** · 02-22-2008, 09:58 AM

I don't know the financial model for AF2, but at the very least it has to be much cheaper to run than any other minor league sport in the city. That is the ONLY reason why it will be able to succeed. That being said, I won't be floored if it goes the way of the Dodo bird in 2-3 years.

**cycloneworld** · 02-22-2008, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

How much are the tickets and when do they start playing?

Tickets (season):
The Iowa Barnstormers
(you can figure out single game ticket prices from here too)

Schedule:
The Iowa Barnstormers

They start playing late March and play 16 games with 8 @ home.

**jdoggivjc** · 02-22-2008, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by cys_av8r

That being said, I won't be floored if it goes the way of the Dodo bird in 2-3 years.

Considering how long the Barnstormers lasted in AF2 the first time around (after what's-his-name sold them out to that Hawaiian guy who owns the New York Islanders)...

**HILLCYD** · 02-22-2008, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Considering how long the Barnstormers lasted in AF2 the first time around (after what's-his-name sold them out to that Hawaiian guy who owns the New York Islanders)...

That was AF, not AF2.

**mike4cy** · 02-22-2008, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

This should have been the lead-off point.

Hm...now that you mention that, GAME ON!

**isuno1fan** · 02-22-2008, 10:58 AM

Gonna depend alot on how good they are out of the gate. If they are competitive and get some W's, people will join in the fun.

If they are dogs right away, it will lose momentum quickly and probably die in 3-4 yrs.

**cloneu** · 02-22-2008, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by cys_av8r

Cellphone + Berryman = JAIL TIME

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Just so you know I was at the bars in Ames last Saturday and Berryman walked by me while I had my cell phone out and nothing happened.

I think he learned his lesson.

**jdoggivjc** · 02-22-2008, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by cys_av8r

That was AF, not AF2.

I understand that. They were a solid AF team, then were sold in 2000 to what's his name in New York (and became the Dragons). The following year (2001) the Iowa Barnstormers were an AF2 team. It was generally felt that Iowa fans felt "sold out" by AF and refused to show up for the AF2 Barnstormers, and lasted only one season.

LINK

The reason why I "keep up" with this is because I follow the Quad City Steamwheelers, our AF2 team, from a distance (it's been a couple of years since I've been to a game). The Steamwheelers' owner, at least at the time, was the same guy that owned the Barnstormers when they were in AF, who also happens to be the guy that created the game in the first place.

**HILLCYD** · 02-22-2008, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

I understand that. They were a solid AF team, then were sold in 2000 to what's his name in New York (and became the Dragons). The following year (2001) the Iowa Barnstormers were an AF2 team. It was generally felt that Iowa fans felt "sold out" by AF and refused to show up for the AF2 Barnstormers, and lasted only one season.

LINK

The reason why I "keep up" with this is because I follow the Quad City Steamwheelers, our AF2 team, from a distance (it's been a couple of years since I've been to a game). The Steamwheelers' owner, at least at the time, was the same guy that owned the Barnstormers when they were in AF, who also happens to be the guy that created the game in the first place.

You keep up with it much more than I do then. I just wanted to be sure that everyone understood that what we are getting now with the Barnstormers is as Marty put it "a pick up game with uniforms". Which is fully what I expect it to be.