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02/18/2007: "Crofton could be home to a semi-pro football team"

Semi-professional football in the city of Crofton may be a distinct possibility this summer.
The Northeast Nebraska Thunderbirds, a group of 60 semi-professional football athletes, are looking for a home field. Previously, the team had its base in Norfolk.

Because the original board decided to step down from the day-to-day to operations of the organization, a new group of men have decided to take the Thunderbirds in a new direction.
“We felt we had so much competition with other forms of entertainment in Norfolk,” said board member Ray Keiser of Fordyce. Attendance really fell off and they estimated they only sold 200-300 tickets per game. The board hopes a new home, with some local talent recruited to play, will bring in the numbers they would like to see – at least 700 in the seats.
The team played a couple games in Hartington last year at the new city-owned athletic complex and 1,500 tickets were sold at one competition and around 650 at the other.
Brett Van Gilder, another team board member, told the Crofton board he has played previously in Iowa and Minnesota on semi-professional teams and they were usually based in small towns which did not have several other forms of weekend entertainment like stock car racing or concerts.
“We hope to see a bigger fan base here in northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota,” said Keiser. “We feel it would be good for the community - bring in some additional revenue – and provide some good low-cost entertainment.”
Other advantages to having Crofton as the home base would include field rental for the school district; total sales from the concession stand for a school group; field maintenance; football mini-camp for Crofton youth; voluntary security and cleanup for the July 4th street dance; possible street dances with DJ after home games; and added revenue for the community in restaurant, grocery and fuel sales.
Four requirements need to be satisfied for the Thunderbird team. They want to use the field for no more than six home football games, playing by NFL rules. The first 700 tickets sold per game averaged over the year will be income for the team. After that level is reached the team will split the ticket revenue 50 percent with the school district. They will retain 100 percent of T-bird merchandise sales (t-shirts, hats, programs) and 100 percent of the 50/50 drawing during the home game.
The Thunderbirds are also an alcohol and drug free organization and promote this philosophy at their games. The team will advertise and post signs at all entry points to the field to this effect; will work with local police and ask them to be visible at their games; and provide personnel to provide security at the games who will be trained to watch for signs of illegal drugs. Team personnel will also man the chains and clean up after the game is over.
It is also a very family-oriented organization. No profane language is allowed or ill-mannered behavior.
“It would be one of the nicest facilities in the league if you allow us to use this field,” said Keiser. “Having two locker rooms and showers would be a real treat.” Normally there is only one locker area and shower if any and the visiting team gets first dibs on it so they can make the drive home.
“We also know there is football talent in the area to recruit from and it would make the game more exciting for local fans,” added Van Gilder.
The tentative summer-fall schedule is as follows: June 16 – Dakota Lawdawgs, Sioux Falls, SD; June 23 – Iowa Eagles, home; June 30 – Dakota Lawdawgs, home; July 14 – Kansas City Panthers, home; July 21 – Iowa Eagles, Manson, IA; July 28 - Cass County Renegades, home; August 11 – Midwest Titans, home; August 18 – KC Panthers, Kansas City, MO; Sept. 8 – CC Renegades, Weeping Water, NE; and Sept. 15 – Midwest Titans, Kansas City, MO.
One more game may be scheduled depending on the approval of the Crofton district allowing the T-Birds to play on their turf. Playoffs continue through October with a national championship Nov. 10 in Kissemee, FL. More information can be obtained by checking out the Thunderbirds’ website, www.freewebs.com/nethunderbirds.
The school board was not opposed to the idea but will reserve any decision until the finer points are ironed out. Supt. Randy Anderson, athletic director Ann Kramer and school attorney Dale Riesberg will meet and formulate a proposal acceptable to the school district, which in turn they will present, to the Thunderbird organization for consideration.
“We need assurances,” said Anderson. “We want alcohol kept out and we need our facility to be cared for.” Negotiations would need to work out the little details. A one-year trial would answer a lot of questions.