The Columbus Lions are having a historical year. After eight weeks of play in the American Arena League, they are completely flawless, on and off the field. The entire franchise has been revitalized, as we brought you in a couple of past articles, but it goes deeper than just football.
While attending the Columbus-Carolina Predators game, we had a chance to talk to Roger Beck, the man behind all the improvements, and to witness how everything behind the scenes works. Through the experience, we had one big takeaway:
The fans are at the Center of Everything they do.
It doesn’t matter if you are a family of four looking for a nice evening, a long-time local fan, or a complete arena football fanatic there is something for you at a Lions game. Games at Columbus Civic Center feel like a giant family-friendly party that just so happens to have a football game playing at the same time!
Family, Football, and Fun
This is where you really keep an arena football team going, you make lifelong fans before they even really understand the sport. The entire game day experience is family-friendly. If you just kind of glance into the crowd you find families of all sizes, everyone dancing between plays… And Leo? Well yes, the Lions Mascot!
In a move you rarely see at this level of football, the Lions have a full-time year-round mascot. In the offseason they utilize him for school and community events, and during the season? Well, he is everywhere in the arena. Of course, teams all over have mascots, but whoever is in costume works the games to perfection!
Not only do you have to see him pop up all over the place, but there also isn’t a second of downtime. If a gap of more than three to four minutes is had, It’s filled with events! If it isn’t players atop dasher boards, rubber ducks flying out for free wings or a chance to win a golden nugget, then it’s a five-thousand-dollar field goal try.
It doesn’t matter if you’re entering first grade, days from retirement, or somewhere in between you will never be bored at a Lions game!
Locals and Die-hard Fans
One thing you notice all over the crowd is the jerseys and old school Lions gear. If we had to guess there are a handful of fans that don’t miss a single home game, the kind of guys (and gals) that stick around even through the most turbulent of seasons. You may be asking, well how do they appeal to those who already care this much? Well to start it’s the celebration of 20 seasons, you see it everywhere, from the front office to the top panel of the dasher boards.
There is a pride behind the longevity, and in turn a pride behind the people that made it possible.. the local sponsors and fans. Even if you’re new to the Lions, but proud of your West Central Georgia roots, and all the other sports they have to offer you can show your pride.
If you visit the put-together merch stands, you’ll find gear that merges the River Dragons (Hockey) colors with the Lions logo. If you look at the dashers? Well, there is the Clingstones (MiLB) logo for the world to see. If that isn’t enough… the “706” merch will be, marked for the area code similar to how college teams do.
It’s almost like the men and women behind the most recent boom knew local die-hard fans would love to support all their local teams in one place! No matter the case, if you’re local to the area or a recent addition, you can see and show how proud you are to be from and support everything Columbus.
Hard Core Arena Football Fans
This is a hard crowd to please. These aren’t the kind of people who are always in the stands, but if your product is good, they will come. There are the kind of people who go through the rules, the fields, the uniforms, and history with a fine-tooth comb looking for any flaw they can, like most of us at Shady Sports!
Though, we (and the kind fans that talk arena ball on forums) are hard-pressed to really find issues. We love uniforms, alternative helmets, and fine details. Every single one of this season’s uniform sets has been insane. The First Responders, Whiteout, and Military uniforms all gave us chills.
Even better, you get the chance to buy one of the game worn jerseys right there in the venue. If you glance at the brand new field it still has the new turf glimmer.
Everything about the setup screams top of the line. It’s so nice, in fact, that it sparked rumors of a move to “higher leagues” (whatever that means). Which leads us to our final, but quite possibly the biggest point, leadership.
The Beck Effect
In the past, under different leadership, the Columbus Lions have been known to start and stop their membership in various leagues.
The reasons varied but it led to a thought by fans that they would just go where they could win. Despite this collective thought things under Beck aren’t as they have been.
We can confidently say that Columbus isn’t going anywhere under Beck. He has a vision for the team and league they play in to be successful for years to come.
He and his staff work closely with the American Arena League, its leadership, and fellow owners and coaches to ensure the league is around for years to come. He has a vision for the Lions that includes being the class of the AAL, and all of arena ball. That vision includes finding ways to draw in more fans, as we saw during the game.
He was glued to the stands on several occasions during fan engagement to ensure everything went well and to gauge how well it was received.
While it’s there to help build the Lions, he isn’t the kind of man or team owner who will hold what works close to the vest.
He openly talked of ways to spread what he has learned, his seasoned staff’s experience, and their vision to anyone already in the AAL, and the teams coming in.
Winning on the field is great, but winning with fans, teams, and other well-meaning and stand-up ownership groups is more important than wins and losses.
If you’re a fan, and you happen to run into him in the area of the game he is one of the most easy-going guys we have met in the arena football space. He is happy to talk arena ball and Lions football, and his passion for it seems to be infectious.
At least to us, it’s obvious that under leadership like his and Corry Black’s, the GM, things will only get better.
No matter the kind of fan you consider yourself, heck even if you’re a few hours away, we suggest you make it down for a game. The most casual of football fans will be enamored by the environment, and the most hardcore fans will have a list of details and sites to ohh and ahh at.
If you are on the fence about the league the Lions play in, trust us they have set a standard that will be played up to, a standard that they will even help bring everyone up to. And best of all?
They care about what you think, if you’re reading this and you think highly of a change, think something should be better, or even would like to see certain things in the future make your voice be heard! Find their social media (that Lee does a fantastic job with) and let them know, they care what you have to say, after all none of it is possible without you, the fans!
Photo Credit: Columbus Lions Facebook Page
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Give Away
We are currently doing a giveaway to win a piece of Sioux Falls Storm turf that the team once used in games. There is now a second way to enter. Donate any amount of money to Sammy Strong Foundation, take a screenshot of the “Thank You for Donating to Sammy Strong” image after your donation and send it to us at any social media platform to automatically enter to win.
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