Wednesday, February 03, 1999
Soccer team takes new home - new name next?
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WILDER — The Northern Kentucky Riverhawks?
Lester Wells, president of the Cincinnati Riverhawks professional soccer team, isn't ruling out a name change now that the team is moving its home games from Warren County to the Town and Country Sports and En tertainment Complex in Wilder.
“For right now, we'll keep Cincinnati in the name,” Mr. Wells said Tuesday. “But that's open for discussion.”
Northern Kentucky officials and Riverhawks management announced the team's move Tuesday from Galbreath Field near Paramount's Kings Island to the Wilder soccer complex, minutes from downtown Cincinnati at Interstate 275 and Ky. 9 in Campbell County.
The Riverhawks, Northern Kentucky's first professional sports team, hope to increase their fan base by moving to a region where 10,000 youths play soccer.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for the team here because Northern Kentucky is crazy about soccer,” said WLW radio sports talk host Andy Furman of Florence, a limited partner in the team.
“It's a great move for the team, and it's great for Northern Kentucky.”
John Toebben, the complex developer and a longtime
booster of soccer in the region, said the Town and Country was built primarily for youth sports in Northern Kentucky.
“But our dream was to bring the first professional sports team to Northern Kentucky,” he said. “And I think the community is going to embrace it.”
Last year, the 3-year-old team averaged about 1,800 fans a game. Seating for 3,500 will be built at the complex's outdoor field.
“We think we can get that average up to 2,500 to 3,000 by moving here to this facility,” Mr. Wells said.
The Wilder complex will be more convenient for most fans, Mr. Wells said. The team will be heavily marketed in Northern Kentucky.
The Riverhawks were also drawn to the area because of what the Town and Country complex has to offer.
“This is a premier facility,” Mr. Wells said. “This facility has the locker rooms, the media facility, the referee area we need. And we can train at the indoor facility when the weather doesn't allow us to play outside.”
Both the indoor and outdoor fields are made of an artificial turf called AstroPlay, a combination of sand, rubber and nylon that gives the feel and appearance of natural grass.
Town and Country is the only complex in the country using AstroPlay.
For the fans, the complex offers a sports bar and a restaurant, Mr. Wells said.
The team will also work to be fan-friendly, said Campbell County Judge-executive Steve Pendery, chairman of the Tri-County Economic Development Corp.
“We're all familiar with the ... pouting posture of some of the other professional athletes, for whom it's a big problem to shake hands or sign an autograph,” Mr. Pendery said.
“This is a completely different arrangement ... and opportunity for fans in Northern Kentucky, because these (players) are going to stick around after the game, get to know their fans, shake hands and sign autographs,” he said.
Tickets will be $8 for adults, $5 for youths and seniors, and free for children 5 and under.
The season starts May 1, with the home opener at 7:30 p.m. May 22 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
The Riverhawks play in the A-League of the United Systems of Independent Soccer. The Riverhawks are a minor-league squad for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.
They'll play at least one home exhibition game against Columbus, as well as a game against a pro soccer team from Italy.
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