Philadelphia Soul, Front Row Marketing Services Back in Same Huddle for 2011
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Philadelphia Soul and Front Row Marketing Services announced today that they are teaming up, once again, to bring back the Arena Football League Championship Title.
With this partnership, Front Row Marketing Services (FRMS) – a subsidiary of the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor that specializes in generating incremental revenue and evaluating sponsorship investments and handled the sponsorship sales for the Philadelphia Soul from 2004-2008 – will continue in that capacity as the Soul prepare to return in 2011.
“We are happy to have Front Row Marketing Services back with the team,” said Soul co-majority owner, Craig Spencer. “FRMS was a valuable asset for the Soul in our previous five seasons and we look forward to continued success.”
Consistently placing in the top two in sales in the AFL, FRMS will pick up where they left off selling inventory such as dashboards, turf squares, banners, promotions, naming rights, and team entitlements. FRMS will provide corporate marketing and sales of the commercial rights assets for the ArenaBowl XXII Champions, including sponsorship and signage.
“I have been a fan and a sponsor of the Soul from the very beginning and knew they would be a great addition to the Philadelphia sports scene,” said Pete Ciarrocchi, owner of Chickie’s & Pete’s and co-owner of the Soul. “I couldn’t have been happier, watching in New Orleans, as the Soul broke the curse of William Penn and brought the ArenaBowl Championship to Philadelphia. I so much see the value the Soul brings to Philadelphia, as well as my business, that I wanted to increase my commitment and become a co-owner and do whatever I can to help make the Soul an even bigger success.”
The AFL canceled its 2009 season, ending a 22-year run. The AFL began play again in April 2010 with games televised nationally by NFL Network every Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. The Soul announced its return to compete for the 2011 championship in June 2010. NFL Network will carry Soul games next season.
“Front Row Marketing Services has an understanding and passion for our product that we wouldn’t find anywhere else,” said Soul co-majority owner, Ron Jaworski. “They bring tremendous value to the franchise and we are exited to have them as part of the Soul family.”
The 2011 regular season runs April through July leading into the playoffs and ArenaBowl in August. The Soul, which returns to play home games at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center), capped their previous five seasons with an ArenaBowl XXII championship in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats, 59-56.
“We are thrilled to reunite with the Philadelphia Soul franchise and their passionate and devoted owners,” said Senior Vice President of Business Operations, Adrian Staiti. “The Philadelphia Soul will kick off their return with success both on and off the field.”
The current 15-team league includes: the Arizona Rattlers, Alabama Vipers, Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings, Cleveland Gladiators, Chicago Rush, Dallas Vigilantes, Iowa Barnstormers, Jacksonville Sharks, Milwaukee Iron, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, Orlando Predators, Spokane Shock, Tampa Bay Storm, Tulsa Talons and Utah Blaze. The Kansas City Brigade and San Jose SaberCats will also join the AFL in 2011 with the Soul.
Front Row Marketing Services, a subsidiary of the sport and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, is based in Philadelphia, PA with offices in or near Los Angeles, CA; San Jose, CA; Fort Collins, CO; Miami, FL; Augusta, GA; Des Moines, IA; Portland, ME; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Kansas City, MO; Albuquerque, NM; Albany, NY; Cleveland, OH; Vancouver, BC; London, ON; and Birmingham, UK. FRMS generates incremental revenue for public assembly venues, sports teams and municipalities through the marketing and sales of naming rights, advertising/sponsorships, exclusive product and vendor rights agreements, premium seating and hospitality features. The company currently develops incremental revenue for over 45 accounts.
Comcast-Spectacor (comcast-spectacor.com) is the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company which owns the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), the home of both teams, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and four Flyers Skate Zone community ice skating and hockey rinks. In addition, Comcast-Spectacor is also the principal owner of Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field with more than 85 facilities throughout the United States and Canada; Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage service provider; New Era Tickets, a ticketing and marketing company for public assembly facilities; Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company; and Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions. In a partnership with Disson Skating, Comcast-Spectacor annually produces 10 nationally televised figure skating spectaculars on NBC.