WASHINGTON — It’s difficult to imagine any event that would bring together Ted Leonsis, Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and KISS frontman Gene Simmons. But all four sat on stage together in the bowels of the Verizon Center Wednesday afternoon, along with former NFL quarterback and current ESPN commentator Ron Jaworski, to usher in a new era of football in Washington with the official introduction of the Washington Arena Football League team.
There is no nickname yet, but that will be a first order of business along with a logo, color set (red, white and blue, anyone?), a head coach and players. It would certainly seem to be a priority for no other reason than to no longer need to call the entity “The Washington AFL team,” which is nothing if not evocative of the other football name controversy in this town.
In a gathering with all the energy and outlandishness one might expect from a brand competing for the eyes and ear of the next generation, it was Simmons, owner of the appropriately named LA Kiss franchise, who stole the show.
“We want to completely assault your senses,” said Simmons of the AFL experience, while recalling his team’s home opener, which included a quarter-million dollar stage descending from above, carrying the players. “This ain’t your daddy’s and grandaddy’s football.”
He also spoke of the brand’s nonstop action as an appeal to the next generation of consumers, rather than traditional football fans.
“We are in competition not with the NFL, but with TV, gaming and all of that,” Simmons said.
The AFL season is played in the summer and does not directly conflict with the NFL schedule. Past leagues, like the USFL, have enjoyed success so long as they have not challenged the NFL’s ownership of fall Sundays.
Bowser spoke glowingly of the partnerships between Monumental Sports and the District, including the future Mystics home and Wizards practice facility complex in Ward 8, and lauded Leonsis for following through on the promise of an AFL franchise.
“You said you were going to bring an Arena League Football team to D.C., and here we are,” Bowser said enthusiastically.
Jaworski, a part owner of the Philadelphia Soul franchise, was as animated as anyone on stage as he pined for a rivalry as strong as that between the cities’ NFL franchises. And Brooks, who is now the President of the Tampa Bay Storm, spoke of the appeal of the league to families perhaps turned off from the NFL’s impersonal and expensive nature.
“I like to joke, it brings the three F’s: Family, fun, and ‘fforability,” he said.
To wit on his final point, season tickets start at just $50 and are already on sale for the 2017 season at Verizon Center at washingtonafl.com.
