By Michael Heilman
The Indoor Football League welcomed the Oakland Panthers as its newest team for the 2020 season. The Panthers are co-owned by former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch and entertainment and gaming entrepreneur Roy Choi.
Team co-owner Marshawn Lynch said, “I believe the power of football has the ability to transform a community and the families who live there. I’ve seen it and lived it. I’m excited that Da’ Town will get another team to call its own. I attended some Indoor Football games last year and had a good ass time. The games have lots of fluidity and tickets are priced so that the entire family can check it out.”
Lynch added, “I was blessed with my time and journey making it to the league but there are more ways of getting there than the route I took, so its hella important to me, to keep finding opportunities for players to pursue their dreams of getting to that next level and I know the Panthers and this league can help with that.”
Roy Choi added “Oakland and the Bay Area embody activism, work ethic, passion, and loyalty. Those qualities are represented by the Panther name and by my co-founder Marshawn Lynch. While I am obviously impressed by his on-field performance, it is his community work that is the most inspiring. There is no one better than Marshawn to lead such a community-oriented sports franchise like the Oakland Panthers. Additionally, we’re also exploring ways the community can also have ownership in our team.”
The Panthers also announced that they will play their home games at the Oakland Arena, formerly the Oracle Arena. The Panthers also announced that Scott McKibben will be the President and Kurt Bryan as Head Coach.
McKibben said “Indoor football in the Spring will give local families a great entertainment option. We are dedicated to creating a world-class experience with music, lighting, fan/player interactions, and being financially accessible to every possible fan and family. We’re also thrilled by the early excitement and enthusiasm of Bay Area businesses who want to support us.”
Coach Kurt Bryan added “My goal is to develop Oakland’s new indoor professional football team into an exciting, premier destination franchise for football fans to eagerly support and one that talented players will aspire to join. I believe every player in the league will look to the Panthers as a model franchise where they can grow their talent and perform at their highest level for passionate fans.”
With the edition of the Oakland Panthers, the Indoor Football League now has twelve teams for the 2020 season.
Comments