By Choeme de Monet
Vaadwaur, Eastern Europe AAA #1 – 4/30/2008
In what has been an off-season full of change, the Phoenix introduced yet another on Thursday night before their game against the Scotch Cocks. In front of a large contingent of Phoenix fans at the team headquarters, the team unveiled their new uniforms and logo. The uniforms will be first used in action in the next home game against the Helsinki Hell Raisers. The marble and polished steel headquarters’ rotunda was the site, as fans adorned in black and red displayed their support for the team. A large seating area with roughly 500 chairs was completely filled with team and league VIPs along with a small contingent of lucky season ticket winners. Fans layered two and three rows deep lined all three levels overlooking the rotunda. Passionate fans from all over the Eastern Europe showed up to witness the introduction of a new look for their heroes of the gridiron.
The event was emceed by EAU-1130 talk show host and voice of the Vaadwaur Phoenix, Gedrin. He was enthusiastic and continually prompted vigorous applause and cheering from the capacity crowd.
"Doing a radio show that focuses on the Phoenix pretty much year round, [I noticed] the build-up for this has really surprised me," Gedrin said as hundreds of fans filed in and claimed their spots above the rotunda. "I'm not from around here and I moved here some time ago. And I know how important the Phoenix are to tens of thousands of fans all across the Eastern Europe. It really surprised me how into it [the unveiling] people are. It goes to show the loyalty that these fans have for their football team. The attention has been incredible."
After opening the festivities, Gedrin introduced Phoenix Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Gaul, to the crowd. He spoke about the process of finding the right mixture of "tradition and modernity." He also commented on the large crowd, saying the passion the fans exerted was staggering.
Following Gaul 's appearance, second-year Head Coach/Owner/General Manager Matt Scrougham addressed the crowd and expressed appreciation to the fans for supporting the team and the event.
"Working in this league I've always had an appreciation for the passionate fans that the Phoenix have," Scrougham commented to the Phoenix faithful in attendance.
A short video documenting the team's current history was then shown as Gedrin introduced current Phoenix fan favorite players. The video was a cross-section of the franchise's growing gridiron juggernaut, including QB Terrence Wallace, WR Chancellor Cat , DT Jay Scriggy , LBs CJ Woodworth and Tom Powley, CB Green-Hat Dale, and K Eoin Farrelly .
Finally, current Phoenix players appeared, dawning the new uniforms for the first time. Three uniforms were on display - home, road and alternate jerseys. The home jerseys, showcased by LB Randall Hied, HB Stefan Miller and G Jim Belal , consisted of black tops with white pants. The design of the jersey has a vibrant crimson red stripe streaks down either sides of the tops which continue down the sides of the pants. The jerseys feature white lettering and numbering with crimson red trim with the team’s name on top of the front number. The road jerseys, modeled by SS LT. Tuvok, LB Bronco Love-Machine, and TE Monroe Kelly consist of the traditional white tops and pants. There are black stripe streaks down either sides of the tops which continue down the sides of the pants, and feature black lettering and numbering with crimson red trim. The black stripes also have crimson red trim. Additionally, an alternate jersey was introduced, modeled by WR Wiggles Crosant and Species 8472. The new-edition jerseys had black tops and pants, with a crimson red stripe down each side and white lettering and numbering with crimson red trim.
Many speculated that the change in style would not be easily accepted by loyal and traditional fans. However, Gedrin offered a different opinion.
"The traditionalists don't like to see any change, but I think when some people see the uniforms they'll get used to them and like them."
The fans in attendance seemed to follow the emcee's train of thought.
"I love them. Crimson stripes, whatever it takes to change our road record," avid Phoenix enthusiast Tuvok from Vulcan said. “I love watching TJ, after all, his name says it all.” Tuvok.joked.
"This is Phoenix country," he said of the large crowd in attendance. "Like coach Scrougham said, we're inside Phoenix headquarters on a beautiful day like this, fighting rush hour to get here. This is Phoenix country."
The new uniforms were big hits among even the youngest fans present. Erica and Carter Wierzbinski of Helsinki, standing on the main floor with their father Don, enjoyed the ceremonies. "I like the white ones," Carter commented.
Even the traditionalists among the fans approved of the new look.
"I thought the ceremony was exciting and the turnout was great," Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway said. "I'm just really glad they chose really snazzy and fierce looking logo."
After the ceremony, players were made available for autographs. Randall Hied, in a witty exchange with a reporter, joked that he wishes they would put real wings on the helmets. Each of the other players showcasing the jerseys took time to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
Additionally, players were signing autographs and jerseys at the Phoenix Lockerroom store and other selected retailers around the Eastern Block who were connected live via satellite. Those stores are exclusively selling the new jerseys for 7 days. The jerseys can also be purchased on the team’s web site.
Fans, in a rush to buy the jerseys online, overloaded the team's website for a brief time - a sign that fans all over Phoenix nation were impressed with the new style
Vaadwaur, Eastern Europe AAA #1 – 4/30/2008
In what has been an off-season full of change, the Phoenix introduced yet another on Thursday night before their game against the Scotch Cocks. In front of a large contingent of Phoenix fans at the team headquarters, the team unveiled their new uniforms and logo. The uniforms will be first used in action in the next home game against the Helsinki Hell Raisers. The marble and polished steel headquarters’ rotunda was the site, as fans adorned in black and red displayed their support for the team. A large seating area with roughly 500 chairs was completely filled with team and league VIPs along with a small contingent of lucky season ticket winners. Fans layered two and three rows deep lined all three levels overlooking the rotunda. Passionate fans from all over the Eastern Europe showed up to witness the introduction of a new look for their heroes of the gridiron.
The event was emceed by EAU-1130 talk show host and voice of the Vaadwaur Phoenix, Gedrin. He was enthusiastic and continually prompted vigorous applause and cheering from the capacity crowd.
"Doing a radio show that focuses on the Phoenix pretty much year round, [I noticed] the build-up for this has really surprised me," Gedrin said as hundreds of fans filed in and claimed their spots above the rotunda. "I'm not from around here and I moved here some time ago. And I know how important the Phoenix are to tens of thousands of fans all across the Eastern Europe. It really surprised me how into it [the unveiling] people are. It goes to show the loyalty that these fans have for their football team. The attention has been incredible."
After opening the festivities, Gedrin introduced Phoenix Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Gaul, to the crowd. He spoke about the process of finding the right mixture of "tradition and modernity." He also commented on the large crowd, saying the passion the fans exerted was staggering.
Following Gaul 's appearance, second-year Head Coach/Owner/General Manager Matt Scrougham addressed the crowd and expressed appreciation to the fans for supporting the team and the event.
"Working in this league I've always had an appreciation for the passionate fans that the Phoenix have," Scrougham commented to the Phoenix faithful in attendance.
A short video documenting the team's current history was then shown as Gedrin introduced current Phoenix fan favorite players. The video was a cross-section of the franchise's growing gridiron juggernaut, including QB Terrence Wallace, WR Chancellor Cat , DT Jay Scriggy , LBs CJ Woodworth and Tom Powley, CB Green-Hat Dale, and K Eoin Farrelly .
Finally, current Phoenix players appeared, dawning the new uniforms for the first time. Three uniforms were on display - home, road and alternate jerseys. The home jerseys, showcased by LB Randall Hied, HB Stefan Miller and G Jim Belal , consisted of black tops with white pants. The design of the jersey has a vibrant crimson red stripe streaks down either sides of the tops which continue down the sides of the pants. The jerseys feature white lettering and numbering with crimson red trim with the team’s name on top of the front number. The road jerseys, modeled by SS LT. Tuvok, LB Bronco Love-Machine, and TE Monroe Kelly consist of the traditional white tops and pants. There are black stripe streaks down either sides of the tops which continue down the sides of the pants, and feature black lettering and numbering with crimson red trim. The black stripes also have crimson red trim. Additionally, an alternate jersey was introduced, modeled by WR Wiggles Crosant and Species 8472. The new-edition jerseys had black tops and pants, with a crimson red stripe down each side and white lettering and numbering with crimson red trim.
Many speculated that the change in style would not be easily accepted by loyal and traditional fans. However, Gedrin offered a different opinion.
"The traditionalists don't like to see any change, but I think when some people see the uniforms they'll get used to them and like them."
The fans in attendance seemed to follow the emcee's train of thought.
"I love them. Crimson stripes, whatever it takes to change our road record," avid Phoenix enthusiast Tuvok from Vulcan said. “I love watching TJ, after all, his name says it all.” Tuvok.joked.
"This is Phoenix country," he said of the large crowd in attendance. "Like coach Scrougham said, we're inside Phoenix headquarters on a beautiful day like this, fighting rush hour to get here. This is Phoenix country."
The new uniforms were big hits among even the youngest fans present. Erica and Carter Wierzbinski of Helsinki, standing on the main floor with their father Don, enjoyed the ceremonies. "I like the white ones," Carter commented.
Even the traditionalists among the fans approved of the new look.
"I thought the ceremony was exciting and the turnout was great," Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway said. "I'm just really glad they chose really snazzy and fierce looking logo."
After the ceremony, players were made available for autographs. Randall Hied, in a witty exchange with a reporter, joked that he wishes they would put real wings on the helmets. Each of the other players showcasing the jerseys took time to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
Additionally, players were signing autographs and jerseys at the Phoenix Lockerroom store and other selected retailers around the Eastern Block who were connected live via satellite. Those stores are exclusively selling the new jerseys for 7 days. The jerseys can also be purchased on the team’s web site.
Fans, in a rush to buy the jerseys online, overloaded the team's website for a brief time - a sign that fans all over Phoenix nation were impressed with the new style
