Erie Professional Indoor Football announces first Open Tryout for the 2011 Season. The first open tryout will be held on Saturday October 23rd, 2010 from 11:30am-2:00pm. Erie Head Coach Shawn Liotta and his staff will be conducting the tryout and searching for local talent to add to the 2011 Training Camp Roster. Fresh off their successful 2010 playoff run Coach Liotta will be looking for local talent to make a run at the championship in 2011, and this is your opportunity for your talent to be discovered. The tryout will be held on the campus of Edinboro University in the Zafirovski Sports & Recreation Arena (219 Meadville Street, Edinboro, PA 16444.
Participants will be tested in the 40 Yard Dash, 10 Yard Dash, and Short Shuttle. Athletes will then be tested in specific positional and group drills. Participants will be expected to wear proper workout clothing and proper footwear (No Spikes or Turf Shoes). There will be no trainer on-hand for player taping, and players should bring plenty of water as none will be provided at the workout. All participants must be 18 years of age or older. This is a non-contact camp and no equipment will be required. All participants will be asked to sign a liability waiver prior to the tryout.
Players may contact Head Coach Shawn Liotta at sliotta@stormerie.com or at 1-866-786-7620 for more information on the tryout or to pre-register.
Players who wish to send bio or film for evaluation by Coach Liotta may do so by contacting him at sliotta@stormerie.com

Erie Professional Indoor Football Open Tryout
Date: Saturday October 23rd 2010
Time: 11:30am- 2:00pm
Registration Begins at 11:00am
Registration Fee: $50.00 – Cash or Money Order Only
Questions: Contact Coach Liotta – sliotta@stormerie.com

We are pleased to announce that former Erie Storm WR Denayne Dixon has been offered a contract with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League for the 2011 season. Dixon a former tight-end at Edinboro University made the transition to WR with us in 2010 and transitioned into one of the most dominant WR’s in the league. He finished the season with 55 catches for 703 yards and 15 touchdowns in only 9 games. The Barnstormers finished (7-9) in their first season of returning to AFL play in 2010. We want to extend a big congratulations to Denayne and wish him all the best as he moves on to a tremendous opportunity to further his career.

I want to extend a big congratulations to former Erie QB/WR David Dinkins on being selected to the Morehead State Athletic Hall of Fame. Dinkins will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday October 15th, and will have his jersey retired prior to the MSU game vs. Davidson on Saturday October 16th. You can read more about the induction HERE

Dinkins is well known to Erie fans having played for the Erie Freeze from 2005-2006, and earning the 2005 AIFL MVP Award. “Dink” was the first player I signed to a contract for the RiverRats during the inaugural 2007 season and he finished the season as a 1st Team All-League performer at the QB position. Dinkins would go on to play for us at QB/WR with the Erie RiverRats, Wheeling Wildcats, and finally the Erie Storm in 2010. He was known for his electric on-field play and his outstanding personality. Dave was a tremendous player, and an even better person off of the field and in the locker room. “Dink” is moving on to another opportunity in 2011 that is closer to his home and employment and we wish him all the best – his ability and personality will be missed by all. Congratulations!

BALTIMORE, MD (September 22, 2010) – The American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) completed two successful days of owner’s meeting on September 17th and 18th at dual sites located in Baltimore, Maryland and Reno, Nevada. At the top of the agenda were national sponsors and vendors, revenue opportunities for teams, increased fan interaction, and numerous administrative items including the 2011 divisional alignment and schedule.

“These were the most successful owners’ meetings I have seen in our five years as a league. We had a solid group of owners discussing ways to continue to improve the AIFA,” stated AIFA Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer John Morris.

AIFA owners were presented with a number of briefings from national entities which would increase revenue for the clubs, boost awareness of the AIFA across the country, and lower costs for owners; while providing premier living conditions for out of town players. Presentations included a national organization, which submitted plans for a potential cash sponsorship to the AIFA, proposals for increasing revenue streams through television, webcasting, and web-based team stores from several national syndicators and ad agencies, and a presentation from a national hotel chain, which would provide housing with full kitchens for AIFA teams in their local markets to house out of town players during the season, as well as, a discounted room rate for teams for away games while on the road. National vendors also provided proposals on artificial turf, custom mouth guards, insurance and uniforms. The meetings also focused on increased fan interaction. Creation of an AIFA Fan of the Year contest was discussed, in which one lucky fan would win tickets, transportation, hotel accommodations and meals for two to the AIFA championship game. A proposal to allow fan voting, along with AIFA coaches, for players of the week on offensive, defensive, and special teams as well as all-star players through a independent national voting service was also discussed by AIFA team owners. Video and audio streaming of AIFA games through one of the industries leaders whose clients include the NFL, NHL, as well as, major colleges spawned enthusiastic talks.

Among the administrative items discussed were the AIFA playoffs, divisional alignments, coaches and players’ pay, the 2011 schedule, the league fee structure, services provided by the AIFA, the league television contract, and AIFA operations manual and rule book revisions. The AIFA, which will be entering its fifth season of play, plans to release its divisional alignment and schedule in the near future. “These were highly productive meetings and working with our team owners I am excited for the product we will provide our fans across the country in 2011,” said Morris.

BALTIMORE, MD (September 11, 2010) – The American Indoor Football Association (AIFA), set to kickoff its fifth season in 2011, will host a unique set of owners’ meetings at sites in Baltimore, Maryland and Reno, Nevada on September 17th and 18th. At the top of the agenda for the dual meetings are introduction of a league-wide national hotel sponsorship, other national sponsors and vendors, sales/marketing and profit sharing with teams, increased fan interaction and involvement, a league financed playoff package, and the 2011 AIFA televised Game of the Week. “We topped off a successful 2010 season with over 6,000 fans at AIFA Bowl IV, now we are laying the groundwork for a tremendous 2011 season, in which we will celebrate our 5th year of play,” stated AIFA Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer John Morris. In a unique concept, targeted toward reducing travel time and costs for its member organizations, the AIFA will host simultaneous meetings in Baltimore and Reno. The assemblies will operate independently with portions simulcast between the two locations. Representatives from seven teams will participate in the talks in Baltimore and five will attend the gathering in Reno.

At the top of the agenda are revenue generating and cost saving opportunities for the AIFA members. Included is introduction of a league-wide national hotel sponsorship with over 700 locations. Also numerous national companies will be making presentations on products including equipment, uniforms, insurance, video streaming and more. In addition sales/marketing and profit sharing, as well as, a league financed playoff package will be discussed. Also slated for discussion is increased fan interaction and involvement and a focus on national media including the 2011 AIFA televised Game of the Week. “We’re looking forward to two days of solid talks with our teams and outstanding presentations from some of the top companies in the U.S. These two days, in two great cities, will launch us toward a great 2011 season,” said Morris.