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Pro football comes to Groveport
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - July 01, 2009)
The Columbus Fire is hoping to heat up Groveport Madison High School's Cruiser Stadium this summer with hard hitting professional football.
The Fire, a minor league pro football squad and a member of the 11 team Mid-Continental Football League (MCFL), plays its games on Saturday evenings from late June through September.
This year the team will play its home games in Cruiser Stadium.
"It's a great, well maintained facility and Groveport is a welcoming community," said Dawn Redman, Columbus Fire owner and general manager, when asked about why the team chose to play in Groveport.
Groveport Madison Local Schools will receive the profits from parking fees and concessions at the games. The Fire will also pay a rental fee for the stadium of $210 per hour if less than 350 are in attendance; or $175 per hour if more than 350 are in attendance at the game.
The Fire is a community oriented organization that, according to its Web site, "is dedicated to the promotion of organized amateur athletics" and its members volunteer for various community service projects. Some of the team's community outreach activities include sponsoring and conducting youth football and cheerleading camps; volunteering for Habitat for Humanity; supporting the Juneteenth Festival; volunteering with the Easter Seals Telethon; and sponsoring youth teams in the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
The team, which has no affiliation with the Columbus Division of Fire, was once known as the Columbus Battle Stars before becoming the Fire in 1997. Last season the Fire finished 8-2 in the MCFL. The 50 member squad is coached by Rodney Swanigan and practices twice a week Tuesdays and Thursdays.
When asked about the team's offensive and defensive styles, Redman said teasingly, "Come to the game and see."
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students with ID. Kids under six are admitted free.
Columbus Fire 2009 schedule
July 11 - Rochester Renegades
July 18 - (To be announced)
July 25 - Flint Fury
Aug. 1 - at Ohio Swarm
Aug. 8 - Indiana Mustangs
Aug. 15 - at Detroit Semonoles
Aug. 22 - West Virginia Wham (at Wilmington, Ohio)
Aug. 29 - South Michigan Timberwolves
Sept. 5 - BYE
Sept. 12 - at Louisville Bulls
Sept. 19 - Wisconsin Wolfpack
Sept. 26 - at Cleveland Cobras
All home games at are at 7 p.m. at Groveport Madison High School's Cruiser Stadium, 4475 S. Hamilton Road, Groveport. For information on the Fire, visit www.columbusfirefootball.com. For information on the Mid-Continental Football League, visit www.Mcfl.org.
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