GO Indoor

USIndoor Network Your Industry, Your Association, Your USIndoor Network Announced at last year's Facility Operators' Conference and initiated in early 2003, the USIndoor Network's goal is to generate marketing revenue for facility members. During this, our first year, the Network's objective has been to introduce itself to those whom we believe to be key targets for advertising and sponsorship and to set the organizational groundwork for future success. As we continue to strive diligently in that endeavor, we wish to offer some perspective on the state of national sponsor- ship as it relates to the current competitive environment in our industry. As many facility operators are aware, there are now sever- al private industry competitors that offer similar market- ing services. While we encourage free market competi- tion, we do grow concerned hearing hype about the "next big deal." For this reason, we solicit members' sup- port in USIndoor's effort to manage expectations and in its devotion to three basic principles of conduct: (1) We will promise only that which can be realistically delivered. Fulfilling a promise to bring $100,000+ per year (per facility) is not only unlikely, but such a claim erodes the confidence that facilities place in other industry initiatives. (2) We will protect our reputation by taking measures against unauthorized use of the USIndoor name. USIndoor has invested considerably in its brand. Consequently, it should not be leveraged in a manner that could confuse the market. (3) We will demonstrate integrity. We under- stand the implications our conduct has on the indus- try as a whole and appreciate that others are doing business in the same "space." We will demonstrate our respect for the industry by conducting business with third parties and with possible competitors with high integrity. We know that we cannot control what third parties may say or do, nor would we want to. Nonetheless, we do consider it our responsibility to try to protect members from undue expectations, and we do consider it our responsibility to encourage long-term, positive relations between the industry and prospective national sponsors. We would appreciate that you, our members, exude the same messages. Facilities interested in learning more about the USIndoor Network should visit the United States Indoor Soccer Association's Website and click "$$$ Programs" or write George Gill, Director of Marketing, at market- ing@usindoor.com. 1467835 Have You Moved or Changed Your E-Mail? You could be missing important messages and free newsletters. Please send updates to . Thank you. GOAL Indoor • August/September 2003 • 9 T his the story of 57 rabid THE MODERN ADVENTURE: Baltimore to MIlwaukee and Back by Dave Flax Baltimore Blast fans and the bus trip adventure that took them to Milwaukee for Game 3 of the Major Indoor Soccer League Championship Series and back home in less than 48 hours. It was an amazing trip, made so even more by the Baltimore victory. The luxury bus left Baltimore Friday around 7:30 pm after mak- ing 3 stops to pick up fans. Everyone on the bus was talking about the game coming up and how excited we were to be going there. After a few comfort stops most of the bus fell asleep between 12 and 1 am and woke up a few hours later in Chicago. We called the All-Sports talk station in Baltimore and let them know our plans. Another FM radio station called us, too. People around Baltimore were beginning to respect us for doing this. After stopping for breakfast we traveled on to Milwaukee and stopped at our hotel only for the day. After a few hours rest we were off to the Bradley Center to watch the all-important game. We got our tickets only to find out that we were in the nosebleed sections. This was unacceptable and something needed to be done. All of us decided to move closer to the action so the Blast players could hear and see us. It was one of the best games many of us had ever seen. After being down as much as 12-4, the Blast made a heroic comeback to take the game 13-12. Baltimore fans, who had made the trip, were high fiving each other cheering, trying to listen to all the acceptance speeches – it was just amazing. After listening to the ceremony we hopped back on the bus and headed to the hotel where the players were staying. We cheered for the players at the hotel and partied with them from 10 until midnight, when we got back on the bus for Baltimore. Around 6 am we were told that we could meet the players at the airport if we did not make any more comfort stops. All of us said go for it. After a few complications, including losing 10 minutes for a speeding ticket, we were off to the airport. I was calling my wife on her cell to find out if the players had arrived, and she was giving us the arrival gate at the airport. We made it with about 5 minutes to spare. Overall, the victory and the trip were well worth it. It was tons of fun and I would do it again. What a great trip and a great adven- ture that I will remember for the rest of my life. When he is not cheering on the Blast, Dave is behind a computer.. Among other avocations, Dave works part time as USINdoor's Webmaster. p r @ u s i n d o o r . c o m

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