8/22/2007 12:01:00 AM
Force officials talk in Gwinnett; no decision on move

By Camie Young
Senior Reporter

LAWRENCEVILLE - While officials from the Georgia Force are still weighing the decision on where to play next season, they reached out to the Gwinnett community Tuesday by attending a session of the Gwinnett Sports Council.

Representatives from the Arena Football team have said they are in talks with both the Arena at Gwinnett Center and Atlanta's Philips Arena.

"There's nothing official at this point," ticket sales director Todd Frederickson told the council. "We know if we do go back to Gwinnett, we need to re-establish ourselves into this community. Hopefully we can develop a relationship."

After playing its first season in Atlanta, the Force became one of the first attractions at the Duluth arena in 2003, but the team returned to Philips in 2005.

Frederickson said Gwinnett's size can sustain a minor-league sports franchise, but he said amenities and other factors are being considered.

Philips Arena is considerably larger than the local venue, but the attendance at games was similar at both locations.

"We could have a sell-out crowd (in Gwinnett) every night and create a high demand for tickets," Frederickson said. "Hopefully, before we get back here (at the council), we'll have something to announce as to where we are going."

Like I said on the other one, makes one really think about where we are going to play next year. Like we don't think that we already know. 7imt78