Post by DiamondThief on Jun 15, 2016 9:59:28 GMT -8
June 15, 2016 – Meadow Lemon is returning to the Portland Steel as its team president, the Arena Football League has announced.
The AFL, which owns the Portland franchise, brought in Lemon, who served in the same capacity for the organization for a time during its inaugural 2014 season, in an effort to facilitate marketing partnerships and oversee organizational logistics, according to an AFL press release.
“Meadow is a tremendous asset for the Arena Football League and the Portland Steel,” AFL Commissioner Scott C. Butera said in the press release. “He brings a wealth of football knowledge and experience and has great familiarity with the Portland market. Meadow is a great reflection of his storied sports lineage and is an enthusiastic proponent of the AFL. I am confident he will bring success to the Portland Steel and its loyal fan base.”
Through 10 weeks of the regular season, the Steel have played just two home games – and one of their last eight – at home. Attendance at their June 4 game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, was announced at slightly more than 5,000, though it appeared there were no more than 2,000 actually inside the arena.
Lemon looks to change that, and to prove that the Steel have a home in Portland.
“Arena Football belongs in Portland,” Lemon said in the release. “I look forward to working with everyone in the area and utilizing these great relationships to ensure that the Steel experience is something the City of Portland will be proud of.”
The AFL took over the franchise from previous owner, Clackamas businessman Terry Emmert on January 6. The league said it is looking for a new owner in order to keep the team in Portland. Butera, who is in his second season as commissioner, is promoting a plan in which owners of National Basketball Association and National Hockey League teams would buy into the league with new and/or existing teams.
Wide speculation is that Butera is courting Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen as a potential owner for the Steel. However, in a Portland Tribune article last week, veteran Portland sportswriter Kerry Eggers stated that Allen “has pretty much decided not to buy” the team.
Lemon graduated from Yankton College in South Dakota. He won an NCAA National basketball championship in 2004 as coach of the Linfield College men’s basketball team. He also has coached a Lewis and Clark College.
Additionally, Lemon has worked as marketing director and road manager for the Harlem Globetrotters. He is the son of perhaps the most well-known Globetrotter of all time, Meadowlark Lemon, who passed away in December.
- ANM
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