An Arena League Football....

[rr2418]

team might a more suitable idea for the city. San Antonio had one before, and as I recall, it was a pretty exciting game. Scheduling problems in the Hemisphere Arena I believe caused the San Antonio Force to fold.

[FromWayDowntown]

Hemisphere Arena

This drives me crazy -- HemisFair Arena was named for the festival that San Antonio held in 1968: the 1968 HemisFair (like half of a World's Fair). It wasn't named for half the globe; it was named for a festival for half the globe. See also timvp's repeated corrections on the spelling of Sean Elliott's name.

As for an arena team, I'm a big football fan, but I've never taken to Arena ball -- it's not really football to me and, in my assessment, as a professional game, the players aren't even in the ballpark of those in the NFL or even many good college teams. It's football lite, dumbed down to cater to the offense-only crowd. I love football when I get to see if the defense can stop the offense; I don't get the same joy from the game when it's about seeing how many plays it takes the offense to score. 84-70 isn't football to me.

[samikeyp]

This drives me crazy -- HemisFair Arena was named for the festival that San Antonio held in 1968: the 1968 HemisFair (like half of a World's Fair). It wasn't named for half the globe; it was named for a festival for half the globe.

I agree with you on the spelling. Actually it was a world's fair. The name "hemisfair" came about

"to celebrate the cultural heritage shared by San Antonio and the nations of Latin America-a "Hemis-Fair," as Harris then called it. The idea was endorsed by San Antonio congressman Henry B. Gonzales. By 1962, when San Antonio Fair, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization, was formed, the aim was a "Fair of the Americas."

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/HH/lkh1.html

Some people are misguided in thinking that because the name did not say "World's Fair" meant it wasn't one.

Here are some more links that prove it was indeed a World's Fair.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HemisFair_'68

http://medicine.uthscsa.edu/sanantonio/

http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?1968_hem.htm

[samikeyp]

oh and yes it was the Force...here is the logo...

http://www.teleportrait.com/LogoServer/football/SanAntonioForce.GIF

and I would love to get an Arena Ball team here.

Did you know that the San Antonio Force still hold an Arena League record? They are still the only team to ever have been shut out in an AFL game.

Hey, I didn't say it was a good record! :p

[samikeyp]

http://www.joessportsconnection.com/images/full/arena/ATBSA.JPG

[rr2418]

This drives me crazy -- HemisFair Arena was named for the festival that San Antonio held in 1968: the 1968 HemisFair (like half of a World's Fair). It wasn't named for half the globe; it was named for a festival for half the globe. See also timvp's repeated corrections on the spelling of Sean Elliott's name.

As for an arena team, I'm a big football fan, but I've never taken to Arena ball -- it's not really football to me and, in my assessment, as a professional game, the players aren't even in the ballpark of those in the NFL or even many good college teams. It's football lite, dumbed down to cater to the offense-only crowd. I love football when I get to see if the defense can stop the offense; I don't get the same joy from the game when it's about seeing how many plays it takes the offense to score. 84-70 isn't football to me.

I know! I know! I realized my error after seeing a glass on top of my dresser I bought at HemisFair back in '68 as I was getting ready for work. Oh well!!

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

FWD is right about the "offense-only" crowd, but it's still exciting.

I had the opportunity to cover the Dallas Desperados game last year where there wass a tie.

I remember that the offense for both sides was pretty non-existent in the first half, then, in a span of about 4 minutes to start the second half (real, not gametime), there were three touchdowns.

[samikeyp]

I would go see them. I think JBlaze and I should be the broadcast team. :)

JB, how was Aggieland?

[Uncle_Rico]

nah i wouldnt go. sorry but fuck arena football. im tired of sa getting minor league shit only to see it dissappear in a 2yr span.