Gladiators first show is hit with Mack crowd

Adam Candee

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003 | 10:05 a.m.

David Baker beamed a satisfied grin as he held court with hundreds of Gladiators fans on the turf during Monday night's post-game autograph session at the Thomas and Mack Center, taking great care to learn the name of each person he spoke with and promising a bright future for Arena Football in Las Vegas.

Certainly, the AFL commissioner understands the history of failed sports franchises in this city, even one from his own league. But on a magical night like Monday, with a crowd of 12,521 showing up for the Gladiators' first home game, who's to argue with Baker?

"(This is) for a team that moved here just 60 days ago," Baker said of Monday's stirring 61-55 Gladiators overtime win against Tampa Bay. "Just think what we could do in a year."

Brand new Gladiators fan Sean Forney wants more of what Baker and Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro are selling. Clutching his red Gladiators hat now adorned with the signatures of a number of Las Vegas players, Forney said his money was well-spent on an $8 game ticket.

"I'd have paid twice or three times as much," the Las Vegas resident said.

From his seat in the first row of Section 222, Forney watched as Las Vegas' second incarnation of Arena Football sent fans home happy by coming back from down 21 points in the fourth quarter to win. The value of a thrilling win on opening night, in terms of ticket sales, is immeasurable from the Gladiators' point of view.

"This adds so much more enthusiasm to what we just started," Gladiators wideout Mike Horacek said.

Forney feels more Las Vegans will come to love Arena Football for its affordability and excitement, if they give it a chance.

"(People) don't want to have to be spending 100 or 200 dollars down on the Strip to have a good time," Forney said.

Baker said a return to the Las Vegas market intrigued the AFL because it has changed so much in both population and interests since the league's Las Vegas Sting left town in 1995, after just two season of lackluster attendance. The commissioner pointed to the success at the gate enjoyed by the Las Vegas Xtreme of the now-defunct XFL as an example of the Valley's new willingness to support a football team.

"They're kind of looking for something they can support that's their own," Baker said.

At the same time, Baker feels the 17-year-old AFL now provides a better product than it once did, as evidenced by its new NBC TV deal and better "quality of ownership in the league."

In the end, however, the league's viability circles back to Joe Fan, and for one, Forney said he is sold on Arena Football in Las Vegas.

"We'll definitely come again," Forney said. "And we'll buy season tickets next year."