"This is better than the Super Bowl"

“This is better than the Super Bowl” was a comment I got from a season ticket holder prior to our final game of the season this past Sunday, our second consecutive sellout.?

I’ve spent my career in Minor League sports and cherish comments like that.?At this level you have to create memories outside of what happens on the floor (as do many at that next level).?Reggie Miller is not walking through the door to suit up in Fort Wayne. Although we do have several recognizable fan favorites, we need to create the best ANTertainment (borrowed from Spinnertainment in Lowell) we can to get fans to walk through the door.

This past Sunday we threw the kitchen sink (we kind of do that at every game) at our final home game and it led to a capacity crowd.?It began with our third annual STEAM (thanks to former teammate, Bryan Stine, we added arts) FEST two hours before tip-off. Young students visited vendor booths to learn about science, technology, engineering, arts and math. If they got their “passport” stamped at every table, they received a special Mad Ants gift. STEAMFEST led into early arriving fans receiving a Mad Ants fleece blanket.?As fans grabbed their gift, they were treated to the Caribbean tunes of Island Vibe on the entry promenade.?Children were then handed an official mascot autograph book to collect signatures of Freddy Fever, Indiana Pacers Boomer, Johnny Tin Cap, Icy and other characters in costume to celebrate our very own Mad Ant’s birthday.?I overheard several youngsters saying “I only need one more to complete the book”.?

Upstairs in the food court Renaissance Pointe YMCA set up their fourth annual silent auction to help raise money for their branch which is located in Fort Wayne’s most in-need area.?Fans could bid on an authentic Larry Bird autographed jersey, dinner at UMI or their favorite Mad Ants piece of memorabilia.

Before “Tip Off” our head coach Tom Hankins, in our regular player address, thanked the Fort Wayne faithful for supporting us all season and even threw in a Rick Flair “whooo” to get them engaged.?

Once the ball went in the air they were treated to yet another offensive display of talent led by former NBA 1st round draft pick Justin Anderson and sharp shooting Gabe York.?Those two became the best scoring duo in team history and in my opinion could fill the basket in the NBA on any given night.?

When teams retreated to the sidelines for a pep talk our amazing ANTertainment kicked in led by the Mad Dancerz and Mad Drummers. One lucky fan was selected to drain a layup, free throw, three pointer and half-court shot to win a new car.?He didn’t win. Didn’t even come close but fans cheered him on as if it were game seven of the NBA Finals. Fans love free stuff, and we tossed a season’s worth of t-shirts, hats, frisbees, mini-balls and more into the seats as they roared with excitement.?From limbo contests, to the Three Rivers Credit Money Machine where a lucky contestant was allowed to grab as much cash as possible in 30-seconds, to tricycle races and the 4th quarter dance party where young fans were invited on the floor to dance their young hearts out, it was non stop ANTertainment.?

When the final horn sounded on a 128-114 Mad Ants victory, fans rushed to the floor to join the post-game layup line while others lined up to get the entire team’s autograph on our complimentary team poster.?The line stretched around the court and took over an hour post-game to get completed.

It takes a village to get through a season and without a resolute staff of young leaders we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.?Special thanks to my gifted teammates Julie Rumschlag, Dan Vance, Allison Link, Cameron Smolinske, Nick Gamble, Donny Green, De’Vion Swain, Jim Shovlin, Tyler Sinclair, former star staff member Allie Link and all or our part time role players.?We did it. We finished strong. We ran through that finish line.

As one fan said on December 3rd, “This is better than going to Disney World”. And that’s one reason why I do what I do.

Now off to support our community this off-season before we “Tip” it off again in November.?