Todd Walkenhorst with the National Arena League and one of three local owners, Keith Carter.

League promises an intimate and affordable experience

It’s one thing to sit in a climate-controlled environment, like your home, and watch a football game on television. But how would you like to watch a game in person without worrying about freezing or sweating?

You will get that chance next March when the Shreveport Rouxgaroux plays its first season of indoor football. During the four-month campaign, the team will have 10 regular-season games (five at Hirsch Coliseum).

“It’s high-quality professional football,” said Todd Walkenhorst, commissioner of the National Arena League (NAL). Shreveport will be one of 10 (and possibly 14) NAL teams in 10 states and three time zones. Indoor football is played on a 50-yard field, where it’s not unusual for each team to score 60 or 70 points a game.

“You will hear things good and bad from on the field,” Walkenhorst said. “You will have players coming over the wall. It’s a very intimate experience, and very affordable as well.”

The Rouxgaroux’s most expensive season ticket package, which offers premium seating, is $165.

“If you catch a football, you keep it,” Walkenhorst said. “If you catch a player, you throw him back.”

There are three team owners. The two principal owners, Richard Rodgers and Keith Russ, live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, although Rodgers said he will move to Shreveport. Local businessman Keith Carter is the third person with part ownership.

“I believe the key is community,” the Northwood High School graduate said. “Instead of saying, ‘That’s not going to work in Shreveport,’ let’s say, ‘It’s going to work because it is Shreveport.’”

The Shreveport Mudbugs, our area’s long-running, successful hockey team, won’t share just their home with the Rouxgaroux. The organization is eager to offer guidance on how to be successful in our market.

“I believe that consistency creates trust,” said Mudbugs general manager Scott Muscutt. “We’ve had consistency with Shreveport supporting things we do in this building. I believe that we can trust them that they will support this. I think it’s going to be a high-energy product like hockey, and I’m thrilled that they’re here.”

Each NAL team will have an approximately $6,500-a-week salary cap with which to pay players on the 21-man active roster. Those with the most talent playing at the most critical positions will make more money than others.

“These are guys still chasing their dream,” Walkenhorst said. “It’s a passion for them. They love the sport. You will be surprised at the talent that will come in and play at this level because they want to chase that dream.”

The Rouxgaroux’s principal owners visited cities in Oklahoma, Minnesota and Texas before choosing Shreveport and Hirsch for their franchise.

“They gave me a call after they visited here and visited with Scott and said this is the place,” Walkenhorst remembered. “This is the place that is suited for this sport. It has a lot of character. It’s a great facility, and most importantly, what we always like to do in the NAL is work with good people. Scott and his staff made them feel welcome and feel like they wanted this product and this team here.”

Walkenhorst said he expects Hirsch’s “character” to give the Rouxgaroux a home-field advantage.

“We’re very excited to fill this place up. It’s going to be wonderful for indoor football. (The game) is very fast-paced. There’s a lot of music. There’s lots of crowd noise. This is a perfect venue with the steel ceiling. I know the sound will reverberate throughout.”

While the franchise did not include the public in deciding on the team’s nickname, colors and logo, you will have a chance to name the mascot. The Rouxgaroux also plans to have cheerleaders, a dance line and a hype guy. An open tryout for players is scheduled for Sept. 22.

“We’re going to have 4,000 people here on a Saturday night for a game experience and a fan experience,” Carter said.

“That leads to community involvement. That makes the front office better, and that makes our football operations better, because our athletes will want to come here and play here.”

For more information on the Shreveport Rouxgaroux, you may visit www.geauxrouxgaroux.com.