The Baltimore Blast will open camp Monday morning at Clarence “Du” Burns Arena in Canton, looking to defend the team?s third Major Indoor Soccer League title in four seasons. The Blast open their season at home against the Chicago Storm on Nov. 11.
“We?ve had a great three out of four years,” said team owner Ed Hale, as he addressedthe media and corporate guests at the Blast?s season-opening press conference at his company?s new office in Canton Crossing.
“Whenever we?ve been healthy, we?ve been winning games. Attendance is up; sponsorship is up. Everything is pretty much on the up-swing.”
The team announced a couple of changes Thursday, with longtime general manager Kevin Healey being introduced as the president of the Baltimore Blast. Also, new head coach Danny Kelly introduced veteran defender David Bascome as his assistant coach.
“I believe he?s the perfect guy to complement me on the bench, as well as on the field,” said Kelly, who took the helm of the team last spring as an interim player-coach and led the Blast to the championship in May.
Bascome will continue to play, but he believes he can bring a great deal to the team in his new role as assistant coach. He declared that he?s still a player first, and that he intends to win.
“Experience has become knowledge,” the 15-year veteran said. “That?s one thing I plan to pass on to our players.”
The winning expectations have made Baltimore the most attractive franchise in the six-team league.
“I?ve been a player for many years … and everybody wants to come and play in Baltimore,” Kelly said. “They know how serious we are about winning, and hopefully we can continue to do that.”
The team has let some veteran players go, and some new faces will be introduced during camp. On top of that, the team will likely open the season without 2006 MVP Adauto Neto, as he recovers from offseason surgery.
Hale announced that the league has reached an agreement with three new ownership groups for the 2007-08 season, with franchises destined for Orlando, Fla., Newark, N.J. and Monterrey, Mexico.
Hale said the team?s home, First Mariner Arena, will feature some upgrades. Increased security and more plasma screens go into making the most of what Hale called “an old building.”
