newsminer.com

With practice just around the corner, the Fairbanks Grizzlies now know what pigskin they’ll be tossing around.

The Grizzlies unveiled their new footballs Friday in a press conference at American Tire and Auto.

The newest Intense Football League team showed off both their new game balls — which sport the logo of the Grizzlies, the IFL and American Tire and Auto, and a special football designed for autograph seeking fans, which has the Grizzlies logo and plenty of white space.

American Tire and Auto was one of the first sponsors to sign on with the Grizzlies.

“We just wanted to be on board in this inaugural season,” said American Tire and Auto store marketing director Janene McMahan.

Grizzlies officials said that fans will get to keep any footballs that fly into the stands during the game, and they’re expecting that to happen a lot. The Grizzlies estimate that 35 footballs a game will go home as souvenirs.

The footballs also will be on sale during the games, at the Grizzlies office or online at www.fairbanksgrizzlies.com for $40 each.

The Grizzlies are set to start practice Wednesday at the Student Recreation Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Tickets

With the Grizzlies home opener against the Katy (Texas) Ruff Riders now less than a month away, individual tickets for all home games are now on sale.

Tickets can be purchased from any Ticketmaster location, including the Carlson Center — the site of Grizzlies home games — Fred Meyer, online or by calling 452-5123.

The Grizzlies offices are located at 301 Cushman St. Suite 200.

Fairbanks plays seven home dates in its inaugural season.

Fairbanks opens the season at 7:30 p.m. March 6 against the Alaska Wild in Sullivan Arena in Anchorage and debuts at home against Katy at 7:05 p.m. on March 15.

Jerseys

The Grizzlies have new footballs, and they’ll soon have new duds to show off as well. The Grizzlies will unveil their uniforms at a press conference on Tuesday at the Advanced Medical Center.