After much consideration, the front office of the Huntington Hammer made a decision to try and provide the incoming players a place to stay that was closer to the Big Sandy Superstore Arena than they were housed last year. Last year’s accommodations for the Hammer were at the Hampton Inn in Barboursville. The team’s General Manager, Dan Fisher, said, “The group at the Hampton Inn was great last year, and things worked out very well. We were treated wonderfully but at times it was a little difficult for the players, many without cars in town, to get around.” This season, the majority of practices and all the Hammer home games will again be at the Big Sandy Arena. This year, however, the playing “Home of the Huntington Hammer” is only blocks from the resting “Home of the Hammer”. In an arrangement with the team, the Pullman Plaza Hotel located downtown will be the official “Home of the Hammer for 2012”.
The Pullman Plaza has long been a landmark in the downtown area, and is one of the key parts of the now 7 year old Pullman Plaza area. The renovated downtown district is home to many national, regional and local restaurants, many specialty shops, movie theatres, and is located just 3 blocks from the Big Sandy Arena. The Huntington Hammer is heading into the 2012 season by doing just what the advertisements say… they are living, working, eating and playing in the Pullman Plaza area. Within walking distance of the hotel, there are literally hundreds of choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment. So, while the primary focus will be on football, the players will be able to do more than just play football.
The housing and lodging arrangement that the Hammer has put in place is just another of the changes that the front office is using to make life in Huntington a little more than just time away from home for many of the players. “The UIFL is growing as a league, players are moving to higher levels from our organization, and those things pull together to mean talented players from all over the United States and Canada are interested in making Huntington a place that they would like to play,” said Fisher, “it’s our job as a front office to help make those months away from home as comfortable as possible for our players.” Deals are currently in the works with several alternative workout options, part-time job availability, entertainment options, and “Hang Out with the Hammer” nights at local area establishments. With the first class workout agreement that the Hammer have with the Marshall University Recreation Center and now the top notch accommodations at the Pullman Plaza, things are coming together nicely for the Huntington Hammer.
Team Marketing Director, Veronica Hordubay said, “We are really putting ourselves out there for these guys.” Continuing, “We want to make our players as accessible as possible for the fans.” While team rooms and certain team functions are not open to the public, the team is busy arranging opportunities for fans to get autographs, pictures, and even get to know the players a little through the team’s involvement in public events. The 2012 season will begin in March with the 2012 Training Camp beginning February 16th.
