DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It's only fitting the venue chosen to introduce the city's new professional indoor football team -- the Daytona Beach Thunder -- was Daytona Lagoon.

The water park also went through a period of dormancy, only to rise from the ashes like a phoenix and thrive once again with activity.

The Daytona Hawgs are dead. Long live the Daytona Beach Thunder.

Roughly 150 people showed up Thursday night to watch a news conference to introduce the new team.

There are three main differences in the new indoor team than the old one.

The Thunder has local ownership, they are in a different league and they have a new attitude.

"I'm a hands-on, involved owner," said Zack McDonald, the chief executive officer of community relations. "I'll make it work. The product is a good product. All it needs is nurturing. It needs an owner that is driven, and we have that ownership group now."

The Thunder will be a part of the Atlantic Indoor Football League, which just completed its inaugural season.

"This league is more about getting input from the owners, and we'll be more involved," McDonald said. "The key issues get aired out and get resolved. It's more of a community, and they take care of business."
The AIFL had six teams this season, but McDonald said he expects the league to operate next season with between 14-to-18 teams. The Thunder will play 14 games (seven at home).

The Thunder's ownership group includes his brother Kevin (owner, president).

The McDonalds -- whose TUI Business Machines was the Hawgs title sponsor in 2005 -- tried to negotiate a buyout of the troubled Hawgs last season but couldn't come to an agreement.

"We almost consider this a second chance," Zack McDonald said. "We know it is going to fly."

Ocean Center assistant director of bookings and services Chad Smith said one thing is certain.

"I guarantee you there won't be a lockout," Smith said. "The rent for the Ocean Center has been paid in advance by the Thunder."

As different as the Thunder will be in many ways, they will be similar to their predecessor in some.

The Hawgs' original coach, Ervin Bryson, has been brought back after his controversial firing during the middle of last season. Many of the players, including Pierson's Tommy Moody and Mainland's Joe Giddens, will also return.

The Thunder's press kit promised the new team would deliver "all the action and none of the (front-office) drama" of the old team.

Thursday night proved there may be some struggles along the way. Despite efforts to put on a first-class event, faulty air-conditioning and electronic problems left the crowd sweaty and without a slide-show presentation.

What the presentation lacked in comfort, the new ownership tried to make for with enthusiasm (not to mention free sodas and hot dogs for Thunder fans).

"The long-term success of the team is paramount," Zack McDonald said. "I know this has been said many times before and is almost a cliché, but failure is not an option. We're going to make this work."

Why not choose a water park to make your first big splash?

By RANDY RORRER
Staff Writer, Daytona Beach News-Journal