Arcade Digital is proud to launch WWW.CFDBLAZE.COM

Posted on March 5th, 2010 by John Sostak

The CFD Blaze

The CFD Blaze are the Chicago Firefighter and Paramedics Football Team.  They play in the NPSFL, which is the National Public Safety Football League.  Arcade Digital is very happy to take their new site live.  Click here to experience the CFD Blaze.

Arcade focused on the user interface, and back-end functionality developing a very sophisticated content management system (CMS) and Wordpress blogging platform.  The site is an Arcade custom web design and user interface built open source with WP 2.9.  Although not completely populated, is still a fun site to visit.  Like the team, the website has a strong blue-color feel, and an intuitive navigation and user interface.

This site will be rich in media,  These guys are not only football players, but firefighters, so they have great media content and a fabulous story.   We wanted to make compelling galleries and video as accessible and easy to share as possible.

Marketing needs demand social media integration, and with compelling media, we can use social media websites and Internet sharing as a low cost marketing solution.  By using YouTube and Flickr, we have social media partners that also contribute to the reach of this first year football team.

The 2010 season will be the first year the Chicago Fire Department fields a team in the 14 year old NPSFL.  A 1st year not-for-profit is as; or more, challenging then a young entrepreneurial for-profit start up.  Arcade wants to make sure that the compelling message of the firefighters and paramedics that compete in the NPSFL is well spread online.

Each of the players, coaches and administrators in the NPSFL, and the CFD Blaze are volunteers.  No one involved in NPSFL Football receives a salary, and they play for charities.  The Chicago Fire Department charities include The Burn Camp, which is operated by the IFSA and has been renamed Camp I Am Me.  It is a summer camp for Illinois children that have been scarred, and is a place where these children can interact without feeling uncomfortable because of the injuries and scars they have sustained.

The CFD Blaze are also playing for the Gold Badge Society, and Ignite the Spirit.  Ignite the Spirit is a very high profile organization, responsible for the annual Chicago Firefighter Calendar as well as the annual Chicago Firefighter-Paramedic Ball.

The Blaze are playing their first official NPSFL Football game on April 10th in Chicago.  They CFD Blaze will be playing the seasoned CPD Enforcers.  The CPD Enforcers are the Chicago Police Department’s NPSFL team.  I am certain that from game one, this will be a fun rivalry.  They play each other in baseball every year, and it is a great game, held at Comiskey Park (US Cellular Field).  Keep track of the Blaze on their site.

Some modules that will be introduced on the Blaze site very soon will be the Blaze store, which will make posters and t-shirts available.  The current store link on the site is merely a redirect to the Ignite the Spirit website and store, which has a few Chicago Firefighter calenders remaining.

The Blaze site will also offer ticket sales.  They will play 2-4 Chicagoland area games annually, as well 2-3 road games.  Our online ticket process will make it easier to lock in game tickets.  The men are playing stadiums that will be crowded, so as family, friends and fans, we want to insure we are in the arena.  Online ticket sales also allows for more efficient Internet marketing, with clear conversion statistics, which benefits the club, and the charity.  To be able to clearly predict what a game or fundraiser will generate allows the CFD Blaze to more accurately sponsor charities in need of benefactors.

Arcade Digital is looking forward the CFD Blaze season, and I hope everyone who reads our blog commits to helping the newest team in the NPSFL and the Chicago Fire Department Charities.

Tags: CFD BLAZE, CPD Enforcers, flickr, football, Internet Marketing, NPSFL, social media, youtube

Save March 5th, CFD Blaze Fundraiser at Murphy’s Bleachers in Wrigleyville

Posted on February 16th, 2010 by John Sostak

The CNA building in Chicago paying tribute to the CFD, Chicago Fire Department

The motto of the Chicago Fire department is “We’re there when you need us”. We don’t just say that motto, we believe it. Our charities need us, but we can’t support them without your help.

The Blaze, the CFD football team is hosting a fundraiser at Murphy’s Bleacher Bar, in Wrigleyville, Chicago, March 5th.  Tickets are $30.00 and include all domestic beers, drinks, wine and appetizers.

Parking is included, but no need to drive. Murphy’s is conveniently located one block from the Addison Red Line stop.

Get excited, we will not only have booze, and friends, but you can WIN cool prizes! Raffle tickets will be available for a chance to win (among other items) a 40″ flat-screen TV and four rooftop tickets to a Cubs game.  I am certain it won’t take a lot of arm twisting to get a split the pot raffle going.

We will have CFD Blaze t-shirt’s for sale. Show off your team spirit!  Buy a few shirts for yourself, and your friends and family.

The Blaze’ first game is April 7th against the Chicago Police Department. Purchase space in the ad book.  Real estate is going fats, and this is a great way to reach a lot of police, firefighters and family members of City of Chicago employees.

Murphy’s Bleachers March 5, 7-10pm
3653 N. Sheffield
(Parking Included)
Conveniently located one block from the Red Line (Addison stop)

Proceeds from the evening will go to support several amazing organizations including The Gold Badge Society, Ignite the Spirit and The Illinois Burn Foundation.

Tags: CFD, CFD BLAZE, Charity

Mahoney’s Pub on Friday Night

Posted on December 20th, 2009 by John Sostak

CFD Blaze Players Play Football, Put out Fires, & Sing Karaoke

We had a great time at Mahoney’s Pub on Friday, these pictures were taken around closing time.  Check them out on Picasa.

The evening went great, thanks to a wonderful sports bar, Mahoney’s Pub.  Mahoney’s is in Chicago on Ogden and Racine, and the place is awesome to watch games at.  This night is was great to close too.  Everyone there had a wonderful time.

The guy closing the bar noticed my goofy mustache.  All the men in my firehouse, on my shift, have grown mustaches for the holidays.  I am not sure why, but it is a team building exercise and a conversation starter.  Meg, who works with us at Engine 56 has said we seem more interesting with mustaches, and has offered to grow her armpit hair, to be part of the team.  I have been told I look like a creepy gym teacher and should be wearing tight coaches shorts, a golf shirt, and a whistle to complete the look.

The door man closing the bar pointed out my mustache, and gave me an extra second to complete my beer.  When I finished, I said I lost a bet, and he responded “you’re family is gonna love your holiday pictures, Buddy.”  Very insightful.  Joy hates my mustache.

Tags: CFD BLAZE, Joy

Chicago Lingerie Football Game on Friday

Posted on December 20th, 2009 by John Sostak

The Chicago Bliss Ligerie Football Team, Heading to the Locker Room at Halftime

Chicago Bliss defeats the Philadelphia Passion, 42-19.  Game pics click here.

We had a lot of fun at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates on Friday.  The Chicago Bliss are a team that plays football in lingerie.  Booty shorts and sexy sports bra’s.

The Bliss played the Philadelphia Passion.  Casey and I were there with the CFD Blaze, the fire department team.

The Blaze sold a lot of tickets and brought a couple of bus’s of Blaze players, paramedics and firemen to the game.  They had a halftime tug of war against the cops.  They sold some t-shirts, and were treated very well by the Sears Center staff and the Lingerie Girls.  I suspect a lot of the emergency responders we brought to the game are now lingerie football fans.

Lingerie football is an interesting game.  The girls are wearing pads and hockey helmets, but have a lot of exposed skin.  This game resembles a cross between arena football, roller derby, hockey, Hooters and an underground fight club.  It is fast and the ladies are impressive, sexy and tough.

The ladies play HARD.  These girls are athletes.  I was on the field at halftime, and the astro turf is less forgiving then then old office carpeting.  Lots of turf burns are suffered by the women playing.  The girls want to win, and after almost every hard play, a fight must be broken up by the ref’s.  After big plays and scores, the athletes-ladies run into the stands.  These women love their fans.

The fans are into it.  They resemble UFC or MMA fans.  A lot of Affliction and Tap-Out gear is in the stands.  They were not only men.  There were ladies in the crowd, and everyone was into the game.

The firefighters send thanks to the lingerie football fans, and the Chicago Bliss Ladies, and the Lingerie Football League.  We had fun and raised some money for a great cause.  The CFD Blaze are raising money for children’s charities, like the Burn Camp.  Our season opener is approaching, April 10th, 2010 against the CPD Enforcers.

I took a few pics with a small camera, but they did not turn out great, if you click on the photo above you can see some game shots.  Casey took some great video, and we will be posting on our CFD BLAZE YouTube channel soon.  I also will be adding the some tug of war pics and video and some pictures of the after party.

Tags: CFD BLAZE, Chicago Bliss, Lingerie Football

Check out CFD BLAZE practice video on YouTube

Posted on December 14th, 2009 by John Sostak

Chicago Fire Dept. Tower Ladder 21

Firefighters practicing for upcoming season.  The team is the CFD Blaze, and it is made up of Chicago firemen and medics.  First game is April 10th against the Chicago Police Department, CPD Enforcers at Brother Rice Field.  Both teams are of the NPSFL.  The original video was posted on You Tube.

The Blaze will be FIGHTING the Chicago Police Department, CPD Enforcers on Friday the 18th in a tug of war.  You can find the details on the BLAZE site. This is a fundraiser, and a great event.  It will be held at halftime of the Chicago Bliss game.

The Chicago Bliss are hosting the Philadelphia Passion.  This is real simple, and really awesome.  These ladies are lingerie athletes, and play in the Lingerie Football League.  The Chicago Bliss head Coach is Dennis “Silky D” McKinnon.

Festivities kick off at Mahoney’s Pub on Ogden and Racine in Chicago, and money goes to charity.  Hope to see you there.

Tags: CFD BLAZE