A man whose son played for the Fairbanks Grizzlies last season is the new owner of the Alaska Wild football team, the team announced Thursday.
Charles Matthews, a minister, pipefitter and welder, is the third owner since the team debuted in 2007. The previous owner was Anchorage oral surgeon Randy Deeter, who took control in the spring of 2008.
According to information provided by the Wild, Matthews was born in Baltimore and lived and worked as a minister in California for many years. He lives in Fairbanks but plans to move to Anchorage this fall, the team said.
Matthews' son Brandon was a defensive back for the Grizzlies last season.
In the Wild, Matthews takes on a franchise that last season averaged about 2,200 fans per game at Sullivan Arena but didn't win a single game, at home or on the road. The Wild were 0-14 this past season, 5-10 the previous season and 2-12 their inaugural season.
The Wild and the Grizzlies play in the Indoor Football League.
Anchorage Daily News
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