Bart Iaccarino is living the project of his life. After leading several national teams, including Reus Imperials, which he led to the highest state division, the Italian leads the new Barcelona Dragons as General Manager. The franchise has settled in Reus to play the European Football League that will start with eight teams on June 19.
There are two weeks left for the debut against Surge at the Estadi de Reus, how is the team doing?
I see it well. Since we have started in the field I have been calmer. On paper it looked good, but now on the pitch, seeing them train with the huge technical staff we have, it looks even better. We will be ready to offer the fans a very interesting show on June 19 against the Stuttgart Surge. We would like to create a kind of ‘Game Day’ in the American style. A family day. A different sports show. We are talking to Alejandro Villanueva (Baltimore Ravens) and Chase Claypool (Pittsburgh Steelers) to come to that first game.
Are we in the hands of ‘coach’ Adam Rita?
He’s doing a spectacular job. We knew he was very good, but working with him really changes your life. Apart from his experience, he is a wise man who offers good advice and sets a different lifestyle. Having him here is an honor. He is helping us set up the entire franchise.
How was the first impact on ticket sales?
Well, the truth is that it is very good. We are very happy. We have more than 72% of the seats sold, although now it has doubled thanks to the better pandemic situation. It was a request to the Generalitat to be able to offer cheaper tickets and make them more accessible to another type of fan. Most of the fans who have bought their tickets are from Catalonia and some from Madrid. We are also working to be able to broadcast the games and send the signal to all of Latin America. It is very important for us.
What level of attention do you get from the NFL?
The NFL is behind. That is why we can use the name Barcelona Dragons. They were interested in re-creating NFL Europe (it was created in 1998 and closed in 2007) and we offer it to them at zero cost. They have learned from mistakes and since November every two weeks the General Managers of the European Football League teams receive training on how to run a franchise. People like Tuli Mateialona who have been in NFL franchises and who have worked for more than 15 years in NFL Europe.
He has been involved in Catalan and Spanish American football for many years. Is this the project you have always dreamed of?
Undoubtedly. The one that was waiting for me and all the people around me. It is exciting because it is a project that can change our lives if it goes well. But not on an economic level, but on personal satisfaction. Spanish football is complicated. There are many daily problems. Here we are creating a professional franchise. A project that spans from Reus to all of Latin America. Maybe the first year it will be very difficult to complete everything we want to do. But you don’t have to burn all the cartridges either. We will surely give a very interesting elite product.
Was the name change from Gladiators to Dragons really necessary?
I’m sure. The Dragons name has a huge commercial pull that we had to take advantage of. The name Dragons was on the drawer. It was something that was in the air, but we couldn’t use it until the deal was signed with the NFL. Meanwhile we were already on the move and we needed a name. Unlike what other teams like Hamburg or Frankfurt did that started without a brand at the beginning, we couldn’t do it. I could not go out with the Barcelona team, being in Reus. He needed a name tied to the city, Gladiators. It was a plan B.
What is the concept of the roster?
The EFL is based on European players. The idea is to create national heroes. Local players who can dedicate themselves to American football professionally. Although, starting a franchise from scratch is complicated because there are positions in which you do not have players from your country. In the future there will only be four Americans and four Europeans, but in this first year we can have four and ten, respectively.
Does Spanish football have the capacity to offer so much talent?
In Spain there is a lot of level. Catalonia is the cradle of American football in Spain. Coaches are missing. Many are dedicated in their free time and others do not have sufficient training. That causes that talent to be lost. That is why we have invested in the technical staff. We are the only EFL franchise that has a fully American coaching staff and we are convinced that if Spanish players are trained by high quality coaches they will be able to perform much better.
Do you think the growth of the EFL could attract NFL players?
We have one, Justin Francis who was in the New Englands Patriots. I think when the league gets a lot bigger there will be interest. Especially from players who haven’t been able to make a name for themselves in the NFL. If we do things right we can become an NFL development league. In the long term we want it to be. But this is not just one way …
EFL players going to the NFL?
Exactly. I would like a Spanish player, trained in Barcelona Dragons, to finish in an NFL draft in five years. There are several European players training with NFL teams. It is not impossible. But we have to work hard and create an elite sports culture. I do not rule out a Dragons Academy to train players from a young age.
What do you expect from the territory (Reus, Tarragona, Barcelona, Catalonia …)?
That they support us. The only way for Dragons to move forward is through fan support. The people of Reus have to see the impact that the Dragons have on the city. I estimate that BCN Dragons can have an economic impact of between 5 and 12 million euros, only in the city of Reus. Direct for our spending as a franchise and indirect for what the outside teams and their fans can spend. Our vision is to associate tourism with sport. That Reus see us as an engine of economic recovery.
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