Baltimore Football Club owner Jim Speros held the line on 1995 ticket prices and revamped his front office yesterday.
In the new management structure, E. J. Narcise has been promoted from director of operations to vice president of business operations.
He will be in charge of team marketing, corporate sponsorships, merchandising, radio and television negotiations and stadium operations.
Narcise joins two other vice presidents in the front office. Paul Blaber is vice president of ticket operations and Aric Holsinger vice president of finance.
Speros introduced Narcise and Blaber during a news conference at Memorial Stadium to reveal his choice of team name, the Baltimore Football Club.
Blaber announced that the team had simplified its ticket structure for 1995. This season, the team had six ticket prices, ranging from $14 to $25. Next year, it will have three prices, ranging from $15 to $25.
Preferred sideline seats will sell for $25, corner and end zone seats for $20, and lower sideline and end zone for $15.
Blaber said the team would retain its $6 children's admission, and will introduce a senior citizen's discount on selected seats.
He also announced a cut in the cost of club seats -- from $1,000 to $500 on lease price, and from $28 to $25 for individual game tickets.
Narcise said his top priority will be to negotiate a local TV contract for the team's nine road games.
Every home game this past season -- from the preseason through the playoffs -- was available in Baltimore, either on local TV or cable. That isn't likely to happen again.
"I'm not saying it's out of the question," Narcise said. "It was part of our plan in '94 to expose the product."
Narcise hopes to get all nine road games on one network this year.
He also left open the possibility of a change in radio broadcasts. Speros signed a five-year contract with WJFK in Washington last year, and Narcise said he will talk with the station about continuing the relationship.
"If they're not happy and we're not happy, we'd make a move," said Narcise, who acknowledged the difficulty of fans in getting WJFK in Baltimore.
Narcise previously served as general manager of the Chicago Cubs' Double-A farm team in Pittsfield, Mass.; director of spring training operations for the Cleveland Indians, and consultant in the NFL's World League of American Football.
Roger and out
Speros confirmed yesterday that quarterback coach Joe Barnes will not be invited back next season. Instead, his duties will be turned over to offensive coordinator Steve Buratto and a new line coach will be hired.
"I think the guy running the offense should coach the quarterbacks," Speros said. "Joe Barnes doesn't have experience coaching in this league."
New QB signed
Personnel director Jim Popp said the team has signed former Northwestern and Las Vegas Posse quarterback Len Williams and former Notre Dame wide receiver William Pollard.
Williams completed 21 of 39 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-33 loss to Baltimore in Week 5. He was cut late in the year.
Williams will compete for the backup job with Sean Jones, Matt Rodgers and possibly John Congemi. It's uncertain whether the injury-prone Congemi will return next year.