The Barnstormers: Matt Strawn, principal owner | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register
Strawn, 34, returned to Iowa - where he grew up - last year to work on John McCain's presidential campaign. He wound up as a principal owner of the arenafootball2 league's Iowa Barnstormers. Along with co-owner Jeff Lamberti, an Iowa state senator, he runs the team's day-to-day operations, which mostly consist of getting the word out that the Barnstormers, once the most popular and beloved sports team in Des Moines, are back.
And the Barnstormers' production will be huge. Not only does Strawn have to convince locals to support yet another new sports franchise, he also has to meet expectations from rabid fans of the Barnstormers' last run (1995-2001). He hears from people who remember the tailgating parties, the rockets, the way old Veterans Memorial Auditorium shook. They've given Barnstormers games almost mythical status, and Strawn has to bring them back to Earth. "If we do the kickoff the right way," he says, "the buzz takes care of itself."
Strawn, 34, returned to Iowa - where he grew up - last year to work on John McCain's presidential campaign. He wound up as a principal owner of the arenafootball2 league's Iowa Barnstormers. Along with co-owner Jeff Lamberti, an Iowa state senator, he runs the team's day-to-day operations, which mostly consist of getting the word out that the Barnstormers, once the most popular and beloved sports team in Des Moines, are back.
And the Barnstormers' production will be huge. Not only does Strawn have to convince locals to support yet another new sports franchise, he also has to meet expectations from rabid fans of the Barnstormers' last run (1995-2001). He hears from people who remember the tailgating parties, the rockets, the way old Veterans Memorial Auditorium shook. They've given Barnstormers games almost mythical status, and Strawn has to bring them back to Earth. "If we do the kickoff the right way," he says, "the buzz takes care of itself."
