Zolz Entertainment

ZOLZ "IN THE NEWS"

From the Kingston Daily Freeman:

Giants name Zolzer marketing director - By Mike Stribl

Rick Zolzer has had a magic touch in promoting sports teams. The Hudson Valley Giants are betting his touch can work for them. The Kingston-based professional football team retained the services of Zolzer, the public address announcer of the Hudson Valley Renegades and the New Jersey Nets, on Wednesday. He will be a vice president in charge of Marketing and Entertainment. Zolzer, of course, will also bring his own manic style of p.a. announcing to Giants games. He will make his debut this Sunday at Dietz Stadium - a rare afternoon contest when Hudson Valley takes on the Springfield (Mass.) Blitzin' Bears. Kickoff is 1 p.m. Zolzer was unavailable for comment.

"This is a great addition to the Giants," Hudson Valley Vice President Joe Bergin said Thursday at Dietz. "I believe having Rick Zolzer on our staff legitimizes our commitment now to the community just as trying to put dollars in the ballplayers is our commitment to our team," Bergin said. Zolzer, an Entertainment Consultant for the Renegades, will continue to serve as the voice of the New York-Penn League baseball club. He worked for the Renegades from 1994-95 when they first started, then returned in '99. The Poughkeepsie resident, who joined the Nets this past year, gave up one of his jobs Tuesday. He signed off as host of a sports call-in show on Poughkeepsie's ESPN Radio (1390 AM).

The Giants will be Zolzer's third area sports team he's worked for. He was also a p.a. announcer for the now-defunct Newburgh Nighthawks. Bergin noted that Zolzer has already hinted at future plans for the Giants, such as giveaway days the Renegades are known for and the possible creation of a mascot. "We like our team to pattern itself after the Renegades," Bergin said. "They have created a franchise which consistently draws 4,500 fans to their games. That is something we are trying to build toward." A steady rain held the Giants' opening-day crowd two weeks ago to 45. "I know it's been tough sledding, but we want to show to the community that we are here to stay," Bergin said.