There won't be a black-tie gala this year. The golf tournament has been discontinued. And the smorgasbord of autograph sessions, clinics and tailgate parties in Virginia Beach will be consumed over two days, instead of three.
But while the Redskins Beach Blitz, which begins on Saturday, has been streamlined, event organizers insist that it will be more "family friendly."
"We've changed the atmosphere," said Buddy Wheeler, sports marketing coordinator for the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's more low-key. People wanted more interaction with the players. That's the main focus."
Although new coach Jim Zorn, general manager Vinny Cerrato and defensive backs LaRon Landry, Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot are expected to make appearances, many of the team's offensive stars won't be coming.
Still, Mitch Gershman, chief operating officer of the Redskins, says this year's Redskins Beach Blitz should cater better to the fans' interests because "we wanted to bring broader access, and we wanted to provide a better experience by concentrating our efforts."
Since the event began three years ago, the Redskins have attempted to reinforce ties with their ardent fan base in Hampton Roads and the surrounding areas.
While the NFL franchise has always maintained a strong appeal in the mid-Atlantic region and the Southeast, the arrival of the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte and the Tennessee Titans in Nashville during the last 15 years has created competition for the Redskins.
"You go back, there was no NFL team before the Redskins," Wheeler said. "That was all you had for thousands and thousands of miles. They saw a need to reach out to this area, to say, 'We know you're there. We know you have always been there.'"
In a matter of a few years, the Beach Blitz has become the Redskins' biggest fan event outside the Washington Beltway.
While the team has made efforts to meet and greet backers in less-formal gatherings in Richmond and Roanoke, it considers Hampton Roads a second home.
"To date, the size and scope of the event - there is nothing to match it," Gershman said. "The entire state of Virginia has been a Redskins town forever. But the fans in the Virginia Beach area are as die hard as they are in D.C."
The fans have demonstrated that by coming out in droves and dropping money.
Two years ago, Patrick Rishe, a professor at Webster University in St. Louis, was commissioned to do an economic impact study on the Redskins Beach Blitz.
He discovered the increase in local spending was $984,431 over the course of a three-day period in 2006.
"I think it's a win-win for everybody," Wheeler said.
Gershman agreed.
"The fans are the lifeblood of the company," he said. "It's important to show appreciation for their support."
Rainer Sabin, 757-446-2367, rainer.sabin@pilotonline.com
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