New York Dragons Front Office Resigns
The entire front office of the New York Dragons stepped down on Monday, with general manager Peter Schwartz reaching out to the Post for confirmation late in the evening.
Schwartz, along with Operations Director Sean Wachter and the Director of Business Development, tendered their resignations via an email to team owner Doug Freeman. Schwartz stated, “It’s the right time to leave.”
Newsday was the first to report the mass resignation within the Dragons’ administration.
This young franchise is set to compete in the new Entertainment Football Association, and Schwartz was appointed as the team’s inaugural general manager in January. He was instrumental in the naming of the franchise and in hiring its first head coach.
The front office members felt the league was not progressing in a favorable direction. However, Schwartz voiced his hope that, despite everything, the league, players, and coaches could find future success.
“It was revealed last month, and honestly, I wasn’t comfortable with the direction the league is taking,” he shared in a phone interview. “There were several internal leagues with which we weren’t able to compete.”
Freeman confirmed the departures, expressing that he “broke ties” with the original staff, and hinted at upcoming recruitment that would include individuals from a “highly acclaimed organization” with a strong sports leadership background.
“We have been evaluating the organizational compatibility of the front office,” Freeman mentioned.
“We want our staff to continue growing in their careers, and we are excited about what lies ahead,” he added.
Schwartz admitted he was “disappointed” with how things concluded but took pride in his contributions to the organization.
Having been involved as the original radio announcer for the New York Dragons when he arrived in Long Island back in 2001, Schwartz reflected on his experience. The team had played in the Arena Football League at Nassau Coliseum after being purchased by Charles Wang, the former owner of the Islanders, who moved them from Iowa.
Schwartz described his time with the original team as “the best job of his life.”
The Reborn Dragons were initially scheduled to face the Danbury Diesel on June 7, but that game has been pushed to July 10. Furthermore, a game on June 14 against New Jersey’s Cryptocurrency has also been rescheduled, making the exact start date for the Dragons uncertain as the league transitions to a new schedule format.
