Smoky Mountains Browns Backers of Knoxville

08/15/2026

I have confirmed with the manager at Carolina Ale House that we will have our usual spot for watch parties for the 2026 season.
Rex

08/08/2026

I received another email that I wanted to share with you.
Rex

Greetings, Browns Backers Presidents!

My name is Jeff Komito and I'm the president of the South Shore Browns Backers in Apollo Beach, FL. As I'm sure you know, the Browns will be playing in Tampa against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers in Week 2, September 20. We've had several inquiries about the weekend from Browns fans within Florida, those coming from out-of-state, and even out-of-country. I wanted to make sure all of you have the information about our plans for the weekend, from our Saturday night party, discounts at some local hotels, transportation to/from the game or parking, Sunday tailgate, and discount tickets to the game. All the proceeds from our fundraising efforts that weekend will go to our local charity partner, Dogs, Inc. You can learn more about them at the link. And please feel free to pass this information on to all of your members.

On Saturday, we're hosting a game watch for the Ohio State game at our host location, the Salty Shamrock, in Apollo Beach. Kickoff is at noon EDT. If you show up in your OSU gear, you'll receive a free drink!

At 5:00, our official Browns Backers Bash gets started. We're hosting an autograph session and casual meet & greet with Browns alumni Felix Wright, Eric Metcalf, and Kevin Mack! We'll also have weekend-themed memorabilia for sale, a prize raffle, and a 50/50 raffle. At 7:00, Stormbringer, one of Tampa Bay's best known live rock bands will be playing on the Salty Shamrock stage. It's going to be a fun-filled evening and we've been promised our own private bar and bartenders. Here is the link to our Eventbrite page with more details and all the available options to participate in our Backer Bash, food and drink specials, meet the Browns players, and get some free items also.

On Sunday, we've partnered with Gnats Tailgaters for our tailgate. Gnats is based in Cleveland and hosts a tailgate in the Pit for all home Browns games. It all begins at 7:00am, hours before any Bucs or Tampa-owned lots open. We have reserved charter buses that'll take you from the Salty Shamrock Sunday morning to our tailgate lot and back to Salty's after the game. We also have parking passes in the tailgate lot for pre-sale. These are also available for purchase at our Eventbrite page.

To purchase wristbands for the tailgate, go to the Gnats website here.

Kickoff for the Browns game is at 1:00pm EDT. If you'd like to purchase discounted tickets, you can reply back here or have your members e-mail me at [email protected]. I'll send your e-mail address to the Buccaneers' ticket rep and they will send you the link to be able to purchase tickets in various sections. The Bucs have dynamic pricing on their tickets, meaning the prices can fluctuate between now and the game. If you aren't planning on attending the game in person, feel free to watch at the Salty Shamrock. The game will be on several TVs with sound.

And finally, we have discounts at 3 local hotels for Browns fans. I've attached a flyer with all the information to reserve your rooms.

Again, please share this with your members and anyone considering coming to Tampa for the game. It's going to be an amazing weekend with thousands of Browns fans invading Tampa Bay!

If you or anyone has any questions about anything, please let me know.

Thank you and Go Browns!

Jeff Komito
President
South Shore Browns Backers

08/07/2026

I received the following and thought I would pass it on.
Rex

Hello fellow Browns fans…any interest in coming to Tampa to see the Browns play Baker Mayfield and the Bucs on Sunday September 20th?

My name is John Petro I am the Vice President of the South Shore Browns Backers Club in Apollo Beach Florida. We have tickets on sale now! You can now purchase your tickets for the SSBB Saturday Night Backer Bash, player autograph session, bus transportation to and from the tailgate & game, and tailgate parking!

Come join the South Shore Browns Backers as we host the official Browns Backers Bash in Tampa!

07/15/2026

Just a note to let you know that Dick Heiser had a stroke several months ago and could use your thoughts and prayers as he recovers.
I only found out about this last night. He is also a member of the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable and another member told me at last night’s meeting.
Rex

06/26/2026

Well, I picked up my order today at Big Frog and am very pleased with the results!

06/21/2026

THE ONLINE STORE IS NOW OPEN!!

You may contact Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Knoxville to place an order:

Online Store:
https://smokymountainsbrownsbackers.itemorder.com

Phone: (865) 770-5550

Address: 10670 Parkside Drive, Suite 105
Knoxville, TN 37922
(At Lovell Rd, near Wasabi’s)

Big Frog offers tees, long sleeve tees, crew neck sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, women’s tees, and hats. These are available in your choice of size, color, and logo.

Unfortunately, other items (coffee mugs, etc) require minimum order quantities and are cost prohibitive at this time.

If you order online, and if you are able, I suggest you opt for pickup of your order at checkout. Shipping charges are $10 + 10% of the cart amount.

However, if you regularly attend our watch parties, but are unable to pickup, message me.
When the season starts, I may put together a club order for some TEE SHIRTS AND/OR HATS ONLY so there are shirts available to sell to visitors and tourists who attend our watch party. I would add your order to that order. I would need payment at the time of your order and will then pickup the total order and distribute your order when you attend next time.
This saves you shipping charges and you will pay the same amount that you would have paid had you been able to pickup yourself.
If warranted, a second such bulk order MAY be submitted later during the season.
I hope this makes sense.

If you have specific questions about any of these products (for example, can one logo be put on the front and the other logo on the sleeve or back), I would say call Big Frog and get answers and pricing. Ken is very helpful.

Check out the online store if you’re interested and give me any comments or questions you may have.

Rex

GO BROWNS!!

Online ordering for Smoky Mountains Browns Backers of Knoxville Retail 2026

06/10/2026

Time for my weekly update:

As I told everyone in the last post, we received formal approval on both the shield logo and the Tennessee state logo.

In the past 11 years, the club would buy tee shirts and sell them at our watch parties. As you can guess, our costs have increased just about every year. We have never been in the business of making money off shirt sales, so I usually sold at our cost. I have tried to maintain a reasonable selling price, but the last few years, I have even sold shirts below our cost and we lost $1-3 on each sale.

This year it is my proposal to change this practice. I have partnered with Big Frog Custom T-Shirts and More of Knoxville (ie, Big Frog) to print shirts for us with our new logos.

Big Frog has developed an online store that allows individuals to buy not only tee shirts, but also Women’s tees, long sleeve tees, crew neck sweatshirts, and hooded sweatshirts. They also offer other items that can be printed with our logos (coffee mugs, tumblers, water bottles, totes, hats, etc).

Big Frog has not yet activated the online store. I will let you know when it is active. Probably around July 1.

Since individuals are ordering and paying, the club is not involved and we may no longer keep an inventory on hand for watch party sales. I am still reviewing this.

Big Frog is located on Parkside Drive in west Knoxville, at Lovell Rd and near Wasabi’s. I will provide their phone number, address, and online store link at a later date. They will be able to take orders via the online store or by phone call.

Shirts will be available in the individual’s choice of style, color, size, and logo. At checkout, pickup or shipping is available.
It will be much cheaper to pickup, but I realize not everyone will be able to do so. Especially visitors.

I apologize for this lengthy post! This is still a work in progress and there are other things I will go into more detail later, but this should give you a general overview.

For now, I will welcome any comments you may have.

GO BROWNS!!

Rex

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

Attention: any members thinking of traveling to Tampa for the Browns-Bucs game

I received notification that the Bucs are offering discounted tickets to Browns fans.
The price is not yet known.

If you might be interested, only the chapter president can provide the Bucs with your email address. There is no obligation to buy and no payment is required until tickets are actually purchased.

So, if interested, DM me your email address and I will forward it to the Bucs. You can only participate if they have this. Unverified emails will not be valid.

The game is expected to sell out, since it is their first home game. So, they advise a quick response.

I assume once they receive your email they will get in touch with you and can answer any questions you might have.

Rex