Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Spokane Chiefs to host first ever WHL outdoor game

Press Release

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League and Spokane Chiefs Hockey Club announced today they will host the Rockstar Outdoor Hockey Classic on Saturday, January 15th, 2011 at Avista Stadium against the Kootenay Ice in the WHL’s first ever outdoor game. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 pm PT.

Bobby Brett, the President of the Spokane Chiefs, said “Since the NHL outdoor game in Buffalo 2008 I have wanted the Spokane Chiefs to play in one. I think it will be an unbelievable event for our players and fans.”

“The WHL appreciates the commitment the Spokane Chiefs have made to stage the first ever WHL Outdoor Game in one of our longest standing and most successful U.S. markets”, commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “Our WHL fans in Spokane and throughout the US Pacific Northwest and Western Canada will not want to miss this historic outdoor event,” Robison said.

Rockstar Energy Drink has agreed to be the title sponsor of the event while Coeur d’Alene Casino, Waterbrook Wine and The Spokesman-Review will be presenting sponsors.

Tickets will be sold only on an individual game basis as all Chiefs Package Holders will receive the first opportunity to purchase seats for the game. Ticket Package Holders can call the Chiefs ticket office on Thursday, August 19th at 9:00 am to order tickets or they can fill out the order form they will receive in the mail later this week. Tickets will go on sale to the general public for the Rockstar Outdoor Hockey Classic on Wednesday, September 1st.

Prices will range from $25-$100. Full season package holders will receive a ticket to the Spokane Chiefs first playoff game in 2011 to give them a full complement of 36 games in their package.

Fans can choose from all inclusive seats that feature all you can eat hot dogs, Pepsi products and peanuts to reserved bench seats. Avista Stadium’s popular group areas (The Bud Bullpen, The Grotto presented by Hallmark Hyundai and The Depot presented by The Black Book) will also be available for purchase

The ice surface will be installed and maintained by a team that includes Willy Bietak Productions out of Santa Monica, California, Top Shelf Arena Service’s Mike Craig and Dan Craig and Dave Gebhardt of the Spokane Public Facilities District.

Bietak Productions specializes in state-of-the-art portable rinks and installed ice for the Michigan-Michigan State outdoor hockey game in 2001 and for the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Top Shelf Arena Services help oversee all ice surfaces in the NHL and has been a part of all of the NHL’s outdoor hockey events, including last year’s Bridgestone Classic at Fenway Park in Boston.

Dave Gebhardt is the Operations Manager at the Spokane Arena and has supervised the installation and maintenance of its ice since opening in 1995. The Arena has hosted the two U.S. Figure Skating Championships, a WHL All-Star game and Memorial Cup under Gebhardt’s direction.

The event will be the first of two outdoor games played in the league this year. The Calgary Hitmen will host the Regina Pats on February 21st, 2011 at McMahon Stadium.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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