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nivek_wahs
04-26-2007, 01:02 AM
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_6701.php

Talent is there for playoff run

By Trevor Kenney
Apr 25, 2007, 16:58

It’s not an iron-clad guarantee but it’s a level of commitment the Lethbridge Hurricanes expect will be matched by their fan base.
The Western Hockey League club unveiled its season ticket scheme for the 2007-08 season and among the incentives to buyers is a free ticket to the first playoff game next spring. The idea, says general manager Roy Stasiuk, stems from a mindset that the pieces are now in place for the franchise to start making playoff appearances a regular occurrence.
“I think we have to have that mindset. You can never guarantee anything because some things are out of your control, in terms of injuries and such, but if we stay injury-free and with the talent that we have on this hockey team, really there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in the playoffs in the coming year and the upcoming years,” Stasiuk said Wednesday at the Enmax.
Director of business operations, Doug Campbell, says the team is willing to take a hit with revenue from the first playoff game because it expects many more to come.
“In the next few years there’s going to be more than one playoff game to come to so we’re prepared to give up the one game to have them come out and enjoy that,” Campbell says.
Of course, for their largess, the Hurricanes expect a commitment from fans in the form of a season ticket purchase. While Lethbridge has long been a leader in walk-up ticket purchases, season passes are on the low end in comparison to similar markets.
“We won’t be happy until we have this building full 36 nights a year,” Campbell says of a base that saw the team reach a franchise-best 2,122 season tickets last season.
“For our financial stability and as far as making it a tough building for teams to come in and play, we want to have our season ticket holders on-side for that and we do want to make significant increases in the next couple of years.”
Incentives for current season ticket holders to re-up for next season include a loyalty pricing package (paid by June 2) that starts at $399 for an adult non-shareholder (shareholder discount is $20 across the board).
Of course, those who buy new season tickets this year would get the loyalty discount the next season but they too have incentives with early-bird package rates (paid by June 30) set at $419 for an adult non-shareholder.
Exclusive parking, a free Hurricanes hoodie and access to first tickets for other Enmax events also come with season tickets. Stasiuk says it’s about establishing a mutual relationship with the fan base.
“We have to be responsible and accountable as an organization and for too long I think we’ve been of the mindset where we’re almost begging people to come out and it doesn’t work that way,” he says.
“What we have to do is provide people with a reason to come out.”
Despite missing the playoffs last season, he says the feedback he got from fans is that there is a feeling the team is moving in the right direction and offered a good level of entertainment last season.
“I’m not embarrassed to say I expect the people of Lethbridge to come out,” Stasiuk adds. “This is a fun place to come to, it’s more than just a hockey game, it’s an event and we’re going to do our part and make sure that they have entertainment night-in and night-out.”
ICE CHIPS – For full pricing packages, contact the Hurricane office at 328-1986 . . . Game day pricing includes adult tickets for $18, student (13-17 years) $13.00 and youth (3-12 years) $6.50 . . . Youth season tickets are at $99 for early bird buyers . . . Hurricanes had six sell-out crowds last season, including four of their final six home dates . . . The WHL Awards Luncheon is next on the calendar, May 2, followed by the May 3 WHL Bantam Draft.
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