Toledo Receives ECHL Award of Excellence
July 6, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release
TOLEDO, OH - The ECHL has selected the Toledo Walleye as the 2014-15 recipient of the ECHL Team Award of Excellence.
The award recognizes the ECHL organization that executes a well-rounded business plan including, but not limited to, sales, marketing, media relations and merchandising while also distinguishing themselves in their community, on and off the ice.
It marks the third time in the last six seasons that the Walleye have received the award. The other finalists were the Gwinnett Gladiators and the Orlando Solar Bears.
Toledo set an all-time team record in attendance during the 2014-15 season with 231,847 fans during the regular season. The total included 12 sellouts, as well as over 22,000 fans at Winterfest, the first two outdoor games in ECHL history. Winterfest garnered local, regional and national media attention and attracted over 65,000 people to the Toledo Region over the 10-day event while creating an economic impact of over $10 million for Toledo and the surrounding area. The team provided over $240,000 in charitable contributions to more than 25 area organizations over the course of the season.
On the ice, the Walleye set an ECHL record with a 58-point improvement over the 2013-14 season and captured the Brabham Cup as ECHL regular-season champions. Head coach Derek Lalonde received the John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year as Toledo reached the Conference Finals for the first time since the Storm did so in 2006.
The ECHL also recognized Toledo Walleye Director of Ticket Sales, Brian Perkins, as ECHL Ticket Executive of the Year.
The award is presented to an individual who has experienced success with the ticket sales process. The winner is selected by a vote of league general managers and ticketing managers.
Perkins was responsible for the success of the Walleye's entire Ticket Department during the 2014-15 regular season, Winterfest and the Kelly Cup Playoffs. He helped lead the team to record attendance of 231,847 as well as a record number of group tickets sold throughout the season. The Walleye set a new club record with 11,222 fans at their first Winterfest game on Dec. 27 and set a new playoff record with 8,300 fans on May 27 for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against South Carolina.
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