"Beat The 'Blades" Campaign Officially Launched

April 3, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder has launched its official "Beat The 'Blades" ticket drive campaign in attempts to capture the 2005-06 ECHL attendance record, Thunder team president Dan Chapman announced today.

"Our fans have been the most loyal group out of any ECHL team this season and they deserve to be rewarded with their efforts," said Chapman. "The Florida Everblades organization represents class and have earned quite a prestigious following, but it's time for Stockton to give the ECHL a new attendance champion."

The Thunder, in its first year of ECHL existence, has sparked an aggressive marketing campaign for the title, currently in a neck-and-neck battle with the Florida Everblades for the 2005-06 ECHL attendance crown. Stockton is currently edged by the five-time defending attendance champion Everblades by a mere 41 fans average per game (Florida has drawn an ECHL-high 6,239 fans per game).

The turnstile race will be decided this week at Stockton Arena, as the Thunder currently has three home games remaining for the 2005-06 schedule, with a Wednesday, April 5 date against the Alaska Aces (7 p.m. PT); a Friday, April 7 game against the Bakersfield Condors (7:30 p.m. PT) and the season finale against the San Diego Gulls on Saturday, April 8 (7:30 p.m. PT).

Florida has no remaining home games for the regular season.

The Thunder has drawn crowds of 8,000 or more 10 times this season, including five sellouts (Stockton Arena capacity is 10,117).

Florida took the 2004-05 crown with an average of 6,207 fans per game, while the last ECHL franchise to capture the attendance mark besides Florida was the Greenville Grrrowl, averaging 8,000 fans per game in 1999-00.

The Thunder returns to play on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. PT home game against the Alaska Aces at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" rate at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B-2 Networks.

Thunder season tickets, individual tickets, and mini packages are on-sale now. Individual tickets can be purchased in person at Stockton Arena's Ticket Office, online at www.stocktontickets.com, or by phone at (209) 373-1700. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.



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