Fans Vote Stockton Arena Among Country's Top Sports Venues

Published on June 13, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Stockton Arena, the home of the Stockton Thunder, was ranked as the sixth-best minor league sports venue in the country in an online poll conducted by Minor League News. The poll asked fans across the United States for their top choice among all minor league sports arenas and ballparks in MLN Sports' digital issue titled "SZ."

There were more than 11,700 votes cast for the venues of more than 800 teams in baseball, basketball, football, hockey and lacrosse. Fans were allowed only one vote from an IP address and votes from club office IP addresses were discarded so the rankings were totally fan driven. The ECHL was the only professional hockey league represented finishing with seven of the Top 10 venues.

"We are very proud of the Stockton Arena and this is just another example of the worthy investment our fine city made in the building of this fabulous venue," said Thunder president Dan Chapman. "Our state-of-the-art facility and the arena and team staff do a terrific job in fulfilling the overall fan experience."

"It is a pleasure to share in the successes of the Thunder and to have the arena chosen as one of the best venues in minor league sports is an honor," said Stockton Arena general manager Jacqui James. "We look forward to continued success in providing our fan base with the most positive experience possible."

Stockton Arena, a 9,737-seat venue which opened in December 2005, was the home of the top draw in the ECHL for the third consecutive season as the Thunder led the league in attendance with 239,337 fans (average of 6,648) in 2007-08. It is the second straight year the Thunder has surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season as four games featured standing-room-only crowds of 9,737 this year. The Thunder, who has drawn 12 sellouts in three seasons, became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for three straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons).

The Thunder played host to the midseason classic of the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition on Jan. 22-23, as a crowd of 7,455 marked the fifth-highest attended contest in ECHL All-Star Game history. With NHL Network television coverage and NHL Radio coverage providing spotlight to the game in the league's 20th Anniversary season, the National Conference, led by Ash Goldie's all-star record-setting six-point game (3g-3a), a two-point game (1g-1a) from Thunder left wing Andy Contois and assist from Ryan MacMurchy, defeated the American Conference in a 10-7 victory on Jan. 23.

The Thunder drew 228,364 fans during its inaugural season in 2005-06, including five sell-out home games. Stockton eclipsed that mark during the 2006-07 campaign with a total attendance figure of 244,085 (ECHL's highest since 2001-02 - Florida) over 36 home games, an average of 6,780 fans per contest, including three capacity crowds.

Stockton Arena features 24 luxury suites, 400 luxury seats, an exclusive Comcast Club V.I.P. lounge, a state-of-the-art Daktronics scoreboard, team locker rooms equipped with training rooms, steam rooms and saunas, in addition to three separate team and arena offices. Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, Texas and Round Rock Diamond in Round Rock, Texas finished first and second in the voting, respectively. The complete results can be located by visiting www.minorleaguenews.com.

The Thunder opens the 2008-09 regular season at home on Saturday, October 18 against the local rival Fresno Falcons at Stockton Arena, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thunder season ticket holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, preferred parking options, benefits including admission to season ticket holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more. Details on Thunder promotional and giveaway nights will be announced soon.

The ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets for 2008-09 are now on sale and begin at just $335. A deposit of just $50 reserves your seat for the 2008-09 season! 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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