Pirates Gear Up For Welcome Back Party

September 27, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME – The Portland Pirates will kick-off the 2004-05 season on Wednesday, September 29th with the franchise's first ever "Welcome Back" party, which will include live entertainment, free food and beverages, skating with the players, locker room visits, Score-O, and much, much more. In addition to the fun and games, fans will be able to enjoy free hot dogs, popcorn, regular size soft drinks and Cannonballs from Shain's of Maine. The event will take place from 5pm-8pm at the Cumberland County Civic Center and will be free and open to the public.

"We're looking forward to continuing the marketing strategy we put in place during the final quarter of last season with our "Comeback" campaign with this "Welcome Back" party on September 29th," said Brian Petrovek, Pirates' Managing Owner/CEO.

"We ended last season on a high note with fan interest and a "buzz" around town reaching new heights as a result of our new ticket prices, new communications and advertising plan centered on our players and the solid performance of our team during our exciting playoff run. This event on the 29th will be a fun-filled, high energy opportunity to meet our team and kick-off the season in top form at the Civic Center; we're looking forward to a great night."

The night will feature the return of Salty Pete, who over the summer has been redesigned. The well-known mascot has become fuzzier, happier and much more fan-friendly as a result of the Pirates decision last March to put the nasty rascal in "rehab." His new look and personality will be unveiled when he rejoins his sidekick and other well-known Pirates mascot, Crackers, as well as other local mascots including, Slugger, Coco the Cow from Hood, Cellby from U.S Cellular, Oakie from Oakhurst, Mercy Bear from Mercy Hospital and Pazzo the Tomato from Amato's.

Fans can also play street hockey, video games and bubble hockey provided by Skillful Vending, sign up to play Score-O at 7:00pm, skate on the ice with Pirates players, make Crafts with Crackers at the AC Moore Crafts table and enjoy magic and entertainment by Bob Nixon the magician. Other tables on the concourse will include the Portland Professional Hockey Booster Club, 50/50 Raffle, Our Tickets and Tours for Portland Pirates road trips, American Express Financial Advisors, Hewins Travel, Fleet bank, Maverick's, Portland Phoenix, Hood Milk, Portland Ice Arena, Reynolds Motorsports, Oakhurst Dairy, David's Restaurant, Nonesuch Golf Course, Bud and Bud Light and Rivalries.

Local radio stations, WJAB, WBLM, WMGX and WPOR will all be at the event with promotional items and their station vans will surround the Civic Center. Lilley's Limousine will also provide the first stretch Hummer to come to the state of Maine.

This will be an opportunity for Pirates season ticket subscribers to pick up their season tickets and materials as well as an opportunity for all attendees to purchase individual tickets before they go on public sale at the box office on Monday, October 4th. The Civic Center ice will be available for players, mascots and fans to skate and get to know each other. The first-time event will also include live entertainment and music from the band "Go Casual".

Fans will be able to sample food and beverages from the new menu at the Civic Center's new restaurant the Penalty Box Grill. Fans will also be able to purchase new Pirates merchandise. The event will also include raffles and free giveaways. Throughout the night the Pirates will be giving away merchandise including a Pirates jersey and a autographed stick. All attendees will also have an opportunity to visit the Pirates locker room, meet the Pirates players and receive autographs from these players who are some of the Capitals top prospects. All members of the 2004-05 Pirates Training Camp roster will be at the event, including, Trent Whitefield, Darcy Verot, Graham Mink, Maxime Ouellet, Dwayne Zinger, Nolan Yonkman, Steve Eminger, Brian Sutherby, Boyd Gordon, Shaone Morrisonn, Owen Fussey, Louis Robitaille, Maxime Daigneault, Jonas Johansson and Tomas Fleischmann.

The Pirates exhibition schedule starts this weekend against the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday, October 2nd. The Pirates will also host the Providence Bruins the following weekend on Friday, October 8th. Both exhibition games will be at 7:00 pm at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Tickets for the Pirates home exhibition games are on sale now. Fans can purchase individual tickets for just $5 (Captain's, Main, Quarter and Crow's Nest). Group tickets are also available for the exhibition games for $3 (Main, Quarter and Crow's Nest) by calling the Pirates at (207) 828-4665 x350. Individual tickets can be purchased at the Civic Center Box office or by calling (207) 775-3458. Tickets will also be on sale at the Pirates "Welcome Back" party.

The Pirates home opener is scheduled for Saturday, October 16, 2004 at 7:05pm, Hockey Night in Portland, at the Cumberland County Civic Center.



American Hockey League Stories from September 27, 2004


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