Press Conference Unveils Four Major Announcements for Mill Rats
Published on June 25, 2012 under National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Saint John Riptide News Release
(Saint John, NB): The Saint John Mill Rats held their Press Conference today at 12pm at Brunswick Square. Announcements made involved their new value added seasons tickets and flex packages, the Africa to Canada committee's fundraising goal of $15,000 achieved for Modibo Diarra and family, the Mill Rats Elite Basketball Club (AAU), and the grand opening of the Mill Rats Fan Zone.
The organization has been working diligently behind the scenes since the season ended. As the team heads into their third season playing professional basketball here in Saint John, they have learned the importance of value and flexibility.
In an effort to bring greater value and flexibility to their fans, they went back to the drawing board and recreated their Season Ticket and Flex packages.
"I am pleased to announce that Season Tickets for the 2012-2013 season in the National Basketball League of Canada will be going on sale today!" stated Ian McCarthy, General Manager of the Saint John Mill Rats, earlier today during the Press Conference.
" We recognize that in today's day and age we have to become the 'recession-friendly' option since people work hard for their dollars and want value when they choose their entertainment."
The new season ticket packages are full-colour, pre-printed booklets designed by The Wright Agency that will be on sale starting today at the Harbour Station Box Office and the 'Mill Rats Fan Zone'. The fan will then take their part to the Harbour Station Box Office, select their seats, and redeem the ticket voucher in exchange for the actual tickets.
The new bowl season tickets have been completely re-designed so there is one-price for upper and lower bowl and for season tickets, one price for all ages.
"In the past if a season ticket holder had, for example, 2 adult and 2 youth season tickets, and their kids could not make it to a game, they could not bring two adult friends...now they can. This is flexibility," McCarthy later stated.
All bowl seats for the upcoming season are just $199, taxes in. These tickets are good for anywhere in the bowl. Seats are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. The first folks who come to redeem the pre-printed packages, will be able the choose the best seats.
Current season ticket holders will have a window of opportunity (until August) to redeem their seats from last season, and then they will be released to the public. All other seats that were not season tickets last season are open now.
The Mill Rats are also re-introducing their wildly popular "Real Mill Rat" season tickets for section 12-13 in the upper bowl. These are for union members and their families.
All pre-printed packages will include:
Ticket voucher
Merchandise discount voucher
Clinic discount voucher
Ticket to our VIP Season Ticket Holder Event
Bogo vouchers
In August they will also be releasing new Flex packages which include:
Bogo Pack - $42.00
9 Game Flex Pack - $120.00
Family 4 Pack - $39.00
Date Night Pack - $24.00
Jr Mill Rats Team Pack - $99.00
Single Game Tickets
Single Game Tickets will be the same price for the upper and lower bowl, but are priced as follows:
Adult- $14.25
Student/Senior - $11.25
Child - $8.25
Customized group packages will still be offered for teams, organizations and schools specific to a game or games. Celebrate your birthday with the Mill Rats with one of their 3 Birthday Packages. More details can be found on the website: millratsbasketball.ca
"Africa to Canada Exceeds Fundraising Goal"
For Immediate Release June 25, 2012
(Saint John, NB): The Africa to Canada committee, namely Wendy Needle, Carla Vautour, Bev Szemerda, Bruce Wright, Ruth Rayburn-Arseneault, Susan Thomas, Sheila Stansfield, Apryll Stansfield, David Cooper, Rebecca & Geoffrey McCullogh have exceeded their fundraising goal of $15,000 in support of Modibo Diarra, his wife Mariam and three year old daughter, Cindy.
The Mill Rats would like to extend their sincere appreciation and gratitude for the community members who helped out whether through volunteering their time and effort, helping with coordinating the events, or supporting the cause through charitable donations and positive word of mouth.
When these people, who were initially strangers, first heard about the tragic situation Modibo was experiencing in Mali due to the coup d'etat, they joined together to coordinate a series of fundraising efforts to raise 15K. The first was an afternoon at Rhoda's Flea Market, the second a live auction at Jake's Sports Bra and the third, a multicultural & entertainment extravaganza at the Lady of Perpetual Help Church.
Their Grand Finale event - the Africa to Canada 'Not Without My Wife & Child' 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament at the Rothesay Commons was held yesterday afternoon. From jumping castles to face painting and a live concert from the "Play Dates", the event was a huge success.
With the help of everyone involved from Investors Group, Montana's Cookhouse, Brown's Fine Foods, Grand Bay Home Hardware, Superstore, the Dollar Store, Moosehead Breweries, the players, the parents and friends who came to watch, the volunteers and the organizers, the committee was able to raise the last portion of monies needed.
Our local Member of Parliament Rodney Weston, has a sent a letter to the Canadian Embassy in Mali and Senegal. After speaking with his lawyer, Lee Cohen, we are expecting the VISA's to take about another week. Once their applications are approved and they receive the VISA's for his wife and child, we will be booking his flight home. Please stay tuned for updates on the situation.
The Mill Rats would like to thank the public and all of those who contributed money, time, or other donations to help this effort which was a big success!
"Mill Rats Launch Elite Basketball Club Registered with the AAU"
For Immediate Release June 25, 2012
(Saint John, NB): The Mill Rats Organization,through the Saint John Mill Rats Foundation, are pleased to announce that they have launched the Mill Rats Elite Basketball Club, which is an amateur youth basketball club, registered with the Amateur Athletic Union (know as AAU).
David Cooper, Vice President of Marketing, Assistant Coach and former player for the Saint John Mill Rats made the announcement earlier today. This club team will be focused on the skill development and exposure of high school aged athletes through daily and weekly training programs, and participation in AAU tournaments.
The AAU is a widely known program throughout the United States primarily and will give New Brunswick's youth the opportunity to travel during the summer months to compete in tournaments in the States against literally future NBA players. All of the NBA's greatest stars played AAU in their youth such as Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard and so on.
"An AAU tournament in Florida was the catalyst for me earning a scholarship offer to division one James Madision," stated Cooper. "We think Saint John's young talent deserves its time in the spotlight. Over time this will greatly raise the level of talent here in Saint John as 'iron sharpens iron' and we will also seek to host AAU tournaments here. This will bring economic benefits to our City as hundreds of players, coaches, scouts, etc will descend on Saint John and utilize our restaurants, hotels, and more."
In attendance at the announcement today, were several members of the Mill Rats Elite Basketball Club: U17 and U16 boys' teams. They recently represented Saint John in an AAU tournament in Plaistow, NH several weeks ago. This summer they are also heading to play in a tournament in Springfield, Massachusetts and will have a chance to visit the Basketball Hall of Fame there.
"Mill Rats Fan Zone Grand Opening"
For Immediate Release June 25, 2012
(Saint John, NB): The Saint John Mill Rats announced the grand opening of the 'Mill Rats Fan Zone' - a retail ticket location on the second floor level of Brunswick Square in the heart of uptown Saint John.
"This will also allow us to be more accessible for fans, season ticket holders and the general public. We are extremely excited to have a one stop shop for ticket packages, merchandise, player appearances, social media promotions and promos," GM and President, Ian McCarthy stated.
The Mill Rats invite all their fans to stop by any time during regular Brunswick Square hours.
National Basketball League of Canada Stories from June 25, 2012
- Press Conference Unveils Four Major Announcements for Mill Rats - Saint John Riptide
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