Rabobank Arena voted one of the top sports venues in the country
June 11, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -Rabobank Arena, the home of the Bakersfield Condors, was ranked as the seventh-best minor league sports venue in the country in an online poll conducted by MLN Sports. The poll asked sports fans nationwide for their top choice among all the minor league arenas and ballparks for the current issue of MLN Sports digital magazine, titled SZ.
In total, more than 11,700 votes were cast in the poll for the venues of more than 800 professional teams in baseball, basketball, football, hockey and lacrosse. Seven of the top 10 selections were ECHL arenas, among which The Nest ranked fifth. The ECHL was the only professional hockey league represented in the poll.
At nearly 9,000 seats, Rabobank Arena, also dubbed The Nest, has been home to the Condors since the team's inaugural 1998-99 season. The Condors are responsible for having brought in over 2 million fans since that inaugural campaign. It was formerly named Bakersfield Centennial Garden in honor of the city's centennial anniversary in 1998, the year it opened. It was officially renamed Rabobank Arena in Spring, 2005.
The Condors filled Rabobank Arena to standing- room-only capacity when 8,895 fans attended Teddy Bear Toss night on Nov. 24 last season, which is the largest crowd in the team's ECHL history and second- largest in overall team history. They have brought 200,000 or more fans into Rabobank Arena in eight of their 10 seasons.
"We're blessed to have such a great facility for the fans and players," said Condors President Matthew Riley. "After 10 years it still looks like new, and it's been a wonderful place to call home for the first decade of Condors hockey."
"We appreciate the recognition and everyone who voted for Rabobank Arena," said Steve Womack, general manager of the arena. "We would like to thank the teams that play here, the City of Bakersfield and the support we have received from the community. It has been a team effort to make this arena a first class operation."
Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, Texas and Round Rock Diamond in Round Rock, Texas finished first and second in the voting, respectively. Click here for the full MLN Sports article and results.
More honors
The Bakersfield Condors were recognized by the ECHL on Tuesday at the annual ECHL Marketing and Communication meetings for Website of the Year and the Marketing award of excellence. It was the second time in the last four years that bakersfieldcondors.com was given the honor. A team was chosen from each conference for both awards.
Notes from The Nest:
Looking for the perfect Father's Day gift this year? In case you've forgotten, Father's Day is June 15, so you're running out of time! But that's ok, just look in to Condors Season Ticket Plans and give Dad a gift that will keep on giving all season long! In addition to full season ticket plans, the Condors offer three different tiered mini plans - the Weekender Plan, the Saturday Assist Plan and the Pick 6 Plan - and start at just $42!
As an added bonus, the first 100 people to purchase two seats as part of a 2008-09 ticket plan will receive a Condors Youth Jersey! Plan holders will also get one youth jersey for every two additional seats purchased, so that a gift for dad turns into a gift for the whole family! For more information on Condors Season Ticket Plans and the youth jersey, including full pricing, click here or contact the Condors office at (661) 324-PUCK (7825).
ECHL Stories from June 11, 2008
- Rabobank Arena voted one of the top sports venues in the country - Bakersfield Condors
- Harris and Walker win National Conference award. - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Brandt Returns to Gladiators for 2008-09 Season - Atlanta Gladiators
- Falcons' Joe Babik Honored as ECHL Co-Broadcaster of the Year - Fresno Falcons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
