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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Rich Franklin Accepts Position with Oak View Group, Continuing Tradition of Portland to the Pros

November 14, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - The Portland Winterhawks, proud member club of the Western Hockey League, are excited to share that team executive Rich Franklin will be joining sports and entertainment company Oak View Group as Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships for the new Coachella Valley Arena and Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken's American Hockey League affiliate.

"I have very much enjoyed my time with the Winterhawks," said Franklin, who joined the team prior to the 2011-12 season. "Leaving the organization after ten years was a difficult decision, but I am looking forward joining Oak View Group to help launch their new sports and entertainment venue and the Seattle Kraken's new AHL franchise. I'd like to thank the Winterhawks ownership group and staff for their dedication to being the best junior hockey franchise in North America both on and off the ice. Most of all, I want to thank Winterhawks fans and the Booster Club for their support of the team and our sponsors. Your enthusiasm and loyalty help tremendously in our efforts to bring corporate partners to the Winterhawks and the sport of hockey."

During his time in Portland, Franklin was responsible for establishing long-lasting relationships with many corporate partners both large and small. He created family-fun experiences and promotions like Jersey Off Their Backs, Hawktoberfest, and the Toyota Hockey Family of the Year Contest, and even drove the Les Schwab Fanboni between periods at Winterhawks home games.

The Pacific Northwest native was also a part of the group that developed the Winterhawks mobile app, one of the first team apps in all of sports with an emphasis on real-time fan engagement and contests, which allows fans to play interactive games throughout the season and listen to every Winterhawks game on the Winterhawks Radio Network.

Franklin will move to Palm Springs, Calif. to continue working in hockey with the Firebirds and new multi-purpose 10,000-seat arena, which will both debut in late 2022. He joins Kyle Gustafson (Vancouver Canucks) and Walt Ruff (Carolina Hurricanes) as the organization's third employee to advance to professional hockey within the last four months.

The Portland Winterhawks dropped the puck for their 46th season and Season Ticket Memberships, 20-Game Plans and Flex Plans are now on sale for the 2021-22 season. Season Ticket Memberships are the best way to never miss a second of the action, including the same great seat to all 34 Winterhawks games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Can't commit to all 34 home games? 20-Game Plans are the way to go, guaranteeing 20 thrilling evenings at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. To learn more about all available ticketing options, visit Winterhawks.com.

The all-new Flex Packs provide even more flexibility, giving you ten ticket vouchers to use any way you want at any regular season game. Ten tickets to one game? Two tickets to five games? Five tickets to two games? Doesn't matter, any way you want.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from November 14, 2021


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